Tile On Concrete Slab With Cracks

Cracks in a concrete slab are a problem that i run into frequently.

Tile on concrete slab with cracks.

Cracks are nothing out of the ordinary. If tile were set on. In some cases the crack may instead occur in the grout joint. Dips bulges and cracks occur frequently as concrete cures and ages.

Cut the membrane so it s 1 1 2 times the width of your tiles. But larger cracks especially those that are higher on one side than the other may telegraph through the tile and cause it to crack. If you are placing tile on the slab it s important the control joint line up with a control joint in the tile easier said than done. So random cracking might be a better approach for tile.

In some cases i ve seen cracks that are almost 1 4 in. If you watch them tile a commercial center or office building which are always concrete floors you never see them use crack prevention. Concrete is similar enough to tile in terms of expansion and it doesn t flex so you don t need crack protection just use a decent polymer modified mortar. Small cracks caused by shrinkage usually do not present a problem.

For small narrow cracks that do not show signs of moisture use concrete filler which can be. Tom meehan a tile installer and owner of cape cod tileworks in harwich massachusetts replies. Let the primer dry and then apply the membrane photos 3 and 4. Instead of a crack transferring from the concrete to the tile the crack isolation membrane absorbs the crack energy and spreads it over a large area preventing telegraphing through the tile.

If the water soaks in you re good to go. Before you install any flooring material over a concrete slab it is important to inspect the slab for defects. How to lay tile over cracked concrete cleaning the concrete. Although it s unsightly it s very easy to fix and it s a much better alternative to a crack in the tile.

Concrete can support a lot of weight in compression but is weak in tension. To find out if a concrete slab is clean pour a little water on it in spots. In addition to crack suppression the prodeso membrane is designed to hold heating cable in place making the installation of in. Then prime the concrete see photo 2 with the recommended solution consult the membrane manufacturer s literature.

Sweep the concrete floor with a broom to remove any visible debris. Applying tile in these situations is really quite simple. Using a scraper and a wire.