Hello,

We are redoing our basement bathroom floor (cement) and installing new ceramic tiles.

Our question is can we lay the tile directly on the cement floor? The floor is level and clean but the old one was cold. Thanks!

Any basement floor tile will be cold without a heat source in the concrete.
Yes you should lay tile on the concrete and it should be clean and free of dirt. There are bonding agents for etching and prepping for tile to concrete.

Etching concrete

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you..._etch_concrete

http://www.safe-react.com/etchtips.htm

Also there are heating pads that can be installed under tile

Electric Floor Heating Systems For Ceramic Tile, Hardwood and Carpet

If your floor has not cracked yet it will eventually. Using a Schluter Ditra system will give a ceramic floor just enough ability to move so it will not crack or crack less. Schluter-DITRA - Schluter-Systems

Hi ballengerb1

At what age do u think a basement concrete floor will be to be confident it will not crack?

My house was built in 1972 and there are no cracks in it.

Chuck

I have installed a product called Dura-ceramic in my bathroom and front hallway and can tell you its considerably warmer to the touch then ceramic. Its very very durable. Its to ceramic tile what laminate flooring is to wood floors. You don't have to grout it if you don't want to, goes down with a glue adhesive, cuts with a utility knife and can be walked upon immediately after being put down. Upside is it looks and feels like ceramic, also should you drop anything heavy on it you won't chip it or break ir like typical ceramic tile, downside $3-4 sq ft but comes in like 16" squares and limited color options but getting better then years ago... you might be pleasantly surprised. Find it at ColorTile, Century Tile or other speciality tile stores... As an alternative to traditional ceramic with the look and feel of ceramic without the cold touch... One other thing, it can go down right over concrete no problem and once its down it isn't coming up on its own, so you don't have to worry about tiles coming loose over time for whatever reason...
Bill

Hey Chuck, we might have to call the Guinness Book of records for your floor. I have not seen a 37 year old basement with no cracks, yours may crack tomorrow but that doesn't mean it will start leaking water. Concrete continues to harden forever and eventually becomes brittle. The how long question can not be answered by me but it will happen. Ditra is a frequent solution to problems and, in your case, a prophylactic measure.

Thanks for answer. I am about to put ceramic tile in new laundry room I just finished building and am trying to cover all the right bases.:)

Thanks again

Chuck