Porcelain Tile Garage Floor Problems

October 27, 2022

Can You Install Tile Over Concrete?

3 methods of installing tiles on concrete

If you are fixing the tile to concrete, there are three ways to do this, with the third being preferred. You can install a CBU or cement board over the concrete and then tile over it. Finally, you can use an uncoupling membrane between the tiles and the concrete. Does not require any additional hardware

Can often run for years, until the concrete starts to crack

The support is not raised Disadvantages Transfer of cracks from concrete to tiles

Thinset stays on concrete if tile is removed

This application makes sense, as concrete is heavy, strong, and generally considered an inflexible, uncompromising material. Moreover, both concrete and tile are mineral-based materials, so it seems only natural that the two are a perfect match. Tiles cannot be fixed directly to painted concrete, as the thin coat will not adhere well to the paint. Although you can install tile directly over concrete, problems can arise when the concrete cracks or shifts. If you were to remove a cracked tile from concrete, you would undoubtedly see the same crack pattern below. That said, laying tiles directly on concrete is not always catastrophic. Spruce / Ana Cadena

Install tile over concrete with cement board

If the concrete floor has cracks, gaps, holes, or other imperfections, is it a good idea to lay down an entire underlayment of cement board, like HardieBacker or Durock, instead of patching each imperfection piecemeal? cut ? Preferable to direct installation on concrete

Helps smooth bumpy, uneven concrete Disadvantages Raises level of substrate

May end up transferring cracks anyway

Durock, HardieBacker and WonderBoard are all cement backer boards and are 100% inorganic materials that will not rot, shrink or decompose. In short, installing cement board between concrete and tile is possible. Effective in separating the bonding of the tiles from the concrete

Helps smooth out minor imperfections in concrete Disadvantages Expensive materials

Best suited for tiling professionals

Schluter's Ditra and Redgard uncoupling mats are brands of polyethylene membranes with a grid of squares or circles embossed on the face. Widely installed by tiling professionals, their real value for concrete plinths is as an uncoupling material. When concrete bows or cracks dramatically, no membrane can decouple the two surfaces enough to prevent tile damage.

Have You Considered Tiling Your Garage Floor?

Granite tiles are a good choice for garage floors as they provide a finish well suited to this environment. Slate tiles are also a popular choice, however, they may not be your best bet if you are also using your garage as a workshop. Industrial ceramic and porcelain tiles are available, and these will take the punishment of a garage/workshop. With proper installation and maintenance, tiled garage floors will last for decades and are sure to add value to your home.

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