Ceramic floor on cement floor?

Question

Is there anything special that needs to be done to a cement basement floor before installing ceramic tile to it?

Answer 1

I live in my mother-in-law's walk-out basement apartment with a sunny southern exposure. We researched our options when installing new (and warmer) flooring. Our friendly lumber store was able to give us a whole bunch of options that were legal so that the house insurance people and the mortgage company wouldn't get funny on us.

We found this recycled plastic matierial that was invented for roofing flat-topped commercial buildings. Since then, they have come out with one for sub-floors. It comes in rolls and 4' by 8' sheets.

It is a durable dimpled sheet. It reminds me of the end of a Lego block or a gigantic muffin tray. You place the dimpled sheets directly onto the concrete. No need to fasten, but the seams of the sheets need to be taped where they butt together. The sheets cannot be overlapped. We used a 4' level to check for eveness and put extra bits of the sheeting underneath in low areas.

Next door has ceramic tile directly on their concrete floor and no one will use that room for half the year because it is too COLD!

I'd rethink that option. We went with wood laminate, which turned out to be very economical. It gave us the airier feel that so many basements do not have. Judith

Answer 2

The contractor should first lay a thin sheet called an underfloor over the cement. That makes the floor even for the tile and allows better adherence. If you set the tile only in the bare cement floor, the tiles will eventually start o crack and break due to cement movement with cold/hot weather.

Answer 3

Usually they will put a layer of underfloor (don't remember the exact name) over the cement and then lay the tile on top of that. It's the same thing they do when they lay tile over any floor, so nothing special about cement.

Answer 4

you should lay a sub floor down first to make sure that your tile floor is going to be level. I have seen it done with plywood, but since you are doing your basement you may want to check out your home improvement store and see if they recommend something for basement floors.

Answer 5

I didn't use anything on downstairs upstairs I had to use baker board but you can get this blue type stuff and Lowes or Home depot that you lay under. I would call some tile people and ask.....