Replies

1. 
   stevent1 | Aug 05, 2008 11:03pm | #1

   Ron,

   I would use a scarifier.

   Have you thought about using a decoupling membrane like Ditra or a Noble brand crack isolation membrane?

   You might want to post this at John Bridge tile forums.

    

   Chuck S

   live, work, build, ...better with wood
1. 
   ronbudgell | Aug 05, 2008 11:47pm | #2

   stevent1

   The floor hasn't even been poured yet. Thinking ahead.

   Ron

2. 
   sapwood | Aug 05, 2008 11:57pm | #3

   Having sort of gone through what you anticipate may be your future..... I removed the sealer with a citrus type of stripper. It came up easily and washed clean. My area was small, maybe 60 sq. feet. I then ground the concrete and left it. This action removed a good deal of the stain and exposed some aggregate. I wouldn't hesitate setting tile on this surface now using thinset, although we don't want to. In lieu of stripping, I'd expect that a floor sanding machine could remove enough of the sealer to allow the thinset to bond. Depending on cracks, etc... you may want to use Ditra. Although like tile, it still requires a thinset bond.

1. 
   ronbudgell | Aug 06, 2008 12:21am | #4

   sapwood,

   That's encouraging.

   This is not in my future - a customer asked me today for advice. I know nothing.

   I just looked at the John Bridge tile forum and searched for "tile over acid stained concrete". There isn't much experience there with this particular question, but what there is seems to be a consensus that the floor shoul be mechanically scarified somehow.

   Ron