What Is Ditra Tile Underlayment

Schlüter ditra matting is one of the most popular types of under tile decoupling systems in the uk and in this blog post we will take a look at some of the benefits of using ditra matting.

What is ditra tile underlayment.

Osb plywood and framing members should be covered with a material such as ditra underlayment because wood is very susceptible to changes. Ditra matting is a polyethylene membrane with an anchoring fleece laminated to its underside. The free space provides an escape route for excess moisture and vapor that could otherwise cause damage to the tile layer above. But if it prevents your floor from failing after a few years then it s probably worth it.

Ditra xl allows for ceramic tile application over single layer plywood osb subfloors on joists spaced at 24 610 mm o c. Ditra can be installed over a variety of subfloors including concrete plywood osb and radiant heated floors. Ditra xl is 5 16 7 mm thick to create an even transition between typical 5 16 7 mm thick tile and 3 4 19 mm thick hardwood flooring. There was an alternative product mentioned in the forum thread called protegga which looks to be a slightly less expensive copy of the ditra you can read john bridge s comments about ditra knockoffs on his tile forum.

Tile floors are beautiful durable and a fairly diy friendly option but for tile s good looks to really last it s vital to start with what you can t see the ideal underlayment. A test performed by the tca showed that using non modified thinset to mount porcelain tile to ditra achieved an average shear bond strength of 190 psi over the minimum spec of ansi 118 4 i make sure porcelain tile is back buttered before setting over ditra. Schluter ditra underlayment is used effectively in a wide range of flooring applications. Thus ditra effectively manages moisture beneath the tile covering.

It is made of polyethylene creating a waterproofing layer protecting the substrate. Also the use of a quality non modified with a high portland cement ratio is recommended. It provides uncoupling to prevent cracked tile and grout. It provides uncoupling to prevent cracked tile and grout.

The price difference between the two products. Schluter ditra underlayment is an uncoupling membrane that allows the tile floor to move in plane relative to the substrate eliminating the major causes for cracked and delaminated tile. Ditra is an uncoupling membrane designed for ceramic and stone tile installations on floors. The matting has a grid structure of square cavities which are each cut back in a.

Here s an overview of the locations where you can take advantage of the performance ditra offers. The distinguishing feature of ditra is the existence of free space created by the configured channels on the underside of the matting.