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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 underlayment for ceramic tile on concrete?
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.
Can I tile straight onto a concrete floor?
In most cases, it is OK to lay tiles directly onto concrete. But make sure the surface is free of any contaminants, dust, moisture, etc, as these can prevent the adhesive from bonding. If the concrete floor is not in good condition, or may be at risk of cracking, an uncoupling membrane is recommended.
Do I need to prime concrete floor before tiling?
Priming New Concrete Floors While adhesive manufacturers say you can tile straight onto new concrete or screed, we would strongly recommend the use of a primer to ensure there is a good “key” for the adhesive to take to. Eventually, this can lead to delamination where the tiles simply peel up!May 26, 2021.
Do you need underlayment on concrete?
With a concrete subfloor, you will need an underlayment that acts as a vapor barrier in order to prevent moisture from penetrating through to your laminate installation. The normal choice is a thin foam pad material made of polyethylene or polypropylene, which rolls out in sheets.
Can you put ceramic tile over sealed concrete?
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.
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.
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.
Do you need cement board for tile floor?
Whenever you’re laying tile on a wood subfloor, you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage that could harm your flooring and the structure of your home. Unlike wood or drywall sub-surfaces, cement backerboard will not rot, warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.
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 do you put on concrete floor before tiling?
Level. Use floor leveling compound for large holes or flaws in your cement floor. The compound is a cement-based material that is thick enough to stay where it needs to be, but also flows well to fill in depressions to ensure your floor is flat.
Do you have to seal concrete before tile?
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.
What kind of primer should I use on concrete?
Acrylic/Latex: Because concrete is porous, a water-based or acrylic primer is more likely to soak into the concrete than an oil-based primer, bonding to the substrate and allowing the paint to grip the surface. These primers will also reduce the dust on interior concrete.
Do I need underlayment for laminate flooring over concrete?
If you are installing laminate flooring on a cement subfloor, you should use a vapor underlayment. Vapor underlayments protect your flooring from any moisture that could seep up from the cement subfloor.
Do I need underlayment for vinyl flooring on concrete?
The key to installing luxury vinyl over concrete is to ensure the floor is level and clean. Underlayment isn’t a necessity, but you might consider it to add noise reducing qualities or additional softness to the product. If the concrete is uneven, you will have to level it out.
How do you lay underlay on a concrete floor?
Spray flooring adhesive on the concrete at one end and onto the underlay. Put the underlay down, press down to ensure its stuck well. Then walk down the underlay by shuffling your feet (don’t do it too hard but enough to stretch it slightly). Then repeat of spray both underlay and concrete.
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.
Can you tile over finished concrete?
Tiling can be done over stained concrete with proper preparation. You will need to either restore the concrete so it is close to its original condition or cover the stained concrete with a material such as cement board before tiling over it.
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.
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.
Does tile need an underlayment?
Tile may be strong, but it needs a solid, supportive base. 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 the difference between white and GREY thinset?
The most common adhesive for setting tiles is thinset mortar—that is, mortar designed to be applied in a layer no more than 3⁄16 in. If you intend to use a dark-colored grout, choose a gray mortar; choose white if your grout will be a light color.
What is difference between modified and unmodified thinset?
Unmodified thinset has been around forever. Unlike unmodified mortar, which consists only of a blend of Portland cement, sand, and water retention agents, modified thinset includes additional retention products, such as latex polymers, which can increase its performance and strength.
