How to Lay Ceramic Tile on a Concrete Slab
- 1). Clean the concrete slab using TSP (trisodium phosphate) cleaner, a scrub brush, and a pressure washer. Mix the TSP in a 5-gallon bucket and apply to the concrete slab. Scrub any excessively dirty areas, and wash away with the pressure washer. Apply degreaser to any grease spots that are left on the concrete, scrub, and wash off with the pressure washer.
- 2). Apply a bonding primer to the concrete after it has completely dried. Use a roller to roll out the agent, and liberally pour the primer onto the concrete, spreading it out with the roller. Follow instructions for drying time.
- 3). Level any low spots in the concrete by applying a concrete-leveling agent, which can be purchased at any hardware store. The compound can be purchased premixed, so all you need to do is trowel the leveler onto the concrete with a concrete trowel.
- 4). Snap chalk lines onto the concrete slab. Pull the chalk line across the slab from one side to the opposite side, beginning at the mid-point of the sides. Do the same for the two remaining sides. You will have a cross on the slab that meets directly in the center of the slab. For example, if your slab is 20-by-20 feet, then make a mark at 10 feet on all four sides and connect them using the chalk line.
- 5). Spread thinset mortar out onto the concrete slab using a one-quarter-inch notched trowel. Apply enough thinset to tile a four-by-four area, and begin the application in the center of the slab.
- 6). Lay the tile onto the thinset and gently press into the mortar bed. The notches in the thinset will self-level the tile. Follow the layout lines in order to keep the tile square. Apply one-quarter-inch tile spacers in between each tile to keep the tiles spaced evenly and square. Allow the tile to set for 24 hours and remove the tile spacers before continuing.
- 7). Apply premixed grout onto the tile and sweep into the tile joints using a grout float. Keep the tile wiped clean using a wet sponge. Do not allow any excess grout to remain on the surface of the tiles.
