How To Install Ceramic Floor Tile Over Concrete

Although tile can be placed directly over a concrete slab products such as schluter s ditra are designed to separate or uncouple the tile from any potential movement in the substrate and protect the tile and grout from cracking.

How to install ceramic floor tile over concrete.

With the proper tools laying a tile floor is a manageable do it yourself project if you want to save costs. This article discusses and compares the properties of ceramic floor tile granite tile marble tile natural stone and agglomerate floor tiles. Before you begin to lay the tile over your concrete slab make sure the concrete is properly prepared. This assumes that the floor underneath is solid concrete and that there are no cracks in the existing tile indicating underlying problems in the concrete.

Concrete provides one of the most stable working platforms in the world and is the preferred foundation layer for a ceramic or porcelain tile installation. Using an acid based cleaner or deep cleaner of your choice clean the concrete and allow it to dry thoroughly. Skip this step and we guarantee your new tile will crack right over the cracks in the concrete. Then prime the concrete see photo 2 with the recommended solution consult the membrane manufacturer s literature.

The attempt to install it directly on rough concrete without preparation will lead to cracked and broken tiles as well as to the failure of the tile to adhere to the surface. Installing ceramic tiles over concrete can help to create a more inviting indoor or outdoor living space. Laying floor tile over concrete is not a technically demanding job. If your old ceramic tile is worn or dated you can lay new tile right over the old and avoid the huge job of tearing out the old tile.

Ceramic tiles need a smooth flat surface for correct installation so raw concrete floors have some installation problems that will increase preparation time. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. And the result is hard wearing and attractive flooring. Tile can contribute thermal mass to a passive solar house and to christa campbell it would make a more appealing finish floor than concrete.

Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete. Let the primer dry and then apply the membrane photos 3 and 4. Examine the floor and see if there. It may not be the easiest to install but it s not that hard either.

In fact pros do it all the time. In this article i m going to show you how to install ceramic tiles on a concrete floor substrate. Cut the membrane so it s 1 1 2 times the width of your tiles. Installing tile directly on concrete.

Step 1 preparing the concrete.