How To Install Ceramic Tile Floor On Cement

Installing tile directly on concrete.

How to install ceramic tile floor on cement.

Steps part 1 of 4. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. Once a tile is set try to avoid touching it again. The next step is to apply a concrete sealer on the floor surface.

As you move on to the subsequent rows use the spacers to keep your pattern square. Before you lay any sort of tile whether it is stone ceramic or peel and stick vinyl you must prepare your concrete floor to ensure that the tiles will go down properly and stay where they re. 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. Installing over wood.

Install a cement based backer board following the manufacturer s instructions. If you take the time to level the floor install a membrane and layout your tile properly you can improve the look of a concrete floor within a week. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile.

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. Step 3 plan your layout. A concrete sealer prevents moisture from staying underneath the ceramic tiles. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches.

Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment such as plywood. Lay the tiles into the mortar and using the spacers make sure you are running even with the chalk line. This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Use a polymer modified thin set a type of mortar to attach the backer board to the subfloor.