I ripped up all the existing tile, it was small tiles that I had to chisel up. There is quite a bit of thinset that is bonded to the wood floor and its impossible to get it all up. If I try and chisel it all off I end up ripping up the wood and making it worse.I think the wood sub floor is sitting on another older piece of sub floor but i‘m not sure.What are my options here?- put cement board over it (do i need to put waterproof membrane?) and then tile it? If I do this the bathroom floor will be slightly higher then the hallway floor.- Can I use self leveler on the wood subfloor and then tile over it? it would probably be the ideal height.- Do I chance ripping up the subfloor and doing cement board and then tile?Am I missing any other options?
Use the cement board or 1/4 exterior plywood. I don't know about waterproof membrane, ask when you buy the cement board. You can get moldings to cover up the fact that the floors are uneven, just remember to pick up your feet. Trying to level would be a nightmare, IMHO! Ripping up the subfloor is a lot of work for nothing.
I would try removing most of the thinset with a hand-held power scraper. You can rent these.
go to Lowes or the HoDepot and take the FREE tile classes .... those instructors are very good .... NUMBER ONE you must float the floor with the tile preparation cement to seal the wood and have a flat surface to lay tile ....
In the UK tile adhesive is made for cement and wooden floors combined as this has a latex type compound in it that makes it harden but stay pliable as well to allow for a bit of movement under the tile. If you have cleaned most of your thinset off and are left with some still on but not higher than say 4mm (preferably less) then I would say just to lay the tiles as if the floor was completely clean. If worried about how to lay the adhesive on an uneven floor do what I have done which is to apply the adhesive to the back of the tile first, using a tile cement applicator with ridges deeper than the high points of the thinset, flip the tile over and lay/tap/level into position. Don't walk on for 36 hrs minimum after laying.
