Subfloor thickness

[Saychris2]

I am building up the concrete slab floor in my mudroom. I plan to lay T& G plywood over 1/2" x 4" sleeper joists 2' o.c. with 1/2" rigid foam between them. I may put down tile and I understand tile will not tolerate floor flexing before they crack. What's the minimum plywood thickness that I can get away with? I am hoping the foam would provide some floor support. I only have

2" from the concrete slab to the bottom of the doors and I don't want to raise them.

Thanks.

[B]

You have two inches for sleepers, insulation foam, subfloor, wonder board to support the tile, and tile flooring? Two inches is not enough space. I never heard of a 1/2" thick sleeper, but I can't say it's not OK. Nails will barely bite it, and adhesive won't necessarily solve the problem because foam will be between the sleepers and subfloor, so I would use lots and lots of screws to grab the sleepers. I *think* you need pressure treated sleepers. I can't seem to figure out if you need a 6 mil barrier on top of the sleepers and under the foam, but maybe you have a barrier under the slab that's sufficient, but do not take my word for it.

Insulation 1/2 inch, well, ok. Provides little or no strength to floor.

Subfloor. Here in NC, on 24" OC joists, it has to be 11/16 if perfectly perpendicular to joists, or 3/4 if on an angle to joists. If you add more sleepers to achieve 16" OC, the subfloor can be 5/8 thick.

We're up to 1-5/8 already, and you cannot get wonderboard and tile in 3/8 inches.

You have enough space for ... linoleum.

Did I understand your question?

-B

[Bob Huckleby]

The book I have states that ANSI standards recommend that a plywood setting bed for a floor or countertop be a minimum thickness of 1 1/8". It also recommends laminating two sheets (1/2" & 5/8")together to achieve this. This was from 1998 so things might have changed.

Of course this depends, to me anyway, on the joist spacing. In my bathroom I used 5/8" plywood with 1/2" Durock. I should have gone with 3/4" ply and

1/4" Durock, but it's been fine for several years. I also added some blocking between joists to eliminate deflection.

I've seen many recommendations of 3/4" plywood with 16"O.C. and that will prolly work.

I'd double up your sleepers to a 12" o.c. just to give a bit more leeway. Slap on some 3/4" T&G and you'd be good to go.

[Saychris2]

Thank you for your comments. I think I will go carpet or hardwood. I completely forgot about the wonder board under the tile.

I am also worried about only a half inch bite. I didn't clearly describe the foam. I plan to place strips of foam in the "bays" between the sleepers, not over them. I hope lots of srews and glue will help.

I bought pressure treated sleepers because I could not justify tripling the cost for the synthetic deck boards.

I question the position of the plastic too, but a website (seems reputable) that I visited recommended placing it over the sleepers/foam.

I think I will put 5/8 plywood over the sleepers situated 16" oc.

Thanks again.

[Saychris2]

Thanks for your help. You and the other response that I received mentioned the Durock that I completely forgot about. I can't squeeze everthing within the 2" limit so I think carpet or hardwood over the 3/4" is the new plan.

Thanks again.

[Bill]

Install the ceramic tile over the slab. What's your problem?