I want to be sure before starting, so can anyone answer whether there is any preparation required before laying ceramic onto concrete floors?
Im sure there ain't but want to be certain.

If the floor is level then just prime as per adhesive manufacturers instructions.

If its unlevel the a coat of self levelling compound first.

If there is UFH installed then flexi adhesive needed.

If its new screed then make sure its cured properly.

Is it a floating floor?

all as davy_g says but would prefer porcelain tiles on floors as they will not wear with traffic!

can't think I've ever primed a concrete floor

Originally Posted by doug boardley

can't think I've ever primed a concrete floor

I do but only to lock in residual dust!

Originally Posted by grumpygrouter

I do but only to lock in residual dust!

True Russ, that is the only time I've primed a conc floor too!

a coat of APD never hurts

tel

[QUOTE=Terry Cottar;210172]a coat of APD never hurts

Sorry to be a newbie pain but can you remind me What is APD?

always prime

[quote=Little5;210196]

Originally Posted by Terry Cottar

a coat of APD never hurts

Sorry to be a newbie pain but can you remind me What is APD?

BAL APD Acrylic primer.

Hello chaps, first time onto the forum for me so excuse my inexperience. Searched through your forum which is excellent and this was the closest to my query.

I've built a new house and have installed UFH with concrete floors. Floors are well tried and had a wooden floor fitter out today who verified dampness levels are ok (doing bedrooms with wood). I've never tiled before but am going to try and tackle to job myself.....using porcelain tiles for all rooms downstairs that comes in 3 sizes. Got a quote for the job and it was £2500.

Anyway, my question is do I need to treat floor before applying flexible adhesive? One tiler told me I needed to use primer, another said to use unibond sealer, and guy today said to use nothing - just clean and apply adhesive.

On another note, any good sites for examples of tile patters using three tile sizes?

Cheers, and well done on a good site!

i use sbr bond on concrete

I always prime with sbr,if in doubt prime it out.

Cheers. What is the benefit of using primer as opposed to just going straight with flexible adhesive after washing concrete?

You don't always need to prime concrete...

Ah, now you see my dilemna!

its safer to prime though imo

Originally Posted by pete f

its safer to prime though imo

why.?....if i may ask.

Damp down and a good sweep of the screed, just work the addy into the floor

ok you prime walls to eliminate dust so i prime floors for same reason most dust lands on floors sweeping gets rid of most damp down helps priming gives proper surface to tile to (told to prime in 1st year of tiling hard habit to break)also gives you a feel of floor heights and uneven .

its easier to prime the floor than hoover up the dust imo

If the floor is dusty........just give it a sweep and damp down as you go to slow the suction.

priming also helps glue set time controling the speed it goes off instead of the moisture being sucked out by dry concrete damping down will only work 100 % if you wash as in grouting otherwise your just slurrying dust around question do you prime cement sheet///////////