Limestone-Look Bathroom Floor
About This Project
This bathroom floor installation was completed in a 1930s craftsman bungalow in Belmont Shore — a neighborhood where the subfloor conditions under old bathrooms require careful evaluation before any tile goes down. The original subfloor was 3/4" plank subfloor over 2x8 joists, with visible deflection when walking near the center of the room. We reinforced the subfloor with a layer of 1/2" plywood fastened in a staggered pattern to meet the L/360 deflection standard, then installed Schluter DITRA uncoupling membrane before tiling.
The matte cream limestone-look porcelain tiles were selected to complement the wood vanity and the overall warm, natural palette of the renovated bathroom. The matte finish was an intentional choice over polished — matte surfaces are more forgiving in older homes where the subfloor, even after reinforcement, has more inherent character than a concrete slab. The freestanding tub sits on the tile floor, so the layout was planned to center full tiles in the tub area where they are most visible.
Project Details
| Service | Bathroom & Shower Tile |
|---|---|
| Area | Belmont Shore |
| Materials | Matte cream limestone-look porcelain, DITRA uncoupling membrane, sanded grout |
| Scope | Residential — bathroom floor in 1930s craftsman bungalow |
| Timeline | Multi-day install (includes subfloor reinforcement) |
What We Did
Subfloor deflection assessment, 1/2" plywood reinforcement layer fastened in staggered pattern
DITRA uncoupling membrane installed over reinforced subfloor
Layout centered on tub area, dry-fit to confirm balanced perimeter cuts
Tile set in DITRA mortar, sanded grout, silicone at all wall-floor transitions
Interested in a similar project? Contact us or call (626) 602-3062.
