How to Lay Ceramic Tile on Concrete Basement Floor
New homeowners considering options for finishing their basements often overlook using ceramic tile as floor covering for their concrete basement floors. In the past, ceramic tiles have had the reputation of being too fragile for use in high-traffic areas. With newer clay compositions, however, there are now several highly durable, attractive ceramic tile options from which to choose. A major benefit of using ceramic tile to cover a concrete basement floor is that the tile can be installed directly over the concrete without needing added structural support. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Ceramic tile
- Thinset mortar
- Tile nippers
- Level
- Rubber mallet
- Sponge
- Chalk line
- Grout
- Notched trowel
- Spacers
- Protective eyewear
- Latex gloves
- Bucket
- Water
Instructions
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Inspect the concrete for cracks and uneven areas. Cracks must be repaired, and extremely uneven areas need to be leveled prior to installing the ceramic tile.
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Clean the concrete of debris by sweep and using a magnetic dust mop. You may also want to do a light mop with a diluted solution of bleach and water. Allow the concrete to dry completely before proceeding.
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3
Dry-set the tile to determine the exact pattern that you will use to install the tile. Use tile nippers to cut tile pieces to size. After dry setting, use a chalk line to make horizontal and vertical lines to divide the room into quadrants. You can use these lines to help you make sure that you are applying your tiles square to the room. Remove the tile pieces and prepare to add the thinset mortar.
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Mix the thinset mortar according to manufacturer's directions. Beginning in one quadrant, apply the thinset to the concrete with the flat side of the notched trowel. Then use the notched side to comb the thinset out to your desired consistency, approximately 1/3 inch.
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Set the ceramic tile into the mortar. Using the rubber mallet, gently tap the tile into place. Don't forget to use the spacers to leave room for the grout. Complete the room and then allow the mortar to cure as directed by the manufacturer.
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6
Mix the grout, if necessary, as recommended by the manufacturer. Remove the spacers and apply the grout with a sponge. Allow the grout to set for several hours. Then use a soft cloth to wipe the towels free of grout. Allow the grout to cure completely as directed by the manufacturer---generally 24 to 48 hours---before walking on the floor.
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References
- Photo Credit Footprints in Tile image by bnstrong from Fotolia.com
