There is more planning to tiling than creating a pattern.
With proper preparation, tile can be applied to many existing floors. But if you choose to strip your surface down to the foundation or concrete subfloor, you still have work to do before installing your tile. There are several issues that may arise when laying tile directly onto concrete, and not planning for any one of them may cause you many headaches down the road, even long after the floor is completed. Do the necessary groundwork before you even think of placing the first tile.
Concrete Finishes
Many concrete foundations and subfloors are treated with sealers, old adhesives, paint, chemically-treated substrates, and gypsum fillers or levelers that prevent the thinset from working properly and may cause the tiles to appear uneven once applied. Before the tiles are laid, the concrete must be cleaned thoroughly. Many substances can be scraped away with a paint scraper and then mopped up; more difficult treatments may require a chemical remover.
Unevenness
An uneven base for your floor tiles will result in an uneven floor. Sometimes, the concrete surface is uneven or bowed due to an improper finishing job. Other times, it has been cracked, pitted, or broken. To prepare an uneven concrete surface for tiling, fill these areas with Portland cement filler and use a screed and a finishing trowel to ensure that the top is completely level and smooth. Let the Portland cement dry thoroughly before laying your tiles.
Moisture
If you have poured a new concrete surface on which to place your tiles, you should cure it completely. Tiles laid upon concrete that still contain moisture will trap it, where it can breed mold and cause mildew damage. Just as a wall painted in a moist environment will always feel sticky, a concrete floor tiled while still damp will always have moisture problems. A proper cure may take up to a week, but it is necessary for a well-finished tile floor.
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