How to Lay Ceramic Tile Over a Cement Floor
Laying ceramic tile over a cement floor is really no different than laying tile on any other surface. After you've laid out your guide lines you trowel on thinset mortar, rake grooves through it and start setting the individual tiles. But before you can start doing this you have to make sure that the cement is prepared properly to receive the mortar and tiles. If you don't do the prep work you may have problems with your tile floor cracking and with tiles breaking or lifting. Doing the prep work ensures that your tile floor will last. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- TSP
- Pail
- Brush
- Floor leveler
- Concrete sealer
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Chalk line
- Tile
- Tile spacers
- Tile cutter
- Grout
- Grout sealer
Instructions
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1
Thoroughly wash the surface of the concrete to remove dirt, oil and grease. Use something strong like TSP, which can be purchased at hardware stores or building centers.
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2
Look for high or low spots. Use a self-leveler if necessary. These can level floors anywhere from 1/16-inch to 4 inches out of level.
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3
Seal the floor. The sealer acts as a barrier to dampness that might rise up through the concrete from the ground.
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4
Find the center of the floor in both dimensions. Snap chalk lines that cross at the floor's center. Where the two lines meet, start troweling on thinset up to the lines but don't cover them. Set the first tiles along the first two intersecting lines. Work out from the center. Use tile spacers to keep grout lines straight. Cut partial tiles along the sides of the room and at the entryway.
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5
Allow thinset to harden, and then grout the entire floor. Give the grout 72 hours to completely dry, and then seal it.
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Tips & Warnings
Tile spacers must be pulled out before grouting the floor.
TSP is a powerful cleaner. Read manufacturer's directions carefully. Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves when scrubbing with it.
