Do I need uncoupling membrane on concrete?
You need to “uncouple” the tile from the concrete. An uncoupling membrane placed between the tiles and the concrete slab will help stop the concrete shifts from transferring to the tile above it.
Can you tile directly over concrete?
A: It's perfectly acceptable to put tile directly on concrete — with a couple of caveats. First, it is important to determine if there is moisture coming up from the slab. You can test for moisture by taping all four sides of 18-by-18-inch polyurethane plastic on the slab.
Is Schluter Ditra necessary?
DITRA provides reliable waterproofing in interior and exterior applications. Its polyethylene composition protects the substrate from moisture penetration, which is particularly important in today's building environment where most substrates are moisture sensitive.
How do you install DITRA on concrete?
15:1526:20Schluter DITRA Installation over Concrete | Winnipeg, MB - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe substrate must be clean even and load-bearing any leveling of the subfloor. Must be done priorMoreThe substrate must be clean even and load-bearing any leveling of the subfloor. Must be done prior to installing Detra sweep the floor to remove any debris measure and cut the matting. Using a utility
What do you put on concrete floor before tiling?
Apply self-leveling compound. The compound will expand and rise to reach the correct levels of the rest of the concrete. Use a trowel to spread the compound until it is as flat and smooth as possible. Allow the compound to dry for 24 hours before starting on your tile.
When should you use Ditra matting?
Schluter DITRA Matting is designed for tile and natural stone installations, and serves as a waterproofing membrane, a vapour pressure equalisation layer to accommodate moisture occurring at the underside of the substrate and an uncoupling layer for problematic substrates. The substrate must be even and load bearing.
Should I use Schluter Ditra on concrete?
Yes, writes Doug McEvers, Ditra will insulate the concrete slab from the tile and lower the potential for thermal storage. “There is nothing wrong with tile laid directly on concrete providing all precautions are taken regarding moisture proofing,” he says.
Which is better cement board or DITRA?
Ditra is waterproof, while cement board lets water through but won't be damaged by it. This may make Ditra a better choice if moisture from below is a concern, such as with some outdoor applications or installations over concrete.
Can you use Schluter on concrete?
Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT-TB is the first electric floor warming system with an integrated thermal break to overcome this challenge. The thin thermal break on the underside of the membrane allows the system to warm tiled floors up to 70% faster over concrete substrates, by directing heat to the tile, not to the subfloor.
Do I need to level floor before DITRA?
No, any leveling of the subfloor must be done prior to installing the DITRA-HEAT membrane. A major benefit of DITRA-HEAT is that self-leveling compounds are not required to encapsulate the heating cables, which results in reduced installation time.
How do you tile a concrete basement floor?
How to Tile a Concrete Basement FloorCheck for damages to your basement floor. ... Clean your basement floors. ... Prepare your tile for installation. ... Apply the thin-set mortar. ... Lay down the tile. ... Apply the grout and allow to dry.
How long after laying DITRA can I tile?
Once DITRA has been installed on the substrate, tile can be installed right away. No need to wait for the mortar to cure.
Do I need to seal concrete before tiling?
Remove all adhesive residue from the surface and completely clean it from dust and debris. Before tiling any surface, it's recommended that you seal it to prevent it from coming into contact with moisture, which can affect the adhesive's ability to maintain its bond between the tiles and the surface.
What type of thinset do you use for ceramic tile on concrete?
Modified thinset is the product of choice for most tile installations because of its increased strength and bonding with minimal shrinkage, which means a reduced chance of cracks forming in the tile. WarmlyYours Radiant Heating recommends modified thinset mortar for nearly all tile and stone installations.
How do you lay ceramic tile on concrete?
0:595:13How To Lay A Tile Floor On Concrete #DIY #Homeimprovement - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe thinset evenly. Using the notched side of the trowel avoid circular and swirling patterns andMoreThe thinset evenly. Using the notched side of the trowel avoid circular and swirling patterns and set your tile. Use a small thin trowel to remove excess on the edges of your tile.
What do you use to glue tile to concrete?
