Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Comb the thin-set in one direction so air pockets won't be trapped under tile. Ensure a space of Inch exists all around the edges to allow room for expansion. If you have a concrete subfloor, this isnt an issue. While the tape coat of thin-set hardens, run a putty knife over all the screw heads to scrape off the mushroom bulges around screws. When you choose the tile itself, ask if it requires any special installation steps. Mark the floor joists with chalk lines and drive 2-1/2-in. Cracks in concrete immediately become cracks in the tile. Installing tiles on concrete subfloor requires plenty of preparation, but it can be done without a contractor. While you may gain some benefits from using cement board as an uncoupling surface, a true uncoupling membrane's benefits far exceed this. If you attach the tile to concrete, there are three ways to do it, with the third way being preferred. But if the base is not solid, some compensation can be found with the floor covering itself. Then scrape off the excess grout, holding the float almost upright. Mop the floor with clean water to remove any traces of dust. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. After cutting and fitting, label the location of each one and set them all aside. Then tile directly over the vinyl, following the same steps we used over the backer board. Alternatively, you can purchase a pre-mixed self-leveling compound and use it in the same manner. Continue working on a three-foot square covering each quarter of the room at a time. When you opt for cut sheets, you should apply thin-set mortar to the concrete, then smoothening the membrane sheets using a trowel. Cement-based thin-set and grout can corrode copper. In short, installing cement board between concrete and tile is possible. You can lay tile directly over the existing vinyl as long as its well adhered. If you were to remove a cracked tile from concrete, undoubtedly you would see the same crack pattern below. This keeps the thin-set from drying out too quickly. Mark any high or low spots on the floor with a marker. Cover the entire floor surface of the floor with the tiles in a dry run using your chosen layout. In areas too narrow to apply thinset with the trowel, apply thinset to the back of the tile. When the thin-set is firm but not fully hardened, scrape away any ridges with a putty knife. You will need to apply thinset to the concrete and smooth the membrane sheets down with a trowel. A carbide abrasive hole saw cuts perfect holes for plumbing pipes and fixtures. Then, when the thin-set has hardened for several hours, cut all the perimeter tiles and set them (Photo 12). The less grout you leave on the tiles, the easier cleanup will be. Cut and layout all the pieces before you mix the thin-set (Photos 5 and 6). Adding extra liquid makes grout easier to work with but weakens it. How to Clean Floors: Wood, Tile, Carpet and Everything Else, Do Not Sell My Personal Information CA Residents. Remove high spots on the floor with a hand grinder. This also eliminates the floor tiling repair problem if you install a smaller vanity or pedestal sink in the future. To mark the door for cutting, stack backer board, tile and two layers of cardboard on the floor (see Photo 3). Check on the level, smoothen the compound against the adjoining concrete with a trowel and give it a break to dry. When all the tiles are in place and the thin-set has hardened, remove all the spacers. Mix your grout with water and ensure it doesnt have lumps before using it on the new flooring. When the grout is hard enough, gently wipe the tile with a damp sponge. Otherwise, look for plumbing passageways through the floor. Remove the backer rod from the expansion joints. Then add 10 percent for cutting waste. Push grout into the joints between tiles using a grout float. But that only describes concrete in its perfect, unchanged state. Schluter's DitraandRedgard Uncoupling Matare brands ofpolyethylene membranes with a grid of squares or circles embossed in the face. (Photo 12). Opt to cut sheets of "Ditra" membrane to fit the area you are tiling. Acting as a buffer layer, it is flexible and does not mimic the actions of the concrete. Screw guide boards to the floor following your chosen layout. Let the grout cure overnight before you caulk joints, set the toilet or reinstall the baseboard. The thin-set label tells you which notch size to use relative to tile size. First, establish the center line and snap a dot by using the length and width of the room. Cut perimeter tile so that caulked joints (at tub) are the same width as grouted joints. When you press a tile in place, it's easy to tilt it slightly so that one corner stands higher or lower than neighboring tiles. (Photo 15). Copyright 2022 All American Flooring DFWs Favorite Flooring & Remodeler Since 1989. You can update that drab look to appeal to buyers or as an early project in your new home with just a bit of preparation. Mix the self-leveling underlay in a bucket and pour it at the lowest area of the concrete, and it will level out. Install the first tile against the corner of your center line and push it slightly down to ensure it adheres. Even though the process may seem tedious, it may save you some bucks. Set the two rows parallel to the two most prominent walls. Make a quick sketch of your floor plan and jot down all the