"Ended up reinforcing the subfloor with extra plywood and screws before tiling—made a huge difference."
Definitely agree that reinforcing the subfloor helps, but honestly, I've found it's not always necessary depending on your situation. When we renovated our bathroom, I initially thought we'd have to do the whole extra plywood routine too, but after checking underneath, the joists were actually in great shape and spaced pretty close together already. We decided to skip extra reinforcement and just went with a high-quality uncoupling membrane beneath the tile instead.
Two winters later and no cracks or issues yet, even though our house has some pretty noticeable seasonal movement (doors getting sticky in summer, drafty gaps in winter, you know the drill...). I'm not saying reinforcement isn't helpful—clearly it worked well for you—but sometimes it's worth looking at alternative solutions if your structure is already solid enough. Plus, membranes can be a bit easier to install if you're short on time or tools.
I guess my point is, it's always good to assess your specific situation before committing to extra steps and materials. Flexible grout plus the right underlayment can be enough to handle minor shifting without going overboard on reinforcement. Just my two cents.
Good points all around, but honestly, I'd rather err on the side of caution. Had a friend skip reinforcement and ended up with cracked tiles after just one winter...maybe depends on tile type too? Did you use porcelain or ceramic?
Porcelain definitely holds up better overall, but honestly, reinforcement isn't always the make-or-break factor. I've seen ceramic tiles last years without cracking, even in colder climates. Usually, it's more about proper subfloor prep and making sure there's no flex or movement underneath. If your friend's tiles cracked after one winter, I'd bet something else was going on—maybe moisture issues or uneven substrate? Just my two cents from experience...
"Usually, it's more about proper subfloor prep and making sure there's no flex or movement underneath."
Definitely agreed here. I've dealt with a fair share of tile issues, and nine times out of ten, it comes down to what's underneath—not the tile itself. Moisture barriers and ensuring the substrate is level and stable are crucial, especially in bathrooms where humidity fluctuates so much. Even slight movements can cause hairline cracks over time. A bit of extra prep can save a ton of headaches down the road...
"Even slight movements can cause hairline cracks over time."
True enough, but honestly, sometimes the tile itself does matter more than we give it credit for. A few years back, I went all-in on subfloor prep—leveled everything perfectly, moisture barrier done meticulously—and still ended up with cracks because I opted for cheaper ceramic tiles. Lesson learned: good prep helps, but don't underestimate the quality of your materials... or Murphy's Law sneaking into your DIY projects.