When it comes to using tile adhesive on a cement surface, it is best to use thinset mortar. If you're placing tile adhesive over cement, then you should make sure that all dust/debris is first removed from it to ensure that the adhesive sticks.
Do I need to use ditra on my floor?
I was told that ditra was not needed on this 1600 Sqft floor mortar will be just fine
Comments (2)
if by mortar you mean a mud bed 2" thick, then an uncoupling membrane is redundant. if you don't have 2" of finished floor height to give up than yes an uncoupling membrane is very good insurance against cracks, especially in large format tile as you've proposed.
Why use ditra on concrete?
ok, they may be suggesting ditra due to the age of the new concrete, but its more likely they are suggesting it as a decoupling membrane to stop cracks where the old screen meets the new screed. because the old screed isn't heated, and because its older it will behave differently to the new screed. because of this you may get cracks and the joints between the slabs. Ditra will solve this, but its quite expensive from both a material and a labour point of view.
Can you skip the ditra?
are the joins all in the doorways, and are the rooms all -err...room size ) you might be able to skip the ditra and put a break into the tiling using a threshold strip - but i'm assuming you have asked for it all to be tiled continuously is that right?
Does ditra tile increase the level?
Yes it will increase the levels a lot - around 10mm, and yes its expensive. You'll also use double the adhesive as you fix the ditra down, then tile on top.
How to apply Ditra tile?
When tiling the Ditra surface keep in mind to put the adhesive on the backside of the tile as well. The reason is that it will keep the strong bond between the tile and Ditra surface. Apply the thin-set at the backside of the tiles using the flat trowel edge up to 1/8” thick. Then place the tiles one by one onto the rows you made with a notched trowel edge.
Why use ditra tile?
When installing ceramic and other stone tiles, Ditra is beneficial to use. It aids in a durable tile installation that will last for a long time. It is also widely used to tile over MDF, OSB, and other surfaces. In today’s world, construction is becoming light-weighted, and the tiles we use in our houses are very challenging to maintain. The risk of tile cracking always exists because of the extra humidity, moisture, and load distribution they undergo. To help maintain the integrity of the tiles, use Ditra to ensure the tile’s durability and maintenance.
How to use Ditra mat?
In general, before matting the surface with Ditra, seal the edges of the surface and then spread the Ditra mat over it. Put the heating cables between the studs and cover them with underlayment. When tiling over the Ditra heat, make the thin-set by mixing more water than usual to allow the tiles to stick to the surface properly. Also, pour some water on the surface to make it a little wet before placing the tiles over it.
How to tile over a ditra mat?
To tile over the Ditra mat, you need to use the flat side of a trowel to cover the whole area of Ditra evenly with a thin set. Using the flat side of the trowel will fill the square holes or spaces on the Ditra with a thin-set. You can then use the notched trowel to spread the thin-set all over the Ditra surface.
How to use thin set on a ditra mat?
First, mix the unmodified thin-set and spread it over the Ditra mat. Use the flat end of a trowel to fill the gaps or the cavities on the Ditra mat. Use a notched trowel to make even rows of thin-set on the Ditra mat. It would be best if you then put the mortar on the back of the tile. This helps the tile on the mat maintain a strong bond between the tiles and the surface. Complete the whole row by following the same procedure and then move to the second row.
How to lay ditra mat over ditra?
Then, apply some pressure on the Ditra to maintain the firm grip between the Ditra and Ditra-set. For this, you can use a grout float to ensure complete contact between the mortar and Ditra. Always start from the center and move towards the sides, pressing the wrinkles outward.
How long does it take for a ditra to dry?
Ditra-set only takes 25 to 30 minutes to dry. These advantages allow you to walk on the Ditra surface before tiling or even right after installing the Ditra.
How long does it take for a concrete slab to shrink?
A concrete slab will shrink as it cures which is why you see hairline cracks or even a bit wider than hairline. This process can take well over a year. If no method is used to help isolate the tile work from the slab, bad thing can happen.
Can you paint concrete before you put down tile?
Just one note, don't do anything with the concrete surface like sealing or painting it before you put down the tile.
Can you move tile without movement?
No, at least not in my opinion. Sounds like you already have a well prepared surface. Tiles will be secure and solid without movement.
