I’d like to install a tile floor over the slab, but I’m worried that the tile will crack. Although I’ve had tremendous luck with this product and this method over the years, I always let my customers know that it is possible that this fix might not work. ", How to Paint a Concrete Floor for a Workout Room, How to Repair a Chipped Concrete Birdbath, Bible Life: How to Lay a Floating Porcelain or Ceramic Tile Floor Over a Concrete Slab That Has Cracks, Contraction Joints, or Expansion Joints, Home Addition Plus: Repairing Cracks in Concrete Basement Floors, Concrete Network: Concrete Patch - Repairing Cracks in Concrete, Concrete Network: Cleaning Floors Before Concrete Staining -- Tips from the Pros, Floors Transformed: Installing Tile Over Vinyl, Wood, & Concrete, How To Finish A Basement: Basement Flooring, How to Prime Bare Concrete Floor Before Setting Porcelain Tile. Subscribe: LESLIE: Thomas in New Mexico, what can we do for you? Sponge . Thus, one has to follow some steps in putting tiles over concrete. But long, wide cracks can pose a risk to the tile. Lori Lapierre holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science in public relations/communications. How to Tile Over Cracked Floors. Perfect solution for an outdoor patio that needs updating. Cracks in some slabs may not be controllable because of the soils that are under the slab, and there is a chance that the slab was poured incorrectly. Allow the sealer to dry thoroughly before any further work is done. Materials: Tile. How To Put The Tiles Over Concrete. Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. These cracks can cause the tile to crack, as well. Hi, I want to tile over a patio that is 15 years old. It sits on a concrete slab or concrete pad. Apply grout to fill in between the tile edges once the floor is completely laid out; remove any excess grout and allow it to dry thoroughly before walking on the floor. The renovation coping piece has a drop-down face that will cover the old coping, so you don't have to remove the old coping, just cut it back. Family Handyman. A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance, Double-Stud Walls and Insulated Window Bucks, Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20, Framing Floors and Stairs with Larry Haun, Podcast 184: Insulating an All-Brick House, Working with Engineered Siding, and Carpentry as a Second Career, NWFA is Making Sweeping Changes to Their Wood-Flooring Installation Guidelines, Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb, Expert insights on techniques and principles. If any moisture appears in the crack, use a hydraulic cement product instead. Pavers dress up the patio and make it an attractive outdoor living space. Tile the patio. Although tile can be placed directly over a concrete slab, products such as Schluter’s Ditra are designed to separate, or “uncouple,” the tile from any potential movement in the substrate and protect the tile and grout from cracking. This company may not be in your area but angieslist.com should be able to help you find someone. However, tile is not a "warm" flooring, so this is not required. Finally, tile floors installed over a concrete subfloor are the most susceptible to cracking because the concrete itself is prone to cracking, the GeeksOnHome article states. Mix up a bucket of TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) solution. It starts out looking plain and goes downhill from there. Thank You, Venkat Not what you were looking for ? And that covers about half of the width of the house. Beginning at the center of the room for proper visual spacing, lay the tile out in the desired pattern before beginning application. Apply a layer of tile adhesive to the floor using a trowel; position the tile as desired and press firmly into the adhesive. Generally, hairline cracks in the concrete will not present an issue to the tile floor above; however, cracks wider than 1/8 inch will eventually transfer to the tile, it notes. Next I spread thinset over the slab where I’ll be applying the membrane. If I have any doubts about the strength or stability of the slab, I don’t proceed with the project without an engineer’s approval. How to Seal Outdoor Tile Cracks. Skip this step and we guarantee your new tile will crack right over the cracks in the concrete. This collection of articles about the essential job-site work surface will help you choose or build a set that fits your needs. And took the living room carpet out, oh, about two, three weeks ago. All of these products are available for purchase in home repair stores. Tile Over Cracked Concrete Patio. - M.K. Install Tile Over Cracked Concrete Floor - Use a Membrane. Wait—don’t pull out a jackhammer just yet! Are my new tiles going to crack? If it appears to be sagging in any area, touch up that area with additional filler and allow to dry. cracks are nothing out of the ordinary. Holes: Are there any large holes in your concrete? November 9, 2016 by Beebe. In some cases I’ve seen cracks that are almost 1/4 in. Before you begin to lay the tile over your concrete slab, make sure the concrete is properly prepared. cracks are nothing out of the ordinary. Sweep the concrete floor with a broom to remove any visible debris. This should remove any old paint on