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Can you 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.
What do you put on concrete 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.
Is underlayment necessary for 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.
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 you lay porcelain tile on concrete?
Concrete provides one of the most stable working platforms in the world and is the preferred foundation layer for a ceramic or porcelain tile installation.
Do I need uncoupling membrane on concrete?
Most commonly, uncoupling membranes are used when laying tile over concrete. Although some substrates absolutely require uncoupling membranes, they can be installed on a range of surfaces, including cement mortar, backerboard, OSB, and plywood.
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.
Do you need cement board on concrete?
Cement Board Not Necessary on Concrete Normally, installing cement board is not regarded as necessary when you are laying tile onto a concrete slab. Since this subfloor is already cementitious, adding a cement board layer would be redundant and even detrimental to the overall project.
Does grout adhere to concrete?
Cement based grout will not stick to cement based grout. Epoxy grout will stick to just about anything. Too much water can cause many grouts to weaken and crack as well as pull the pigments out of the grout, changing the color.
Will mortar bond to sealed concrete?
If the concrete remains rough after getting rid of the sealer, select an epoxy or Portland cement mortar. For damp areas, such as bathrooms or kitchens, use epoxy or Portland cement mortar. Dry-set mortar and adhesives are best for dry areas, such as hallways or bedrooms.
Can I tile over patio slabs?
Yes, you should lay the tiles to a fall, 1 in 40 is about right but you could go more or slightly less than this. Question about DPC is very relevant. You should have 150mm (6 inches) from top of new paving to DPC. If you can’t achieve this then probably best to take up the old slabs and possibly the sub base also.
Do you need a moisture barrier under 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.
Do I want sanded or unsanded grout?
Sanded grout is best for grout lines ranging from 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch. Grout lines wider than 1/2-inch are impractical and will crack and become unstable. Because unsanded grout can also be used for 1/8-inch lines, between the two it is recommended that you use sanded grout.
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.
What is the orange mat under tile?
Ditra is an uncoupling membrane designed for ceramic and stone tile installations on floors. It provides uncoupling to prevent cracked tile and grout. It is made of polyethylene creating a waterproofing layer protecting the substrate.
Can you lay tiles without gap?
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.
Can you pour self-leveling concrete over tile?
Self-leveling concrete creates a highly smooth surface that is also high-strength. Self-leveling concrete can not only be used for leveling concrete, but can be laid on top of any non-flexible surface, such as ceramic tile, LVP, wood, or plywood.
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.
Can I just screw down cement board?
Screw and Joints Do not use drywall screws as they are not recommended to be used to hold the backer board in place. All of your backer board pieces should be cut before they are placed on the floor. It is important to highlight that screws shall not be installed all the way down to the floor joists.
