Concrete Floor Prep For Porcelain Tile

How to prepare for laying tile over a concrete floor.

Concrete floor prep for porcelain tile.

The next step is to apply a concrete sealer on the floor surface. A concrete sealer prevents moisture from staying underneath the ceramic tiles. Concrete floors are durable and easy to clean but not very attractive. This guide will show you how to prepare your subfloor for a tile installation project to ensure that it s fit to support ceramic or porcelain tile.

A concrete floor is a good base for laying ceramic tiles provided it is level and free of cracks or abrasions. That old basement floor with the crumbling vinyl tile may look hopeless but with a little scraping and a few strips of crack isolation membrane you can turn it into a perfect base for new ceramic tile. However you re not out of the woods. This is an optional step but can really benefit your tile installation in the long run.

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. Concrete expands and contracts and that type of movement can also crack the tiles and the grout. This option works best when the concrete floor is in good condition so take care to follow all of the steps below to. In many cases you can lay tile directly on the concrete surface which is naturally hard and durable.

Take a look at the two most common options for preparing a concrete floor. Self leveling compound can be purchased at your local home improvement store. How to prepare concrete floor for ceramic tile. Install tile directly on the concrete floor.

It will also provide a stronger adhesion between mortar and concrete. Step 3 plan your layout. Preparing a subfloor is an essential step for installing floor tile it provides a level surface that will allow the tiles to properly stay in place. Using an acid based cleaner or deep cleaner of your choice clean the concrete and allow it to dry thoroughly.