Installing Tile Over Cement Floor

Concrete floors are durable and easy to clean but not very attractive.

Installing tile over cement floor.

Laying floor tile over concrete is not a technically demanding job. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor.

A concrete sealer prevents moisture from staying underneath the ceramic tiles. It can be physically strenuous and messy but it is a home improvement project that will allow you to cut labor costs by doing it yourself. Step 1 preparing the concrete. If you feel that despite all precautions the basement floor may get wet put down 2 by 4 inch sleepers cover with plastic and then install the plywood as the subfloor.

Step 3 plan your layout. 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 tile directly on concrete. The next step is to apply a concrete sealer on the floor surface.

Before you begin to lay the tile over your concrete slab make sure the concrete is properly prepared. For ceramic tile nail cement boards to the concrete floor with concrete nails so they won t move then apply mastic tile and grout. It will also provide a stronger adhesion between mortar and concrete. Using an acid based cleaner or deep cleaner of your choice clean the concrete and allow it to dry thoroughly.

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. One of the first steps in refinishing a basement or turning a garage. Installing ceramic tiles over concrete can help to create a more inviting indoor or outdoor living space. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material.

Installing over wood. Once finished a porcelain tile installation over concrete will last generations ensuring your investment is beyond a mere one to five year warranty that some floor finishes have.