Tiles can be applied directly to a clean smooth concrete slab with a latex portland cement mortar.
Tile on cement slab.
As long as the concrete slab is clean flat and free of active cracks you can lay title directly on the concrete floor using thin set adhesive.
Step 1 preparing the concrete.
Install tile over concrete 1.
Before you begin to lay the tile over your concrete slab make sure the concrete is properly prepared.
Snap chalk lines on the floor to indicate where you plan to start laying full tiles.
Small cracks caused by shrinkage usually do not present a problem.
But larger cracks especially those that are higher on one side than the other may telegraph through the tile and cause it to crack.
Pick up the tile.
Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete.
Mix thinset according.
Shift the tiles as needed to reduce the number of tiles that need to be cut for the edges of the wall.
Dry fit the ceramic tiles on the floor.
It can be physically strenuous and messy but it is a home improvement project that will allow you to cut labor costs by doing it yourself.
Use a carpenter s square to help.
Plan the layout so there are full sized tiles in front of the bathtub and in.
The concrete should be properly cured be level to 1 4 inch in 10 feet and have a steel trowel or fine broom finish.