Tile Installation Over Particle Board

Concrete or Fiber Board

• If you are working with normal particle board, not OSB, you must include some type of fiber or concrete board on top. Any type of cement or fiber board can be used, such as WonderBoard or HardieBacker products. As long as proper installation methods are followed, you can install underlayment directly on top of particle board to create an acceptable substrate for your tile project.
  
  

Underlayment Membrane

• Another way of ensuring that your tile installation lasts for years is to install some type of underlayment membrane on top of the particle board. While relatively new to the market in comparison to cement boards, underlayment membranes such as Shcluter's Ditra System ensure that movement is kept to a minimum, as well as providing waterproof protection for the installation.
  
  

Floated Floor

• One of the oldest methods for creating an acceptable substrate for your tile installation is to float a mud bed out of concrete and sand on top of the particle board. This is the most complex and expensive way of creating an underfloor for tile, but it is also the most durable, and when done properly can create an installation that very literally lasts for generations.
  
  

Specialty Thinset Mortars

• Specialty thinset mortars do exist, but they are only rated for use on top of OSB, not regular particle board. If you are unsure of what type of subfloor has been installed in your home, you should cover the particle board with some type of approved substrate for ceramic tile. Otherwise, you can use specialty mortars to apply thinset directly on top of the OSB.