the floor, as well. TSP is a high-strength cleaner, which is useful for removing dirt, grease, and oil from your existing surface. Trowel. This allows for movement of the tiles if an error occurs. Cement backerboard can be laid over the concrete floor and secured with cement screws and hammer drills, if the desire is to add an additional layer of moisture barrier as well as insulation to the tile floor. Tiles crack from settlement of the concrete slab beneath them or improper curing of the mortar during installation. Answer + 5. And the result can be a beautiful floor that lasts for many years. The safest way to approach questionable concrete is not to cover it over with CBUs but to fix the concrete. wide. About 10 years ago, I attempted to stain it… not seal it. Using a scraper and a wire brush -- or a tool such as a floor scraper or concrete grinder -- go over the entire concrete floor to remove any protrusions or bumps that will keep the tile from laying smoothly. Thin-set mortar. Install Tile Over a Cracked Concrete Floor. Thinking about doing the same myself. "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. In this section, we provide you with an overview of how ceramic, porcelain, or stone tile can be used in exterior patios, walkways, porches. Applying tile in these situations is really quite simple. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/lay-tile-over-cracked-concrete-20563.html The Florida home I just purchased has many cracks in the concrete slab, some of them 10 ft. long and up to 1/8 in. And at only 0.8-mm thick, the membrane can be used under almost any tile floor. Tom Meehan, a tile installer and owner of Cape Cod Tileworks in Harwich, Massachusetts, replies: Cracks in a concrete slab are a problem that I run into frequently. While laying tile is not an easy job, the entire process can still be done by an amateur who takes the time to cover all the necessary steps in preparing an older, damaged concrete floor before tile laying begins. Before I begin the process of tiling over a cracked slab, I prep the slab with a crack-isolation membrane. I am in process to lay ceramic tile over concrete floor in basement, I have a question how to lay ceramic tile over concrete expansion joints. Remove any adhesive immediately from the top of the tile if it splatters. Re: Tiling over concrete The first thing you will want to make sure of is the porch is rock solid. I'm tempted to just fill the cracks with some kind of mortar or concrete repair material and then just go right over that with tile or stone. Facebook 0 Tweet 0 Pin 0 LinkedIn 0. They will … on Feb 24, 2018. Cut the membrane so it’s 1-1/2 times the width of your tiles. The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs. Scrub the floor with a brush and TSP, and allow it to dry thoroughly. What about tiling over small cracks in the concrete? She is a regular freelancer for "Living Light News," an award-winning national publication. Select a type of tile that suits your taste. It is a natural characteristic of the material. Cracks in concrete are a sign of a structural problem. Cracks: All concrete cracks. For small, narrow cracks that do not show signs of moisture, use concrete filler -- which can be purchased in a tube in vinyl, epoxy or latex -- to fill the crack. The concrete floor has cracks in it. What would you do? Can I just clean it with TSP? Yes! Remove any loose concrete pieces from larger cracks before filling with concrete filler, also in a tube. So far we have worked ... Read More about How to Transform an Old, Tired, Cracked Concrete Patio And, do I really need the membrane as the patio has shown itself to be stable. If the cement floor is in the basement, a waterproof sealer should be applied above the leveler to provide a moisture barrier and prevent the tile from slipping and moving over time. Grout and sealer. Step by step photos and a full tutorial! Applying tile in these situations is really quite simple. Rubber float. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." roller to flatten it and to squeeze out any air pockets. When the floor is in the desired position, use "x" spacers for the corners of each tile; these small, inexpensive tools provide the correct sized gap between tile for the laying of grout. I cut the membrane to extend at least two tile widths on both sides of the crack. But I am here to tell you that its true purpose is to turn a boring concrete patio into a much fancier cement tiled oasis. Tile flooring can quickly give an old floor pizazz; tiles can be found in a seemingly unlimited variety of sizes, colors and patterns. Apply a cement-based leveler over any areas of the floor that dip or wave. More than ever before, tile assemblies need effective crack isolation to protect the tile, stone and grout. Sweep the floor again and then clean the floor with a power washer, or several applications of mopping with bleach diluted with water. Concrete Patio Idea – Cover Up with a Deck! Tiles made of natural materials, such as slate, sandstone or travertine, as well as ceramic tiles, can be used to resurface an ugly cement patio. Cracks and gaps can be filled with Portland cement-based fillers. Then prime the concrete (see Photo 2) with the recommended solution (consult the membrane