Installing Tile On Cement Floor

Installing a cement backerboard is crucial when you want a waterproof tile floor that lasts for years without cracking.

Installing tile on cement floor.

Thin set is cement based but some mortars are labeled as non modified and require a latex polymer admixture. Using a circular saw cut panels to fit measured bathroom and use a jigsaw to cut holes as needed to accommodate the toilet and other bathroom fixtures. How to install cermamic tiles on concrete floors a step by step guide. Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides.

When installing a ceramic tile floor on a concrete subfloor you don t have to worry about flexing as long as the concrete slab is at least 1 1 8 inch thick which most slabs are. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. 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. Otherwise you do.

Ceramic tile flooring is considered to be one of the most cost effective and low maintenance flooring materials available. November 21 2019 july 11 2017 by the flooring lady. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. Using an acid based cleaner or deep cleaner of your choice clean the concrete and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Installing tile directly on concrete. Attaching an underlayment of cement board to sub flooring provides a level and sturdy surface to which bathroom tile can be easily attached. It must be easy to work with and it must adequately fill in gaps between the tile and the substrate. It cannot cure too fast.

Installing over wood. Tile adhesive is expected to hold the tile in place not just for years but for decades without fail. Installing cement board over a concrete subfloor. Concrete expands and contracts and that type of movement can also crack the tiles and the grout.

If you have a concrete subfloor then you should not be contemplating installing cement board over it. Chipboard cushioned vinyl flooring particle boards of any type oriented strand board osb interior grade plywood tongue and groove planking and hardwood floors are unsuitable substrates for direct installation of ceramic tile. Installing ceramic tiles over concrete can help to create a more inviting indoor or outdoor living space. It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common.

I know it seems like a smooth surface and it seems like it may fix some of the issues with the concrete floor but don t do it.