Question? Can I lay tiles on a concrete floor? Or must I place 1/2 cement board on concrete first.
Help?
Elbert
Question? Can I lay tiles on a concrete floor? Or must I place 1/2 cement board on concrete first.
Help?
Elbert
Source control, ventilation, and filtration are the keys to healthy indoor air quality. Dehumidification is important too.
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Replies
yes
go for it....
use thin set and not mastic....
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WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Concrete is a fantastic base for tile. Make sure any dirt, paint or flakes are cleaned up.
Have a good day
CLiffy
I just did one. Read the thinset label - it says it is ok. I got a wire brush with a handle for leverage and roughed up the surface a bit, shop vaced the debris and laid the tile. One word of caution: If the concrete is cold and the ambient air warms up while you are laying tile the concrete will sweat and may hurt the thinset, so warm up the concrete or avoid situations where the concrete may sweat (water condenses on the warm side of a cold surface, like a bottle of beer).
good luck, Bill
Thanks,
I have this notion that I should first lay backerboard. However, I'm going to place them on the crete.
Thanks to all for the info.
Is the slab cracked? If so you might need a membrane between the surfaces to decouple them. Check out Schluter ,they make some of the best,but the cost goes up. Just make sure you have extra tiles so if any break you can replace.
Edited 4/16/2008 4:36 pm ET by atrident
Why would anyone want to tile a bottle of beer?
The real answer depends on the condition of the slab. If its poorly finished, humpy/hollowed, or cracked, you will have to address those issues first, possibly by using some SLC to obtain a uniform, flat surface.
It also depends to some extent on the size of tiles you plan to lay. Smaller stuff--1x1 or 2x2 or 1" hex mosaïcs--won't crack as easily as the big 12x12 and 18x18 muthas.
Other than those issues, concrete makes a very good base for tile. Remember that CBU is merely a convenient way we use to install a 'modular concrete' floor in places where we wish one existed but it doesn't. Thinset is the way to go, as others have mentioned.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
foolish men call Justice....