Installing tile on a concrete slab
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Installing tile on a concrete slab
I am planning to install ceramic tile in my kitchen which currently has a vinyl floor. Can the tile be installed directly on the concrete? I am somwhat resistant to putting Durarock down as I am afraid the adhesvie may not hold and it would also raise the floor level.
Any susggestions?
Any susggestions?
#2
Member
The first thing you need to do here is remove the vinyl and scrape any adhesive down to the bare concrete as best as possible. You cannot put durock or any other cement board over a concrete slab. The cement board underlayments are made to go over framed plywood or osb subfloors. You can install the tile directly to the concrete slab. The concrete slab needs to be clean, and free of any sealers or paints. It also has to be crack free for the most part. A few hairline cracks in the slab will probably be ok, providing one side of the crack is not raised up higher than the other side. If some hairline cracks are present, its a real good idea to use an uncoulpling membrane such as ditra over the slab, as this will isolate any further movement of the slab from transferring though to the tile which can cause cracks in the tile and loose cracked grout.
#4
You do not want to lay tile over vinyl or lenolium if that floor is coming up anywhere. You want a solid surface to lay tile.
I would recommend getting a heat gun (not a hair dryer), floor scraper (available at Home Depot type places), and pull that old floor up.
It is a pain to do sometimes, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Sometimes you will get lucky and the whole floor will pull up without to much effort.
If you do choose to lay over another flooring, make sure it is clean! You want the thinset to adhere to a good surface.
If it's for a kitchen, you have to take into account the new height if you lay over the old floor. Some people forget this, then they have to cut their countertop in order to get the dishwasher out.
If you currently do not have a concrete slab, it's a whole other ball game. Let us know if you are not on a slab.
#6
Member
The vinyl needs to be removed. Read this also.
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=152521
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=152521
Last edited by HeresJohnny; 01-08-07 at 07:03 AM.
#8
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
tile over concrete
I have the same problem and most of the answers come back, remove the old covering. My problem then becomes, how clean must the concrete be. There is still residual glue and I'am sure I cannot get it all up. Also to complicate the installation it is in a screened in porch that is unheated or cooled. Will this be a problem for ceramic tile?
#9
You will never get a slab perfectly clean without a concrete sander. Some residual adhesive is ok. The thinset will go right over this. You just dont want to have large areas of old adhesive even the thinset may set fine over it.
I used a floor scraper, a HEAT gun, and some adhesive remover paste, all from Home Depot to take up my adhesive. It does take time, but it will come up.
I used a floor scraper, a HEAT gun, and some adhesive remover paste, all from Home Depot to take up my adhesive. It does take time, but it will come up.
#11
New Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Just an FYI- You might find that Popeye can't even get that vinyl up with a hand scraper. HD and some rental shops rent an electric version that works pretty good. It's quite a bit faster and a LOT less elbow grease.
Joe
Joe
#12
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Can't find the "new thread"button
I must be the only one but I can't find the new thread button on the web pages. The administrator keeps trying to tell me but I still don't see it. Does anyone know where it is?