Preparing a concrete floor for ceramic tile install

[Shane T]

I have done very little tile installs and need some info. Going to help my son do the floor in a bathroom that had a glued down vinyl. Apart from scraping up the remaining glue what else do I need to do?

 

[Dolly Llama]

Apart from scraping up the remaining glue what else do I need to do?

if clean (meaning no paint or old glue) and no cracks in the pad, I don't think you need anything, Shane
that's guidance we got from a flooring pro


we rented a floor scrapper too.

it was still a b1tch





..L.T.A.

 

[Willy P]

if clean (meaning no paint or old glue) and no cracks in the pad, I don't think you need anything, Shane
that's guidance we got from a flooring pro


we rented a floor scrapper too.


View attachment 110149


it was still a b1tch





..L.T.A.

Taking up sheet floor sucks bananas. It might been easier with a floor scraper, not a scrapper.

Years ago while prepping a floor for vinyl we had to bust out some tile. We stopped for a break and the cat came in. He came over and was sniffing around the machine. Steve hit the switch. I had no idea cats could fly but that one cleared the room in one leap and instant air time.

 

[Cleanworks]

I have done very little tile installs and need some info. Going to help my son do the floor in a bathroom that had a glued down vinyl. Apart from scraping up the remaining glue what else do I need to do?

Level the floor. Sometimes need to rent a grinder or use leveling compound to get an even surface.

 

[Shane T]

if clean (meaning no paint or old glue) and no cracks in the pad, I don't think you need anything, Shane
that's guidance we got from a flooring pro

We'll scrape it good but I assume there will still be glue "in" the concrete. Will that be a problem with adhesion of the mastic?

Level the floor. Sometimes need to rent a grinder or use leveling compound to get an even surface.

It is level and no cracks.

 

[KevinD]

You said mastic. You are going to use thinset? Correct?

 

[Shane T]

You said mastic. You are going to use thinset? Correct?

Yes, modified thin set is what was recommended.

 

[Dolly Llama]

We'll scrape it good but I assume there will still be glue "in" the concrete.

I only know enough to be dangerous, Shane.
we've only done maybe a couple dozen ceramic installs in kitchen and bath remodels, and only a few of those were over slab.

I don't know if there's anything in vinyl glue that will cause thinset glue to fail, but I highly doubt it ...and in particular what may have been "absorbed" on the molecular level

I do know one of the ceramic floors we installed over slab 15 years ago still looks dandy and in sound condition


EDIT to add
I also know every one of those slabs that had vinyl down for years was a PITA to scrape clean.

Willy, we scraped and scrapped the old vinyl


..L.T.A.