How to Install Mold Resistant Tiles Over Concrete Floors
- 1). Clean the concrete floor. Sweep away any dust or debris and check the floor to make sure that there aren't any nails or other objects poking up through the concrete--if you find them, saw them off or pull them out. If there are valleys and dips in the concrete, you can use a concrete leveller to make the floor smooth and level. This can be found at just about any hardware store. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and allow the leveller time to cure.
- 2). Roll the air-gap membrane out over the concrete floor. Make sure that the gap side faces downward. This prevents floor moisture from seeping through up to the tiles.
- 3). Lay your subfloor on top of the membrane. The best to use for installation in a mold prone area is backing slab, such as Hardibacker or one of its competitors. Secure this to the concrete with a nail gun.
- 4). Snap a chalk line midway across the floor along the long axis of the room and bisect it with a line along the short axis. The intersection will be your starting point for laying the mold-resistant tiles.
- 5). Cut your tiles to fit. There are two different ways to do this: you can do a "dry run" by placing your tiles out where they will go on the floor and then making the necessary cuts all at the same time, or you can begin laying the tiles and make the cuts as you go along. If you choose the second option, you will have to tile all or a portion of the room, allow this to dry, and then go back to finish your installation.
- 6). Mix tile adhesive and spread it on the floor. Place the tiles, using spacers to maintain the proper distance between them.
- 7). Remove the spacers (sometimes a good pair of pliers can help if they're stuck in the adhesive) once the adhesive is dry. Apply grout to the spaces between the tiles. You can use either pre-mixed or ready-made grout. Wipe away excess grout with a sponge after about 15 minutes.
- 8). Allow the grout to dry and cure. This generally takes about 24 hours.
- 9). Apply tile and grout sealer. There are a number of different sealers. Which one you choose depends on your installation. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for application.