Prepare the Subfloor. However, a homeowner may need to raise the floor slightly before installing tile and lack the experience or time to install a mortar bed. References. If you attach the tile to concrete, you need to take special precautions by uncoupling the tile from the concrete. Floor filler is a type of portland cement mortar, much like the material used to fill any voids in an existing floor. Why don't libraries smell like bookstores? Ceramic tile is a tough flooring surface that is as hard to remove as it is to damage after it is in place. Remove any carpet or other flooring. I have a basement bathroom where that wasn't done, and the natural stone tile is often covered with minerals that have worked there way up through the tile. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. My contractor wants to install … Some lubricants can also be very helpful. and Because the self-leveling compound creates the equivalent of a concrete subfloor, your new floor type must be one that uses an adhesive or mortar for placement. Thick layer of sand-cement mixture must be used to lay tile traditionally in lump and/or to adjust the floor level, in order to gain its bonding mechanism. Wipe them off immediately to avoid ruining the surface of the tile. This article has been viewed 43,933 times. Use a thin-set product to install ceramic tile over existing tiles. Never install tiles onto fresh concrete. So, whether you go for vinyl or wood, here is a handy guide to laying flooring on concrete. [2] X Expert Source Art Fricke Home Renovation & Repair Specialist Expert Interview. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. You will need to apply thinset to the concrete and smooth the membrane sheets down with a trowel. Mortar isn’t traditionally used in place of grout because it dries differently and can crack or allow leaks. Concrete Only To install peel-and-stick vinyl directly onto a concrete sub-floor, the concrete must be … When you work on a concrete floor, you can use a tool with a sharp blade that looks like a razor. The wrong product can compromise the integrity of a tile floor. We purchased 8”x8” tiles, spacers and thinset, making sure their design and color match with the rest of the room. Where you have imperfect spots, use shims. Dry laying your tiles. Find all straight lumber, then lay it on the floor and try to level it. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Lay-Tile-on-Concrete-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Lay-Tile-on-Concrete-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Lay-Tile-on-Concrete-Step-1.jpg\/aid4105775-v4-728px-Lay-Tile-on-Concrete-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"