Putting Tile Down On Concrete Floor

Installing over wood.

Putting tile down on concrete floor.

I ve completed my first tile floor installation and i put together this video to show you all of the tips and tricks i found along the way. Installing a cement backerboard is crucial when you want a waterproof tile floor that lasts for years without cracking. Installing tile directly on concrete. Installing ceramic tiles over concrete can help to create a more inviting indoor or outdoor living space.

A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches. When it comes to installing a tile floor you will need a rubber mallet spacers a level a tile trowel and thin set or another type of mortar. Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides. One of the first steps in refinishing a basement or turning a garage into a usable room is to put down a new floor.

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. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. Installing ceramic tiles or other stone tiles is not as easy as engineered or laminate wood but it s definitely worthwhile.

To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment such as plywood. Learn how to lay. All you need is regular sweeping and mopping at intervals that depend on how dirty the floor becomes.

It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common. Thin set is cement based but some mortars are labeled as non modified and require a latex polymer admixture that will improve the performance of the mortar and increase bond strength. Concrete floors are durable and easy to clean but not very attractive.