New Ceramic Tiles After Vinyl Tiles Removed

[Deryck Tintagel]

I spent most of yesterday removing the vinyl tiles from the kitchen and utility room - just a few bits under the appliances to remove now

The new ceramic tiles are to be laid on a concrete floor - good flat surface apart from the threshold to the utility room. So no need to level apart from threshold.

My questions are:

Is there anything I need to do to the concrete surface before laying the new tiles?

What would you guys recommend for tile spacings for 330mm square tiles? I have a box of 4mm spacers.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[lancenotalot]

On a concrete floor you can tile straight onto it as long as its been cleaned of dust as much as poss,I still like to give it a coat of acrylic pimer first though as it stops the concrete sucking all the moisture out of the adhesive.

Spacers are your choice,a lot of customers have been going for smaller gaps latley 2 or 3mm,4mm is ok though.

 

[jefoss]

i personally use 5mm on floors, but 4mm is fine

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

Thanks guys.

I had the 4mm spacers as that's what was in the DIY shed - others were 2mm and 7mm but they didn't look right.

lancenotalot - is there any particular primer you use? and how long would it take to dry? SWMBO wants me to start laying tiles on Saturday so I would have to do it one evening during the week. I had thought of a coat of PVA to seal the surface.

 

[lancenotalot]

I normally use this http://www.tilechoice.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=800730&cat=25

Drys in about 30mins or so.

I have read a lot advising against pva and so use this rather than taking the chance.
I have used pva many years ago when I did my own bathroom and the tiles are still fine 6 years later.The general consensus on here is that pva is a no no due to it being water based.The prices are not much different so I go with what has the most recommendations.