Putting Tile Down On Concrete Floor

One of the first steps in refinishing a basement or turning a garage into a usable room is to put down a new floor.

Putting tile down on concrete floor.

Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment such as plywood. All you need is regular sweeping and mopping at intervals that depend on how dirty the floor becomes. 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. Installing over wood.

Installing ceramic tiles or other stone tiles is not as easy as engineered or laminate wood but it s definitely worthwhile. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches. 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. 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. Learn how to lay. Installing a cement backerboard is crucial when you want a waterproof tile floor that lasts for years without cracking.

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. Concrete floors are durable and easy to clean but not very attractive. The great thing about ceramic tiles is that they are almost maintenance free if installed correctly. Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides.

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. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material.