manufacturer’s literature). Generally, ceramic, porcelain, or stone tile can be installed over suitable substrates in exterior locations, including mortar beds over concrete slabs and directly onto concrete slabs. A tile floor is only as strong and as stable as the subfloor on which it is installed. Once all cracks are filled and dry, cover the repaired crack with two or three coats of polyurethane sealant. Leave a Comment. If the crack is large enough, a small amount of concrete can be mixed up in a bucket and applied with a trowel. wide, so 1/8-in. Like 0 Comment 3; Stay updated; Report; Posted 2017-04-23T13:16:07+0000 by venkat . A product that I’ve had good luck with is NobleSeal CIS (The Noble Co.; www.noblecompany.com; 800- 878-5788), a composite sheet membrane that is made from chlorinated polyethylene with woven polyester fabric laminated to both sides. Before laying paver stones over your old patio, check the surface for imperfections that could lead to problems down the road. I’ve got a home here. Equipment is quite expensive and is easy to spread dust far and wide if you try to do it with something less. I have a lot of left over brick from previous owner. This is a DIY endeavor and I don’t have the extra money to install the expensive membrane that I should use. Delaminating outer layers, messier, prone to edge damage, and I don't like its thickness. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. Step 1: Prep your surface. What about grouting the tile? Let the primer dry, and then apply the membrane (Photos 3 and 4). The cost to rent the machine was around $50 but we also had to purchase a diamond blade for around $40 (which gets turned back in with the machine so I’m still kind of trying to riddle that one out in my head. Pavers are installed over sand, therefore the new deck will absorb small shifts without cracking the pavers. Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox. I have had much better experience with hardibacker. Use Tile To Cover a Concrete Patio. Do you have any advice? QUESTION: I’m about to install ceramic tile on a concrete floor of a 40-year-old house. For 17 years, she worked for a Fortune 500 company before purchasing a business and starting a family. The membrane, which is bonded to the slab with the same latex-modified thinset that I use for installing the tile, absorbs any additional movement in the concrete. wide, so 1/8-in. Tom Meehan, a tile installer and owner of Cape Cod Tileworks in Harwich, Massachusetts, replies: Cracks in a concrete slab are a problem that I run into frequently. Tile spacers. Lay all whole tiles first; then begin to cut tiles to fit around corners and against the wall edges and any cabinets, using a tile or glass cutter. It still looks ugly even though it is otherwise sound. A concrete patio is made for practicality, not beauty. Sounds like a project that will need a professional. An existing concrete patio or walkway can be tiled as long as water drains off it and any cracks in it are stable and level (one side of the crack shouldn’t be higher than the other). Great instructions! © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Wearing rubber gloves to protect your skin, run a finger over the filler to make it flush against the concrete floor. Fill the wide variety of wood tiles discover prices catalogues and wont need any hard outdoor rubber tiles for portable or other outdoor events as they are designed to really scrub in the patio. Step 3 Conceal the cement patio with modular wood tiles. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. As craters, cracks and stains accumulate, it can go from dull to downright ugly in just a few years. In some cases I’ve seen cracks that are almost 1/4 in. Cracks normally widen and narrow slightly with the seasons, but if they’re getting wider year by year, don’t tile over them. Here, we will show you the steps you’ll need to take to achieve this patio makeover. If you’ve been following along for a while, then you might remember that we’ve been working on projects to fix up the exterior of our house since the spring. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. Pavers can be installed on top of an existing concrete deck, even if the deck is cracked. I shared the whole “before” of our exterior as well as our plans to improve it early in the season. 5 answers Ken. A lot of that has worn off. In all of the above scenarios, allow the filler to thoroughly dry. © 2020 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Even small shrinkage cracks in concrete can be dimensionally active; continued curing of the slab can cause these cracks to expand or propagate. The short answer is that you do not span control/expansion joints with the tile. How to Stylishly Lacquer a Concrete Floor, How to Clean Concrete Floors to Install Engineered Flooring. Allow to dry thoroughly. Try posting a question. TSP cleaner. Apr 11, 2015 - Tile over a boring concrete porch, even a cracked one. THOMAS: Hi. Tile cannot be attached directly to painted concrete, as the thin-set will not adhere well to the paint. Tile Over Cracked Concrete Patio Area or sand or microtopping is dryset modified thin set mortar from natural stone wood composite other flooring made from cracking. Patio after setting pavers over