One of the properties I’m looking at is a 1900 to 1930’s wooden structure. It currently has old carpeting.
I know that most LLs will put new carpet and change it every other new tenant as needed.
I don’t want to go through that hassle, and instead would prefer to put tile, but save time and money on not needing to change in the future.
Will these type of houses need to have a reinforced floor?
From what I can see on these types of structures, the floor is not completely even and flat.
Reinforcing a floor and strengthening it for tile in an old house is not always inexpesive. If the floor bows when you walk, it will crack the tile.
Floors for tile must be at least 1 1/8in thick, but even then might still bow.
I recently did the following with good results:
Pulled out any rotted floor joists, replaced with straight lumber. Re-aligned floor joists so they were all even and level. Placed in extra cross-supports between floor joists to help with bowing. Screw down 5/8in OSB or plywood to the studs. Thinset is laid down, on which you place 1/2in cement board, using the thinset to keep the floor level (helps if you cant level the floor joists.) Screw the cement board to the studs and alternate the seems so you dont have one long seem running down the room.
Once all that is done, you can lay your tile if the floor doesnt bow when you walk on it. If it still bows, add more cross braces underneith, or double up floor joists.
I am in the tile business and we do a similar application to old floors. The carpenter repairs the old beams like the previous poster explained. He usually gets it pretty level and puts plywood down. Then we use construction adhesive to secure the cement board to the new plywood. Screwed down to the beams the same way. Then we use the mesh tape and thinset the seems, like spackling. Ready for tile.
It is a good time to do radiant heat if you are removing the old radiators and switching to baseboard. Instead of cement board, do a mud job over the tubing. If you level that pretty well, you wont have a problem laying tile later.
I thought that it may require taking out the old floor and bracing/putting a new plywood floor.
Anyone knows, guestimate, of how much it may cost (bracing, plywood, cross beams) for a 2 bed, 1 bath, kitchen, living room, 600 SF house. The floor just bows in 2 small places, so it shouldn’t need much cross bracing, but I’ve learned that it’s best to do have a new floor job, instead of patching around.
Tile and tile installation I believe should not be more than $2 SF intstalled.