How To Install Ceramic Tile On Concrete Basement Floor?

Can you install 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.

Can you tile over basement concrete?

Concrete responds poorly to foundation shifts. While you can install tile directly on concrete, problems erupt when the concrete cracks or shifts. All of the movement in concrete is transferred to the tile. Cracks in concrete immediately become cracks in the tile.

Do I need backer board for floor tile 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 cement board would be redundant. The concrete has been painted over, and paint is not an acceptable surface for thin-set adhesive or mortar.

Do I need to seal 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.

Do I need a subfloor over concrete?

While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you’ll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: A subfloor will help insulate against a concrete floor that becomes overly cold in winter.

What type of thinset do you use for tile on concrete?

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.

What is the best flooring to put on a concrete floor?

Ceramic tile is the designer’s choice, with tons of colors and styles. It’s unaffected by moisture and goes directly onto concrete that’s smooth and free of cracks. Vinyl tile and sheet flooring also goes directly over prepared concrete and will withstand even minor flooding with no ill effect.

Do you need a moisture barrier under ceramic tile?

Ceramic Tile and Water



But if moisture seeps through the grout in the joints between tiles, it can degrade the thin-set adhesive used to secure the tile and cause the floor to fail. The grout used to fill the joints between tiles is not naturally waterproof, so it needs to be sealed to prevent moisture infiltration.

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. It just doesn’t work.

Can you use 1/4 inch cement board on floors?

Floors: A 1/4–inch minimum thickness is needed, but thicker panels are also fine. Walls: Use 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch-thick cement board, not 1/4–inch. The extra thickness is needed to span the studs and provide a solid base for the tile.

What is the best underlayment for tile floors?

Exterior-Grade Plywood



Exterior plywood is an acceptable underlayment for tile and is preferred to interior-grade plywoods because the bonding adhesives used are waterproof. If water seeps through the tile installation to the underlayment, it will not cause the wood to swell, as happens with interior-grade plywood.

What is the best backer board for floor tile?

Cement board is a good, reliable backer board that works well on both floors and walls. Keep in mind that most tile setters err on the side of caution and brush a waterproofing membrane on top of cement board when it is in wet areas like showers or tub surrounds.