Installing Tile over a Bad Slab

Installing tile over a bad slab. An uneven floor surface can lead to several problems in a tile job. Tiles may crack, pop loose or "lip" -- a condition that occurs when the corners or edges of some tiles stick up higher than those around them. Many older homes have uneven surfaces, but several techniques can be used to help lay the tiles in a way that will not lead to damage. If the substrate the floor tiles are being installed on is uneven but structurally sound, a self-leveling floor compound can be used to even it out. Self-leveling floor compounds are liquid bases that seek out the low areas on a floor and fill them in. They are typically poured over the entire floor; not just uneven areas, and they require no smoothing or additional leveling once dry. Once they are cured, the tiles can be installed right on top. Back buttering is a trick used for tiles of uneven thickness, like ungauged slate or handmade tiles, extremely large tiles or for tiles being installed on an uneven surface. The mortar is spread over the substrate and keyed, or grooved, as usual. A second

application of mortar is placed directly onto the back of the tiles. Extra mortar is placed on those areas that need it, such as thin spots on tiles or low spots on the substrate. The extra mortar in the low areas helps even out the floor tile. Call us here at B&W Designer Tile for more info: 918-260-3523

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