How To Install Ceramic Tile On An Outdoor Deck

Not many deck builders offer tile as an alternative to wood or composite decking.

How to install ceramic tile on an outdoor deck.

Suitable for outdoor use. Make the wrong decision e g in selecting product x over product y when shopping at any juncture and the whole project could be jeopardized. Firstly and very importantly porcelain tiles have different grades and you will need to check that your chosen tiles are grade 5 i e. Having trouble deciding which tile is best for you.

The combination of tile grout wood and water in an environment with temperature and moisture fluctuations makes it nearly impossible to get the long term performance that most occupants expect. Indeed it s a project that entails many steps and you ll be challenged to make the right decisions along the way. Installing tile over a standard deck frame in an exterior environment is a recipe for trouble. For about 6 000 years builders have been using ceramic tile outdoors on buildings walkways even streets.

Thanks to modern materials tile is now a durable and long lasting option for exterior concrete patios even in cold climates. Often people want to cover a concrete patio or porch with tile and need to know how that differs from indoor tile installation. Other outdoor flooring options portable outdoor tile 12x12 inch grass or gravel surfaces are a non issue with these portable outdoor deck tiles. The vast majority of outdoor patios are constructed with some form of masonries such as poured concrete sometimes stained or stamped or brick or stone paver products.

Not only does tile offer a range. For starters moisture and cracking are bigger concerns outside so you need to apply a waterproofing and crack isolating membrane to the slab before you begin. On an exterior deck. Installing almost any type of tile is the same whether it s designed for the interior or exterior.

View this comparison video. These high quality tiles are made with a durable rigid no break plastic. That s a shame because stone or ceramic tile is well suited for both indoor and outdoor use making it an excellent flooring choice for clients who want a seamless transition from their kitchen to their deck. Laying tile outdoors to build a new patio may seem like a daunting task.

But it is also possible to apply tile to a patio an option that gives you gives you many more design choices. How the floor is prepared for the installation however is another matter. When thinking about using porcelain tiles outdoors there are a number of important considerations to take into account.