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A: It’s perfectly acceptable to put tile directly on concrete — with a couple of caveats. First, it is important to determine if there is moisture coming up from the slab. Those products should help prevent any cracks in the slab from damaging the newly installed tile.
Do I need to prep concrete floor for tile?
Although you don’t need to install an underlayment between the concrete and the tile, you need to prepare the surface before placing the tile. After all, cracks and uneven areas in the concrete can cause damage to the tile above, and uncontrolled moisture in the concrete can destroy the mortar and loosen the tiles.
Do I need to seal concrete before tiling?
You need to clean any paint, sealant or glues from the surface of the concrete. Concrete sealant or paint prevents the adhesive from sticking properly. Let the surface of the concrete completely dry before installing tile.
Can ceramic tile be installed over a sealed concrete floor?
Attaching any tile product to sealed concrete is strongly advised against without first removing the sealer. The unmodified thinset would be the recommendation for use ON TOP of the DITRA when porcelain tile was used. DITRA is in fact a crack membrane but really isn’t intended to SOLVE any moisture problems.
Can I tile directly on concrete floor?
A: It’s perfectly acceptable to put tile directly on concrete — with a couple of caveats. First, it is important to determine if there is moisture coming up from the slab. Those products should help prevent any cracks in the slab from damaging the newly installed tile.
How do you prepare a concrete floor for tile?
Preparing Cement for Floor Tile Clean. Start by sweeping your concrete floor to get rid of all dust and debris. Then clean with a wet mop of plain water. Dry. Ensure your floor has thoroughly dried before proceeding. Level. Use floor leveling compound for large holes or flaws in your cement floor.
What to use to seal concrete floor before tiling?
There are specific preparation requirements for anhydrite screed – assuming these have been done, you will then need to use a good quality acrylic primer to seal the floor. Two coats will be required at 90 degrees to each other i.e. one coat one way across the room and another coat the other way.
What do I put on concrete before tiling?
You can install a CBU or cement board on the concrete, then the tile on top of that. Finally, you can use an uncoupling membrane between the tile and the concrete.
How do you waterproof a concrete floor before tiling?
For that reason, it is best to use an elastomeric, crack-prevention membrane to both seal the floor and protect your tile installation from failure. These membranes prevent water from seeping up through the concrete and into the mortar as well allowing the thinset to cure and preventing future mold or mildew growth.
Can you put flooring over sealed concrete?
While concrete sealer may appear dry, it cures slowly over time. It is best to wait several weeks after application before installing your tile.
Do you need a moisture barrier under ceramic tile?
During patching, most people usually wonder if they would need a moisture barrier under tiles. Well, yes. A moisture barrier should be installed to protect the flooring against moisture or moisture vapor.
How do you remove sealer from concrete?
Start by removing any visible peeling and flaking and use a solvent based stripper such as Xylene to remove the previous sealer. (If concrete was dyed or stained, using Xylene can damage or change the color of the concrete.) Pressure wash the surface and allow concrete to completely dry.
Does mortar stick to concrete?
Concrete slab was the foundation, original tile installation had mortar applied directly to concrete slab. Concrete, mortar or similar materials are not designed to stick or bond to old surfaces. You will not get any satisfactory results if you simply add new mortar to old.
What kind of Thinset do you use for concrete floors?
Modified thinset is the product of choice for most tile installations because of its increased strength and bonding with minimal shrinkage, which means a reduced chance of cracks forming in the tile. WarmlyYours Radiant Heating recommends modified thinset mortar for nearly all tile and stone installations.
Can you use SBR as a primer for tiling?
A multi-use synthetic polymer primer and admixture, BAL Bond SBR can be used as a bonding agent for adding to mortars used in screeding, plaster, rendering, bricklaying, pointing and repairs and as a primer for tile fixing onto timber, plaster, screeds, rendering or vinyl tiles.
What is underlayment for tile?
An underlayment is the solid stabilizing layer directly below the tile and the tile adhesive (usually a thinset mortar). Using the wrong one can spell disaster for your tile installation. These poor tiles were installed improperly; they never stood a chance.
What is SBR primer?
Product description. BAL Bond SBR is a multi-purpose bonding and priming agent for both walls and floors. Priming a surface before you level or tile it will improve the physical properties of mortars. You’ll notice improvements in your mortar’s adhesion, durability, flexibility, waterproofing and workability.
How do you waterproof a concrete floor?
Step 1 – Remove any paints, sealers, tile adhesive, efflorescence, and oils from the concrete. Step 2 – Shop-vac the surface of the concrete removing loose or crumbling concrete, mortar, dust, and dirt. Step 3 – Seal the concrete walls and floor against moisture and water vapor with RadonSeal Concrete Sealer.
Do you need underlay for vinyl flooring on concrete?
Do you need underlay for vinyl flooring on concrete? If the concrete floor is level and clean, vinyl underlay is not a necessity, but because of noise reduction and other qualities of underlay, it is worth considering. If the concrete floor is uneven it will need levelling.
Do I need a vapor barrier under tile flooring?
A moisture barrier helps control the water vapor’s movement to help protect your floors. Therefore, if you’re installing floors in an area that sees moisture, even a little, a vapor barrier is needed.
Can you tile over a damp floor?
Short Answer: Yes, you can tile a damp basement if it’s rising damp, but it’s very important to use breathable tiles, such as unsealed quarry tiles or natural stone tiles that have been treated with a water-based sealer, such as LTP Mattstone H2O.
