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Can I lay tile directly on concrete?
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.
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.
How do you lay tile on uneven concrete?
As a whole you can install tile on an uneven floor, what you need to do first is apply a layer of levelling compound. It will fill in any gaps, and go hard like concrete. You use a trowel to spread it out and make it flat and even.
What should I put down on floor before tiling?
Underlayment is something you put on top of your substrate to prepare it for tiling. The substrate (or subfloor) is the ground, whether it’s made of plywood or cement. Cement board or backer board are the most standard underlayments.
Does concrete need to be sealed before tiling?
Sealing a concrete floor before covering it with tile or carpet is a great idea. Sealing the concrete can prevent condensation and protect the floor. This means your carpet or tile stays dry and thus lowers the chances of mold and mildew building up.
How do you seal a concrete floor before tiling?
You should seal the floor with a suitable primer that is compatible with the adhesive you buy. i.e. buy Ardex primer for Ardex adhesive, BAL primer for BAL adhesives Effectively it stops the draw (the sponge effect of the dry concrete) and creates a better adhesive bond.
Can you lay floor tiles without gaps?
Laying tiles with small gaps also prevents problems in case of mechanical damage to one of them. If the tiles were indeed laid out without joints, it would not have been possible to safely remove one of them. 1.5 to 2-millimetre gaps are enough for safely replacing a tile without damaging the other ones.
What is the cheapest way to level a concrete floor?
There are self-leveling coatings designed to fill gaps and cracks. You could also try using vinyl floor tiles to make the transition more gradual. Probably the easiest (and cheapest) thing to do would be to get a big diamond grinding wheel and bevel down the lip.
What thickness ply to tile on?
When using plywood, you’ll need to ensure it’s at least 12mm or more in thickness to create a rigid surface for your tiles. This, along with your tiles, will raise the level of your flooring, so be sure to bear this in mind before you get started. The alternative is backer board.
Where do you start when laying ceramic tile?
The line crossing at the room’s center are the starting point of the tile. Lay a row of tiles along a straightedge more than halfway across the room. For consistent joints, use tile spacers.
Can you lay ceramic tile without grout lines?
Even with rectified tiles, it is not recommended to lay tiles without grout. Grout helps to protect the tiles against movement in case of the house shifting, it also helps make the tiles easier to care for in wet areas. Whenever possible, use rectified tiles with a 1/16-inch grout joint instead.
What is the thinnest grout line possible?
Smallest size grout lines should not be less than 1/16″. This is an acceptable space that can be properly grouted. When the space between tiles is so little like 1/32″ which is often referred to as “credit card lines” or “penny lines”, it’s not possible to fill that space all the way through the bottom of the tile.
How much gap do you need between ceramic tiles?
If you want a standard look, tile installers recommend grout lines of 1/16 inch for walls and 1/8 inch for floors. For regular-format tiles, between 12 by 12 and 16 by 16 inches, you can stay with those measurements or go up to 3/16, depending on the tile and the look you want.
Can you use plywood to level a concrete floor?
If you’re installing plywood over an existing dry concrete floor, you shouldn’t have any problem. However, a new concrete floor contains a lot of moisture. The moisture level of the concrete should be down to 5.5% before attaching the plywood subflooring.
Can I use mortar to level a concrete floor?
Mortars cannot be used to level or patch a floor – ever! The materials used in mortars render the product unstable once the thickness exceeds the manufacturers’ recommended maximum thickness. We recommend choosing a self-leveler or patch product instead.
How thick can self leveling concrete be poured?
QUIKRETE® Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer (No. 1249-50) can be installed from 5/8 inch (16 mm) thick to a feather edge. For areas deeper than 5/8 inch (16 mm), apply QUIKRETE® Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer (No. 1249-50) in layers no greater than 5/8 inch (16 mm) each.
