Tile Over Concrete Slab

Before you begin to lay the tile over your concrete slab make sure the concrete is properly prepared.

Tile over concrete slab.

Covering concrete with paver bricks is much easier than pouring new concrete or laying paving stones the traditional way. Things you will need level leveling compound rounding stone broom chalk line tool tile adhesive notched trowel tile leveler rubber mallet tile cutter paper grout rubber float toothbrush sponge. Applying strips of uncoupling membrane between a concrete slab and a tile floor can help prevent cracks in the slab from affecting the finished surface. Tsp is a high strength cleaner which is useful for removing dirt grease and oil from your existing surface.

As long as the concrete slab is clean flat and free of active cracks you can lay title directly on the concrete floor using thin set adhesive. Use a polymer modified dry set mortar adhesive that s rated for outdoor use. The concrete should be properly cured be level to 1 4 inch in 10 feet and have a steel trowel or fine broom finish. Larger tiles will require a larger notch.

Mix up a bucket of tsp tri sodium phosphate solution. Scrub the floor with a brush and tsp and allow it to dry thoroughly. Hydrostatic water pressure is when water from a source higher than the slab is subjecting the slab to water pressure that results in water literally migrating to the surface of the concrete slab. Guide to installing tile over concrete slabs.

Assess your slab this project will work with most patios. Here we ll walk you through how to lay paving stones over concrete. Tile can contribute thermal mass to a passive solar house and to christa campbell it would make a more appealing finish floor than concrete. It requires less skill and less time and it s a whole lot easier on your back.

Installing tile outdoors on a concrete patio. Choose a grout that resists stains and fading. Small cracks caused by shrinkage usually do not present a problem. Cover the slab completely with the tile adhesive and apply it to the back of the tiles as well.

But larger cracks especially those that are higher on one side than the other may telegraph through the tile and cause it to crack. Although tile can be placed directly over a concrete slab products such as schluter s ditra are designed to separate or uncouple the tile from any potential movement in the substrate and. How to lay porcelain tile over a concrete floor things you will need. Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete.

Wear safety gear when operating a tile saw or the cutting board. Installing tile directly on concrete. A typical 12 inch by 12 inch tile requires a 3 8 inch notched trowel. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material.

Tiles can be applied directly to a clean smooth concrete slab with a latex portland cement mortar.