Anyone do any DIY tile work?

[jo8243]

Has anyone done any DIY tile work on a concrete-slab? If so did you use any kind of decoupling membrane (to keep the tiles from cracking if the slab cracks)? If so, what brand?

[Scuba-Bill]

I have done about 5,000 sf of tile on concrete and have never used a decoupling membrane. I haven't even heard of one. Maybe I've been lucky, no cracks yet...

[gtjason2000]

Have done tiling and have never heard of or used a decoupling membrane. I have a feeling the tiles won't crack, the grout will though and tiles could pop up.

[wxboy911]

I did some tile work in my bathroom downstairs-I put them right on the concrete and have had no trouble yet. If the concrete is stable it should not be a problem.

[jo8243]

Google schluter ditra. The europeans use it all the time but no one does here. I don't understand why. In new houses it is common to see cracked tile. No concrete slab is totally stable with no expansion/movement for the life of a house. I was just wondering if anyone had used it....

[sudnit5]

I did some tile work and have not used it either. Just as long as you prep it before, you should be fine.

[GoodToGo]

A crack isolation membrane is essential over any substrate regardless of how structurally sound it may seem. The best membrane is called Ditra made by Schluter. It's a German product sold all through North America.
Even though concrete seems solid ... it will still expand and contract at different rates than your tile or stone ... also, if the concrete is not that old it may over time settle and shift.

Having said that ... it may be possible that if you bond directly to the concrete you might never have a problem. I just wouldn't advise it.

[jo8243]

Thanks, that's kinda what I figured.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by GoodToGo

Having said that ... it may be possible that if you bond directly to the concrete you might never have a problem. I just wouldn't advise it.

You will probably be ok if the slab has been in place a couple years and you live in a climate which does not have big temperature swings.
Just be sure to inspect the slab carefully for any existing shrinkage or settlement cracks. At least isolate them to prevent the cracks from telegraphing through.
Of course if the slab has expansion joints, the tile needs to be layed out so tile joints fall on the expansion joints. Use an elastic joint filler instead of grout in those locations.