Can I Tile Directly onto Plaster Board? Advice and information on tiling and fixing tiles to a variety of surfaces

[sam the plumber]

i'm using Travertine Tiles in a titchy shower room (1400mm length by 700mm wide) and i was wondering whether or not i could put the tiles directly onto the plaster board without skim coating them.

urgent advice required for a desperate man (and customer!!!)

many thanks

[welsh brickie]

your best installing a cement board or use aquaboard, before installation, standard plasterboard wont last

[sam the plumber]

thanks welsh brickie, I've taken your advice on board (pun unintended)

with regard to floor tiles, what thickness ply would you say is necessary to lay on top of wooden floor boards? also how would you secure the shower tray to the floor? with dry mix cement? grab adhesive?

*I've been plumbing for some years now (went to college, got my GNVQ level 3 and all that, for what its worth!) but I've only just started doing actual whole bathroom installs so your advice is GREATLY appreciated. By the way, the house i'm enhancing my tiling skills on is my uncles house so you needn't fear for the customer!

Sam

[welsh brickie]

you need 6mm ply on the floor screwed down every 150mm, bed the shower tray with silicone, good luck practice makes perfect