How to Install Tile Over a Sidewalk

Scrub the sidewalk clean of dirt and debris with a hose and a stiff scrubbing brush. Examine the sidewalk for any cracks or pits and fill them in with reinforced concrete patch compound. Use a putty knife to tamp the material down and wait a few hours for it to set.

Scoop small piles of thin set mortar on the sidewalk and spread them with a notched trowel.

Align tile membrane with the corners of one end of the sidewalk. Unroll the membrane so the sides align with the edge of the sidewalk. Cut the membrane where the roll meets the other end of the sidewalk using a utility knife and let the mortar dry for one day.

Mark a bold line down the center of the length of the sidewalk by holding a chalk line from the center of one end to the other and snapping it.

Use the notched trowel to spread another layer of mortar over a small section at one end of the sidewalk. Apply enough mortar to cover the width of the pavement in 3-foot lengths at a time.

Place the first section of tiles beginning at the center chalk line, which will show through the mortar, and work to the edges. Use rubber spacers between each tile so the joint lines are consistent. If necessary, cut the end tiles with a tile cutter.

Continue setting the tiles in small 3-foot long sections at a time. Work methodically to spread the mortar. Lay each row of tile from the middle out and insert a spacer in each joint.

Remove the spacers after the tiles set overnight. Stir a bucket of grout and spread it over the joints with a rubber trowel. Run the flat end of the trowel slowly over the joints to press the grout down and smooth the surface. Before moving on, to the next section, wipe off spatters and drips from the tiles with a damp cloth to prevent stains.