Bonding

• A good bond is paramount for installing concrete tiles. Concrete tiles are so porous that they may immediately suck the moisture from the setting material (thinset or cementitious mortar). A wet sponge should be applied to the back of the tile before installing; it may also be necessary to soaking cement tiles in water before installing them.
  
  

Installation

• Sorting material is necessary because concrete tiles are particularly prone to color and shade variation. Manufacturers recommend removing tiles from several different crates and mixing them together before installing. Also, the concrete substrate must be fully dry, or "cured," before installing concrete tile; a wet or "green" concrete substrate creates ugly efflorescence spotting on the tile -- white spots from lime in the concrete.
  
  

Sealing

• Experts recommend sealing concrete tile both before and after installation. First clean the tile with a pH-neutral soap; caustic cleaners and acids damage concrete tile. Follow up with a high-quality concrete paver sealer to prevent grout from staining the concrete tile. Additional applications of sealer are required as the concrete tile loses its impervious qualities.