Concrete Over Tile Floor

A self leveling concrete overlay applied over brick and tile.

Concrete over tile floor.

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. Ceramic tile is a tough flooring surface that is as hard to remove as it is to damage after it is in place. Available at stores like home depot and lowes these peel and stick tiles are available for less than 1 a square foot. Before you begin to lay the tile over your concrete slab make sure the concrete is properly prepared.

Also keep in mind that it s best not to lay heavy new tile over existing tile floors unless the foundation beneath both is concrete. Tile can be installed directly over a concrete slab or over a wood subfloor with an added layer of backer board. Tile can even be installed over an existing tile floor. However tile removal typically about 2 3 sf concrete grinding polishing about 5 10 sf depending on finish desired and if staining also so your polished concrete look is going to cost you more than typical flooring other than stone or exotic hardwood at any rate.

The price is super reasonable and the look of the products have come a long way. It is set into a bed of thin set that hardens like concrete and the tile itself shatters like glass during removal. Step 1 preparing the concrete. If you go too thin the grout lines in the tile floor can ghost through the material.

What i love about it. Installing tile directly on concrete. You can lay them right over the existing floor vinyl flooring or tile and grout them for a more finished look. Brand x pictures brand x pictures getty images when the old floor material is a still strong ceramic tile surface though you can place the new covering over the tiles as long as you create a smooth surface beforehand.

Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. Laying floor tile over concrete is not a technically demanding job. This won t matter if another hard flooring surface will be going over the self leveler but the ghosting can ruin the appearance of the floor if the self leveler is going to be stained. Taking out ceramic tile is dirty process that sends broken chips and concrete dust flying throughout the house.

The result of this type of installation is especially dramatic if you re changing to a larger size tile as we are in this kitchen.