Paint-on Systems

• Paint-on anti-fracture systems are the easiest to install on top of foundations and provide an adequate layer of protection against cracks down the road. You can paint these systems on with either a paint brush or roller. The liquid latex will eventually dry out and form a protective, elastic barrier on top of the concrete that the thinset mortar adheres to for the bond of the tile.
  
  

Fabric Systems

• You can use two types of fabric systems to help prevent cracks in concrete foundations. The first type involves applying a liquid adhesive to the concrete after it has been cleaned and then installing the fabric into the adhesive. The second type is a roll of fabric that has wax-paper-covered tar adhesive on the back side. Once you have prepped the surface, unroll the fabric, remove the wax paper, and adhere the tar side of the fabric to the concrete. Each subsequent roll should overlap with the previous roll at least 1/4 inch.
  
  

Membrane Systems

• The most expensive option, membrane systems are installed with thinset mortar and create a complete layer of membrane on top of the foundation. Most of these systems are interlocking to some degree and provide a free-floating membrane that adheres to the foundation but has enough freedom of movement so that the tile only responds to the movement of the membrane, which should be negligible when installed properly.
  
  

Latex-Modified Thinset Mortar

• It is vital to the structural integrity of the installation to use latex-modified thinset mortar, rather than nonmodified mortar. A latex additive gives thinset mortar additional elasticity that is important when working with a material such as concrete, which moves so much with seasonal changes in the weather and the overall movement and settling of the home.