How To Install Tile Floor On Cement

Its a lot like tiling a shower.

How to install tile floor on cement.

Step 3 plan your layout. A concrete sealer prevents moisture from staying underneath the ceramic tiles. Installing a cement backerboard is crucial when you want a waterproof tile floor that lasts for years without cracking. For ceramic tile floors the cement board usually rests on a plywood subfloor minimum 5 8 inch thick exterior grade plywood or osb if new ceramic tile is being laid on an existing floor the cement board can usually be laid right over the existing floor finish provided it is in good shape and the extra floor thickness is not a problem.

Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. Im on the next step to my bathroom remodel how to tile a floor. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. To install floor tile start by laying down some cement board if you re tiling over just a subfloor.

A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches. It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common. The standard thickness of floor grade cement tiles is usually 5 8 16mm up to 3 4 18mm for larger format tiles. Allow for adequate room under doors and consider the height difference when transitioning to other materials.

Then starting at the center of the room and working outward arrange all of the tiles in your desired pattern. The next step is to apply a concrete sealer on the floor surface. 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. Installing tile directly on concrete.

This is an optional step but can really benefit your tile installation in the long run. Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment such as plywood. Using an acid based cleaner or deep cleaner of your choice clean the concrete and allow it to dry thoroughly.