How To Install Ceramic Tile Floor On Cement

A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile.

How to install ceramic tile floor on cement.

Installing over wood. Step 3 plan your layout. 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. Use a polymer modified thin set a type of mortar to attach the backer board to the subfloor.

Install a cement based backer board following the manufacturer s instructions. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment such as plywood. 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. Lay the tiles into the mortar and using the spacers make sure you are running even with the chalk line.

The next step is to apply a concrete sealer on the floor surface. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. As you move on to the subsequent rows use the spacers to keep your pattern square. It will also provide a stronger adhesion between mortar and concrete.

This is an optional step but can really benefit your tile installation in the long run. This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches.

A concrete sealer prevents moisture from staying underneath the ceramic tiles. Steps part 1 of 4. Installing tile directly on concrete. Once a tile is set try to avoid touching it again.