dimensions. When the job's done, you can reinstall the old vanity or put in a new one. Ceramic Tile Foundation. Follow manufacturers guidelines for the depth of the thinset for your particular ceramic tile. You can as well use tile nippers if you have to make small intricate cuts. Remove the spacers. Press the tile firmly into the thinset. Temperature and humidity affect drying times on all products such as floor levelers, thinset and grout. First, press adhesive-backed mesh tape over the joints and skim over the tape with thin-set. The Ultimate Guide to Underlayment for Tile. Denise Brown is an education professional who wanted to try something different. The easiest way to see flooring thickness is to pull off a floor register. Use spacers to help keep joints even. If you come across tough spots, scrub them with the scouring pad. Whats a Bladeless Ceiling Fan and Does It Really Work? Keep going until you hit a joist. Use the floor sander to remove the paint. Tile Installation: Backer Board Around a Bathtub, Tile Installation Tips From a Tile Expert, How to Regrout Bathroom Tile: Fixing Bathroom Walls, 10 Common Tiling Mistakes And How to Avoid Them, How to Install Marble Tile Floor: A Tumbled Stone Entryway. Asbestos was used in sheet vinyl and vinyl tile until the mid-1980s. Pass a straightedge tool or piece of scrap lumber with a straight edge over the surface of the bathroom floor. As the house expands and contracts, the flooring does too. Score the tile with the blade on the cutter then break them into two pieces. Leave a 1/8-in. Leaving it in place saves time, of course, but it also reduces asbestos hazard concerns. Handle the sharp edges of tiles with care. Never try to extend the life of thin-set or grout by adding water. And you can select materials from a vast array of colors and textures. Measure at intervals of 16 or 24 inches from the first joist to locate the others. Then make adjustments, trying to achieve these three goals: Use full tiles at doorways and along with the bathtub or shower. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Yours might need 1/2-in. Wipe the surface of your tiles to ensure your flooring is neat. It's usually easiest and most efficient to set tile in two phases. Troubleshoot to ensure your cut tiles are a perfect fit before laying your tiles. Two years and more than 500 articles later, she's enjoying her freelance writing experience for online resources such as Work.com and other online information sites. The dry haze should buff off easily. To prevent asbestos dust from becoming airborne, mist the bit with a spray bottle as you drill. Allow 1/8 inch for an expansion joint. Uncoupling material breaks this chain of transmission. To begin, center rows of tile between walls so you have equal spaces along walls that face each other (Photo 9). Cover the entire floor with a backer board. Using a level, you should determine whether the floor is on a level or not. Effective at uncoupling tile bond from concrete, Helps smooth minor imperfections in concrete. After settling for 20 minutes, clean the grout off the tile surfaces with a damp mop and allow the grout to set for 2 hours before you buff the floor with a cheesecloth. Ask if sanded caulk is available in a color that matches your grout for the floor/tub and floor/wall tile joints. Remove sealer with a floor sander using medium-grit sandpaper. If there are pockmarks and cracks, you can use some leveling compound or filler. Reinstall the toilet. or more, so you'll have to remove and undercut the door. Wipe grout off the tile surface with a damp sponge. If you have to install a backer board, add $2 per square foot to the cost of the tile. To properly install tile over concrete the bathroom slab floor needs to be smooth and level. If you prefer, use a wet saw to cut the tiles. Cut and set the perimeter tiles after the thin-set beneath the full tiles has hardened. Should You Install Cement Board on Concrete For Tile Installations? If there's an unfinished basement below the floor, locating the joists is easy: Go to the basement and drill a couple of 1/4-in. holes up through the floor next to a joist. If theres an unfinished basement or crawlspace below the floor, simply measure the spacing. Set the next tile adjacent to the first. Place the bucket and a inch notched trowel near you and spread the mortar over a 3-by-3 foot area using a thin-set. Before you begin a tile installation, allow any new concrete slab to cure at least 28 days after you pour it. Compensation needs to be made with the substrate, not the tile. Stuff a rag in the hole to block sewer gases. Don't just set each tile into place. Use alkali-resistant tape that's meant for the backer board. Attach it to the new ring you installed. These are often used as waterproofing elements for building shower pans. Wipe them off immediately to avoid ruining the surface of the tile. In this initial step, all you have to do is clean the concrete surface off dust and debris using either a shop vacuum or a broom. Allow it to cure for over a month to ensure a dry, strong surface. Read our, Install Tile on Concrete With a Cement Board, Install Tile on Concrete With an Uncoupling Membrane, Best Types of Tile Backer Board for the Shower, Subfloors and Underlayment for Ceramic Tile Floors. Far denser than plywood and weighing in at a hefty 75 pounds per square foot (at a six-inch depth), concrete is heavy.