I am installing ceramic tile but the slab has a hump...?

Question

The slab has a hump that is about 1/2" higher than the rest of the floor. I am not skilled at tile installation, this is my first tile project. I heard that you can grind down the conrete.. is that right? What do you suggest?

Answer 1

hi there

you can grind the hump.

pop down to your local festool retailer (one that hires out their tools)

you can hire a festool masonry renovator and dust extractor which will breeze through the job, virtually dust free.

it might be cheaper though to use self levelling compound to raise the rest of the floor. The hire of the festool grinder will be variable depending on how much wear there is on the disk or teeth depending on the set up.  

Answer 2

yes, you can grind concrete. long process, even with the correct abrasive.

is it a hump hump or a crowned slab? grinding a crowned slab would take just short of forever.

Answer 3

yes you can grind down concrete but its a very messy job a 1/2  hump is a big hump  are you sure that the rest of the floor is level also?  far as i know no easy way  you can try leveling out the rest of the floor by top coating with leveling compound or concrete another messy project if the room is large or a combination of both but for no broken tiles after install you need a flat surface  even if you use plywood over the floor you still need a fairly flat surface underneath

Answer 4

Don't waist your time griding down the hump.  Purchase a cement chisel and use a hammer to break away the hump.  Make sure to hear safety glasses.  When you install your floor tile, use thin set mortar which is a cement.  Even if you removed the hole and went deeper, you can level the hole with this set mortar, wait for it to dry, and start installing your tiles.  Incidentally, I have a web site that can give you detail tile floor installation.  See my DIY page of my web site.