hi all,

i am beginning work on tiling a basement floor, in an area of about 6'
by 6'. the area is a bathroom, the drains are not cut out yet so i am
waiting for the plumber to finish that up then i can start the tile.
the plumber is due to show up in the next couple of weeks.

here is my question. i have read several online sources, and they
warn against installing tile in several conditions, 1. moist
basements, 2. over concrete slabs with cracks, and 3. without proper
preparation. I dont have a moist basement in this area, or at all,
and there are no cracks at all in the floor in this area to worry
about. The house was built in about 1990, so all concrete has finally
settled i beleive. So to summarize, I am mainly concerned with
correct preparation to maximize adhesion. The concrete surface is not
shiny, although it is somewhat smooth.

What is the best way to prepare this area for tile? If I sand, or use
muratic acid, or grind off the top surface of the concrete, could i
then use regular tile mortar for securing the tiles to the floor?

Thanks,
Fish