I am wanting to lay ceramic or porcelin tile on my concrete floor. Should I put some type of vinyl sheet down inbetween the tile and floor. Someone told me that if the concrete moves this will prevent the tiles from breaking. Is this true. I haven't seen anything like this at the DIY stores.
2006-11-20 08:01:44 · 6 answers · asked by Flyboy in Red 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Unless you happen to be on a fault line or in an area where the water table is constantly high,,, and the slab was originally poured by someone totally incompetent,,, YOU have little to worry about.
NO YOU DO NOT need substrate OVER concrete.
I've installed thousands of sq. ft. of tile, over all manner of substrate, All you need do is assure that the floor is level, has no serious voids, and apply Thin Set with a 1/4 took trowel, set the tile,,,after properly squaring the area, use 1/4 inch spacers, allow set time, add grout, clean up, and enjoy.
Steven Wolf
2006-11-20 13:49:37 · answer #1 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a few options.
If you're already on concrete, good. If not, rip up what's there. Trust me, its worth it. If you just can't, then ARDEX is a feather-finish concrete you can spread very thinly to give you the sticky. (good for cracks too)
Don't use a vnyl sheet - you're more likely to screw this up than actually benefit from using it at all. It really doesn't do a whole lot. Maybe better to use an expensive adhesive than mortar if you're worried about movement.
Otherwise, lay out everything first, then use a speed-set latex admixed mortar.
2006-11-20 16:48:49 · answer #2 · answered by absolut_john 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's up to you. If you have reason to believe the concrete underneath may fracture.....it may be new and untested over time..then an anti-fracture membrane is a good idea. Realize you'll need a latex modified thinset to set the tiles.
2006-11-20 16:12:37 · answer #3 · answered by fluffernut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you don't need any foreign material under tile if there is a crack in the concrete you could put some membrane on it that's all you need tile should stick directly to concrete or tile backer boards good luck
2006-11-20 16:53:16 · answer #4 · answered by george e 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lay it directly on the concrete floor. If it's on vinyl, there's no way it can hold.
2006-11-20 16:10:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no such thing as safe tile laying. just lay it on concrete
2006-11-20 20:49:10 · answer #6 · answered by T C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