Tiling A Basement Floor With Cracks

To discover the cause of your tile s crack you ll need to carefully inspect the crack s size and pattern.

Tiling a basement floor with cracks.

Applying tile in these situations is really quite simple. Although it may seem daunting repairing cracks in your basement floor is something you can do without going to the expense of hiring a professional. While you can install tile directly on concrete problems erupt when the concrete cracks or shifts. In some cases i ve seen cracks that are almost 1 4 in.

If you find cracks in the concrete of your basement don t panic. Resolving cracks and unlevel floors caused by soil expansion is a job best left to the pros who may advise and carry out solutions as extensive as replacing the basement floor and or install an. Cracks in concrete immediately become cracks in the tile. Uneven surfaces need to be thoroughly leveled.

Cracked floor tiles aren t cause for immediate panic. The good news is most basement floor cracks are normal and don t need to be repaired. Tile is available in many different sizes and styles and the price range is equally broad. All of the movement in concrete is transferred to the tile.

The damages must be repaired first. Inspect your basement floor for cracks rough surfaces leaks and any flooring anomalies before installing ceramic tiles. If you suspect foundation damage after an initial inspection you can. How to lay tile over cracked concrete.

Before i begin the process of tiling over a cracked slab i prep the slab with a crack isolation membrane. Although cracks sometimes indicate serious structural issues they re often a symptom of superficial damage. These cracks are part of the natural drying process for concrete. The basement floor doesn t support the weight of the home so cracks in the floor won t affect the home s structural integrity.

However some cracks in the basement floor can let water moisture and dangerous soil gasses into your home. If you were to remove a cracked tile from concrete undoubtedly you would see the same crack pattern below. As it dries the concrete begins to shrink. Installing a tile floor in all or part of your basement lets you have some fun with design while still quickly covering up existing concrete floors.

Push air bubbles out to the edge with a j roller or the edge of a grout float. While laying tile is. That old basement floor with the crumbling vinyl tile may look hopeless but with a little scraping and a few strips of crack isolation membrane you can turn it into a perfect base for new ceramic tile.