How To Install Tile Shower Floor Over Concrete

This is an optional step but can really benefit your tile installation in the long run.

How to install tile shower floor over concrete.

In short installing cement board between concrete and tile is possible. Most tile professionals agree that attaching a cbu to a concrete floor would be more trouble than it is worth. Shift the tiles as needed to reduce the number of tiles that need to be cut for the edges of the wall. This is a mixture of cement fine grain sand and water that will adhere the new tile to the old.

Using concrete mix create a 1 4 per foot slope to the shower drain. Lay a level on the old tile and mark any high spots. Use a thin set product to install ceramic tile over existing tiles. The height of the concrete should gently slope from 2 1 2 around the outside of the form to 1 1 4 near the drain.

Lay a set of tiles along the lines without adhesive to dry fit a row. It will also provide a stronger adhesion between mortar and concrete. Remember tile and mortar are not waterproof. The next step is to apply a concrete sealer on the floor surface.

When it comes to mortar latex or epoxy options are best for installing tile over tile. Deck mud also known as floor mud or dry pack mortar is a simple mixture of sand portland cement and water. Pre slope is required in order to allow water collected on the shower membrane to drain into the weep holes of your shower drain assembly. If your old ceramic tile is worn or dated you can lay new tile right over the old and avoid the huge job of tearing out the old tile.

Step 3 plan your layout. Plan the layout so there are full sized tiles in front of the bathtub and in the doorway. Install tile over concrete 1 dry fit the ceramic tiles on the floor. Roughen the tile with 80 grit sandpaper.

A concrete sealer prevents moisture from staying underneath the ceramic tiles. Pour the concrete and spread it out with a trowel. If anything it would be difficult to screw the cbu into the concrete especially with the middle layer of thin set. Whether you ll be installing tile over your shower s concrete floor or leaving it bare you will need to use a mixture called deck mud to form the shower s base.

Also consider that doors cabinets and other hardware might need to be reworked or replaced with new ones to compensate for the higher floor.