Can I Tile Over a Plywood Countertop?

Creating a Border

• The first step to tiling over a plywood countertop requires creating a border around the rim of the countertop. This border lines up with the countertop edges and provides a wall within which you can pour the mortar used to create the tile bed. Before placing the wall, you should create long slits in the plywood countertop to allow air to circulate and then cover the countertop with roofing felt. The wall itself is made by applying metal strips to the countertop edges with an inch or so of the metal sticking up above the edge of the plywood.

Preparing to Mortar

• Once the walls for the mortar bed have been placed, you should add wire mesh to the top of the roofing felt, between those walls. Secure this mesh to the plywood countertop by stapling the mesh directly through the roofing felt. Once you have all of the coverings and borders in place for the mortar bed, you can follow the instructions on the mortar bag to mix a batch of mortar for the countertop. The Tile Doctor website recommends using the directions listed for wall mortar if the manufacturer doesn’t include countertop directions.

Make the Mortar Bed

• Once you have the mortar mixed up, you must spread the mortar over the prepared countertop. To speed up the process, you may want to use a spade to scoop the mortar onto the plywood countertop surface and then use a trowel to smooth the mortar down. When creating the mortar bed, use enough mortar so that it raises higher than the walls that you created with the metal strips. Place a straightedge from one wall to the other and drag the straightedge over the surface to skim off excess mortar.

Add Stability

• Once you have the initial mortar bed completed, you should mix up a second batch of mortar with just enough water to make the mortar hold firmly together. Add this mortar to the top of the mortar bed and use a trowel to pack it into the top of the softer mortar, skimming off any mortar that squeezes out. The mortar bed should be allowed to dry for approximately 24 hours before the installation of tile.