What Do I Have to Do to Seal Concrete to Put Down Marble Tile?

Clean

• First, clean your concrete surface. Concrete can easily gather dust, dirt and oils that all need to be removed. Vacuuming can remove a lot of the dirt, but you might also want to use chemical cleaners. This is especially true if your concrete surface has a sealant layer. You might want to remove this layer because the marble tile adhesive might not be able to properly bond with it.

Dry

• Once you have cleaned your concrete surface, let it dry. This is an especially important step because concrete can contain residual moisture and release it over long periods. If any moisture is left in the concrete when you put the tile down, it can cause problems with your adhesive and the concrete itself when it becomes trapped. Allow the concrete to dry for a day or two before starting installation.

Backing and Leveling

• Concrete floors also have a habit of being uneven, which makes it impossible to properly install the fragile marble tiles. You can solve this problem in several ways. Epoxy mixtures allow you to level the floor with a liquid plastic layer that then hardens. If you want, you might also be able to use backing like cement backer board or fiberboard, as long as you get backing that can work with concrete.

Membranes

• You can buy several types of membranes to prevent tile damage. For example, anti-fracture membranes can be placed over the concrete before installation. This type of membrane can help reduce the damage that the concrete can cause as seasons change. The cold and heat of the seasons causes concrete to expand and contract differently from the tile, which may otherwise result in damage.