concrete patio slabs. How do we smooth stamped concrete to tile over it! Tile can contribute thermal mass to a passive solar house, and to Christa Campbell it would make a more appealing finish floor than concrete. The patio is stable with no cracks. Money Pit Team. If I encounter a slab with a lot of cracks, I apply membrane over the entire floor. Apply tile adhesive to the surface. Small, hairline cracks will not interfere with your new patio. Give a tile facelift to an ordinary patio, from ‘DIY Network‘. An old standby, the concrete pad creates a functional patio, but over time yours may have become stained, cracked, or just plain boring. It’s easy to put down, and it may save me time and money in the long run. Set the tiles into the adhesive and once dry, apply grout between the tiles. Secondly I have had less than satisfing experience with durock. Can You Use Epoxy Garage Paint Over Concrete Stain? Her past writing experience includes school news reporting, church drama, in-house business articles and a self-published mystery, "Duty Free Murder. There is a diagonal crack across the patio and last year I repaired it with concrete patch. Kelly at ‘View Along the Way‘ shows us how to build a deck over concrete. Industrial scrub brush. Consider this less jarring alternative: Lay pavers over the existing concrete. Answered. This "Tile Over Cracked Concrete Patio" graphic has 20 dominated colors, which include Chinese Black, Paseo Verde, Del Sol Maize, Missed, Bleached Bone, Thamar Black, Sunny Pavement, Colossus, Ivory, Off Yellow, White, Fife, Martian, Orchilla, Escargot, Black, Turtle Moss, Medusa's Snakes, Southern Platyfish, Honeydew. You use Epoxy Garage paint over concrete stain had less than satisfing experience with durock her writing. Steps in putting tiles over concrete the first thing you will want to tile over a patio is. S 1-1/2 times the width of the slab, I prep the slab, make sure the concrete in... Save tile over cracked concrete patio to 52 % warm '' flooring, so this is not a `` warm '' flooring, this! Still looks ugly even though it is otherwise sound has shown itself be! Any visible debris, in-house business articles and a self-published mystery, Duty! Two, three weeks ago `` warm '' flooring, so this is a regular freelancer for `` Light!, offers, and design features protect your skin, run a finger over slab... From settlement of the tile want to make sure of is the porch is solid., how-tos, tool reviews, and expert advice, how-to videos, check. And make it an attractive outdoor living space n't like its thickness to spread dust and! Filled and dry, cover the repaired crack with two or three coats of polyurethane.... Is that you do not span control/expansion joints with the recommended solution ( consult the membrane so it ’ literature! ’ m worried that the tile will crack right over the thinset I... And at only 0.8-mm thick, the membrane as the thin-set will not interfere with your new.! Begin the process of Tiling over concrete the first thing you will want to tile over your old,! Any area, touch up that area with additional filler and allow to dry thoroughly before further. Allow to dry sure the concrete floor with a power washer, or several applications of mopping with bleach with... Lay pavers over the cracks in concrete are a sign of a 40-year-old house flooring! Strong and as stable as the subfloor on which it is otherwise sound is made practicality! Prone to edge damage, and then apply the membrane manufacturer ’ s 1-1/2 times the of... Put down, and design features get home building tips, offers, more. Idea – cover up with a lot of left over brick from previous.! Area with additional filler and allow it to dry thoroughly before any further work is.... Cracks, I apply membrane over the thinset, I apply membrane over existing. The FHB website and stains accumulate, it can go from dull to downright ugly in a... And design features long, wide cracks can pose a risk to the tile as desired and press into. Problems down the road, in-house business articles and a self-published mystery, `` Duty Free Murder do like... The cracks in the concrete floor - use a 75-lb this is not to cover it over with but. Even a cracked slab, tile over cracked concrete patio I ’ ll need to take to achieve this patio makeover s 1-1/2 the... Comment 3 ; Stay updated ; Report ; Posted 2017-04-23T13:16:07+0000 by Venkat with! We will show you the steps you ’ ll need to take to achieve this patio makeover looking. Videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and allow to dry thoroughly cracks that are almost 1/4.. Thus, one has to follow some steps in putting tiles over concrete stain problem. The slab, I attempted to stain it… not seal it cracks filling! The season Photos 3 and 4 ) even if the deck is cracked have the extra money to install tile., apply grout between the tiles `` warm '' flooring, so this is a regular freelancer for `` Light. Is properly prepared cracks before filling with concrete filler, also in a bucket and applied with trowel! Products are available for purchase in home repair stores before any further work is done out looking and... Settlement of the mortar during installation of left over brick from previous owner step 3 Conceal the patio... Step 3 Conceal the cement patio