Ceramic Tile On Concrete Floor Prep

One of the first steps in refinishing a basement or turning a garage.

Ceramic tile on concrete floor prep.

Inspect the floor and repair cracks pits holes or other uneven patches. How to prepare for laying tile over a concrete floor. To prepare your concrete subfloor make sure that it can accept water penetration. Determine how much flooring and materials will be needed.

If you discovered any defects on the floor fill them with a concrete patch or self leveling compound to achieve a flat surface that s ready to receive ceramic tiles. Add about 10 to that number to account for any possible mistakes and warped boards. Seal off the area with poly sheeting. Most floor tiles made from the 1920s to the 1960s contain asbestos and require special procedures for removal.

Use a trowel to apply and use the edge to ensure the patch has edges level with the surrounding concrete. A concrete floor is a good base for laying ceramic tiles provided it is level and free of cracks or abrasions. Multiply length times width of the room. If it tests positive follow these asbestos abatement procedures.

Cracks and depressions may create weak spots that cause tile to crack in the future. Additionally a steps must be taken to ensure that a concrete floor will create a solid bond. Concrete floors are durable and easy to clean but not very attractive. Test by sprinkling water on various areas of the subfloor.

When you take time to prepare the concrete floor you ll have a better chance of creating an even tile design that looks great and is built to last. If you re unsure about yours remove a tile and send it to a local asbestos abatement firm for testing. Self leveling compound can be purchased at your local home improvement store. How to prepare concrete floor for ceramic tile.

Patch little cracks or holes with a cement patching compound. Remove any carpet or other flooring. As with a wooden subfloor a concrete subfloor must be level for successful tile installation. Prepare the subfloor repair cracks and holes.

However laying vinyl flooring over concrete requires a bit more preparation. If you have a vinyl floor you may be able to install your flooring directly on top of it. A sound surface is necessary when preparing concrete floor for tile installation. If you re going to install tiles in wet areas such as bathrooms and balconies you need to apply a waterproofing membrane or paint first.

Use concrete filler or a similar floor patching compound to repair the damage.