Sunroom tile question

[Kapn]

Not a garage question, but this is the most helpful board I’ve been a member of so I’ll ask here.
I’m looking at putting down tile in a sunroom. Basically a 1920’s front porch that has been glassed in. Temps are very warm in the summer and cold in the winter. It is over top of heated space, so the floor probably doesn’t go below freezing.
The floor looks like it was originally 3/4” tongue and groove, although they look thicker, more like 7/8ths but I think that is just paint build up. Then there’s a 3/8th plywood overlay. The door swings in and it barely clears the floor on the outer edge (porch floor is sloped slightly). I’d rather not start trimming or moving the door.

So the question is: Do I need to add more base material like backer board? What would happen if I don’t?

I just want a water resistant, easy to clean floor that isn’t carpet.

 

[Dakota00]

You'll need to have a form of backing material for the tiles to stick too. Like a scratch coat, backer board or Ditra membrane. Can the 3/8" plywood be removed to reduce the height?

 

[ace10]

What's under the porch?

 

[Milzo]

LVT flooring might be worth looking at. https://www.mannington.com/Residential/Adura-Vinyl-Plank

 

[Shiftless]

I’d be worried about the flexing of the floor. Tile floors require very stiff structure or you’ll get cracks.
If I were you, I’d look at vinyl planks like Mizo recommended. Go to a high end flooring store and see how fantastic they look.

 

[Kapn]

Thanks, this all started by looking at Luxury Vinyl Tile and Engineered Vinyl Tile planking. The only difference I see is the thickness. The biggest drawback is I've heard it doesn't like temperature swings. It's pretty hot and gets pretty cold, so I figured tile would be the way to go. I've also read about gluing the lvt down in areas that will see movement.
Under the porch is a basement apartment. I'd go down and start trying to figure out the support for it but the apartment is occupied. I can always ask permission, but they are working crazy hours and paying the rent on time, so I try and be mindful of their personal space.

 

[56Mark]

Let the LVT "float". I would think that gluing in places would cause buckles when it get hot and maybe gaps when it is cold. LVT locks together pretty good. I built a house last year and put LVT in the sunroom over concrete. It is not heated or cooled, but probably never get below 45 and up in the 90s. It is floating and goes within 1/4" of the wall and the baseboard covers it. It is less than a year old, but saw last summer and this winter and so far, so good.

I don't think tile would be a good idea over wood planks without adding a layer of 3/4 ply with lots of screws. The movement will cause grout cracks and maybe tile cracks. You might get by with thinner ply and Ditra. Check johnbridge.com for expert tile advice.