Porcelain Tile Underlayment On Concrete

A concrete slab makes a good underlayment for ceramic tiles since it s similar to the solid mortar bases that used to be the standard for ceramic tile installation.

Porcelain tile underlayment on concrete.

If your concrete is over 15 years old it has had time. There is a chance that the concrete can settle and crack the movement of which will transfer to your tiles and cause them to crack. There are various types of tile underlayment but all serve to smooth out uneven. A tile floor consists of three individual layers.

Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. However the slab must be flat perfectly level and not at risk of settling or heaving. The subfloor the underlayment and the surface tile you walk on. When installing a ceramic tile floor on a concrete subfloor you don t have to worry about flexing as long as the concrete slab is at least 1 1 8 inch thick which most slabs are.

If your concrete is relatively new under 15 years old you will need an anti fracture membrane such as schluter ditra between your concrete and your tile. When installing a tile floor a layer of cement backer board is usually put down over a plywood subfloor to provide a firm stable surface. Concrete expands and contracts and that type of movement can also crack the tiles and the grout. Since it isn t porous porcelain tile is more water resistant and harder than ceramic but it is harder to cut.

Do i need to put any type of underlayment or vapor barrier underneath it. For this reason ceramic and porcelain tile floors can be considered somewhat delicate despite the inherent strength of the material. Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete. This tile is composed of sand which is fired at high temperature and pressure.

Because of issues of moisture movement and adhesion ceramic tile will work well with certain types of subfloor underlayment systems and can go dramatically wrong with other subfloor materials.