How should I prep my floor for ceramic tile?

Question

The vinyl has been pulled up, but there is still a papery substance still on the floor. Do we need to pull that up, too, or can we leave it and put thinset directly over it?

Answer 1

If it was sheet vinyl the substance that remains was the vinyl backer, and yes it should be removed.

   If not removed, then at least add thin concrete backer board over, as a new substrate for tile.

Steven Wolf

Just my two "sense"

  Obviously, any residue, no matter the substance, should be removed.

Answer 2

1. if you are going over a slab then scrape the vinal clean to the slab; 2., if above grade then thin set down d/rock or 1/4 inch hardibacker and s***w off at 6 inches completely over the board; then tile making sure that you use the right trowel size which is generally 3/8ths up to 13 inches; 1/2 to 18 inches; and 3/4 above 18 inches.

Answer 3

it shouldnt matter - before you tile you are supposed to put a concrete board base which gets screwed in - the thin set and tile get installed on this.

Answer 4

scrape, sweep, vacumn it clean. s***w concrete backerboard down then spread thinset

Answer 5

It <i>may</i> be OK, but I agree with some of the other answers here - you probably should remove any materials from the subfloor, only to ensure that the tiles set properly.

Hope this helps!  Good luck with your project