Plywood Underlayment Plywood may be used as an underlayment for tile countertops.
Measure the dimensions of the installed cabinet tops. Add a 3/4" overhang for a drip edge on the front and any exposed sides.
Use exterior grade 3/4" plywood. Cut the plywood to size and turn the piece bottom-side up.
Most countertops have a buildup on the front edge to give them a thicker, more attractive look. However, if you only build up the front edge it might be a tight squeeze when you go to open the top drawers of your cabinet. This is why you should build up the entire countertop.
Build up all the edges of the countertop with 3-4 inch strips of the same plywood. Also build up where the countertop will set on joints where two cabinets come together.
Glue the strips first with construction adhesive, then fasten them with screws.
ERROR MSGOnce the glue has dried, fasten the top to the cabinets. Use drywall screws driven up through the corner braces inside the cabinets. The screws should not be long enough to come up through the top of the plywood.
Cutting Sink Openings Cut openings for sinks before tiling the countertop.
First find the center of the countertop. Most sinks come with a template to help you cut the opening. The template goes down on the countertop over the center line. Tape it down and trace the outline.
To give your jig saw a starting place, drill a pilot hole inside the outline. Cut the hole for the sink.
As you get to the end of your cut, support the middle cutout piece so it doesn't sag. To do this, stick a couple of nails into the side of the cutout to support it.
Concrete Backerboard and Mortar Underlayments Because countertops definitely get exposed to water, it's a good idea to put some added insurance into your underlayment. Installing concrete backerboard over plywood is a great solution for do-it-yourselfers.
Backerboard has a solid concrete core and is faced on both sides with fiberglass. It can't be damaged by water which makes it ideal for bathroom and kitchen installations.
Cutting a sink hole in backerboard is tough because you can't use a saw. Trace the sink layout onto it from the plywood cut out.
To cut the hole, use a nail punch to follow the outline of the cutout. Then hit it gently with a hammer around the inside of the opening. It should break along the scored line. You can also try to cut the opening by scoring it on both sides with a utility knife or special carbide-tipped knife. However, this is a little more difficult.
accommodation in CologneAttach the backerboard to the plywood with a layer of thinset mortar. Use the flat side of a notched trowel to spread the thinset out. Then use the notched side of the trowel to comb out the adhesive. Secure the sheets with galvanized roofing nails.
It's also possible to use a bed or mortar over a plywood sub-surface. With proper screening, it provides the flattest and strongest underlayment. However, it's probably best to leave this job to the professionals.
WALL TILE INSTALLATION COUNTER LAYOUT
|