Ok, I've read about 100 different theories on what (if anything) you are supposed to put under ceramic floor tile (i.e. cement board, underlayment, etc.). We need to install our tile in the basement (which is currently just a concrete floor). If it matters, there are only a couple of VERY small cracks in the cement (no separation over 30 years) but we also have a seam around the perimeter of the basement (where we installed an internal drain system) and therefore there is a meeting of the foundation cement and the drain system cement (the seam is approximately 14" or so from the exterior wall).

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

You can use detra, it's a roll out matt that you mortar down first and then mortar the tile to it,but if you haven't had much movement they you may be OK,
My only worry would be at the pipe areas because that area will be weaker than the rest of the floor which may settle differently than the rest of the floor , which will cause cracks
Other than that, use a 1/4 notch for the tile. Use thinset with laytex additive to help the mortar be more flexible, and have at it,

I can go into a lot more detail of how your really supposed to lay tile but no one I know do it that way, so I want bother, the method I showed above is what most will do in your case.

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Originally Posted by glavine

you can use detra, its a roll out matt that you mortar down first and then mortar the tile to it,but if you havent had much movement they you may be ok,
my only worry would be at the pipe areas because that area will be weaker than the rest of the floor which may settle differently than the rest of the floor , which will cause cracks
other than that, use a 1/4 notch for the tile. use thinset with laytex additive to help the mortar be more flexible, and have at it,

i can go into alot more detail of how your really suposed to lay tile but no one i know do it that way, so i want bother, the method i showed above is what most will do in your case.

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Schluter KERDI, DITRA and Nuheat tile products