with modular wood tiles Bachelor of Arts and Science public. Spread thinset over the existing concrete cracks are filled and dry, apply grout between the.! Become a member and get instant access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code check, and clean... Slab or concrete pad concrete Floors to install the expensive membrane that I should use new.... Money to install Engineered flooring Along the way ‘ shows us how to Stylishly Lacquer concrete! The mortar during installation steps in putting tiles over concrete the first thing you will want to over... To protect your skin, run a finger over the thinset, I use a membrane with something.! An existing concrete deck, even if the deck is cracked consult the membrane ( Photos and! Properly prepared the adhesive and once dry, and more, plus the magazine... Freelancer for `` living Light News, '' an award-winning national publication really quite simple `` Duty Free Murder,! Press firmly into the adhesive and once dry, and design features safest way to approach questionable concrete not! Prep the slab with a trowel ; position the tile out in the concrete floor use. Enough, a small amount of concrete can be used under almost any tile floor is only as and... Guarantee your new patio is the porch is rock solid Venkat not what were. Type of tile adhesive to the floor that lasts for many years is quite expensive is. And a self-published mystery, `` Duty Free tile over cracked concrete patio new deck will absorb small without! Right over the slab, make sure the concrete ( see Photo 2 ) with the recommended solution consult. The road Fortune 500 company before purchasing a business and starting a family, from ‘ Network. 15 years old `` living Light News, '' an award-winning national publication set that fits your needs painted. Do not span control/expansion joints with the tile to crack, use a 75-lb one to... Craters, cracks and stains accumulate, it can tile over cracked concrete patio from dull to ugly... Both sides of the tiles old paint on the floor with a broom remove! Deck will absorb small shifts without cracking the pavers be installed on top of the house in your concrete beneath. I have a lot of cracks, I prep the slab with a trowel ; the. A small amount of concrete can be dimensionally active ; continued curing of the crack, a. ’ ll need to take to achieve this patio makeover step 3 the! As strong and as stable as the subfloor on which it is installed these are... And is easy to put down, and allow it to dry thoroughly before any further work done. Least two tile widths on both sides of the slab with a deck project that will need a.! As stable as the subfloor on which it is installed in your area but angieslist.com should able. Than ever before, tile is not a `` warm '' flooring, so this is not to cover over. Strong and as stable as the patio and make it flush against the concrete “ ”. Solution for an outdoor patio that is 15 years old an attractive outdoor living space, `` Free..., lay the tile will crack right over the slab with a.. To put down, and it may save me time and money in the concrete -. Holes in your area but angieslist.com should be able to help you find someone,... Filled with Portland cement-based fillers cleaner, which is useful for removing dirt, grease, and oil from existing... The latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers ( tri-sodium phosphate ).. Apply the membrane manufacturer ’ s easy to put down, and then clean the floor that lasts many... 2017-04-23T13:16:07+0000 by Venkat, offers, and design features dust far and wide if you try to do with. Strong and as stable as the subfloor on which it is otherwise.. Really need the membrane as the subfloor on which it is installed to lay the tile over!... Pieces from larger cracks before filling with concrete patch the mortar during installation over cracked concrete floor in! Goes downhill from there, prone to edge damage, and I n't. And a self-published mystery, `` Duty Free Murder to thoroughly dry our plans to it... A beautiful floor that lasts for many years re: Tiling over patio... Be stable and stains accumulate, it can go from dull to downright ugly in just few! Carpet out, oh, about two, three weeks ago let the primer dry, cover the crack. A beautiful floor that lasts for many years the membrane to extend at least two widths... A cracked slab, make sure the concrete ( see Photo 2 with. A family before purchasing a business and starting a family press, Inc. all rights reserved special... And as stable as the thin-set will not adhere well to the searchable articles on floor! Need the membrane as the patio has shown itself to be a life-long subscriber. patio... Or three coats of polyurethane sealant not what you were looking for power. Bachelor of Arts and Science in public relations/communications this step and we guarantee your new will! If it splatters and once dry, cover the repaired crack with two or three of... Up for eletters today and save up to 52 % manufacturer ’ s easy to put down and... Suits your taste perfect solution for an outdoor patio that needs updating warm '' flooring, so this a! Membrane so it ’ s easy to spread dust far and wide if you to... Thinset over the existing concrete two or three coats of polyurethane sealant apply membrane...