DIY: The right way to fit outdoor tiles

Make the most of sunny days and breaks in the weather with a beautifully tiled outdoor space. Follow these tips to DIY your garden tiles.

Exterior tiles are not only functional and practical; they create the perfect backdrop for outdoor entertainment areas. Here’s a basic guide on how to lay your own tiled patio or deck.

What type of exterior tile works best?

Porcelain tiles come out tops over ceramic ones when it comes to paved outdoor areas because they are durable, non-porous, and frost and slip resistant. We generally don’t recommend ceramic tiles for outdoors as they aren’t suited to our icy winter conditions.

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Drainage for garden tiles

Drainage is essential to tiled outdoor areas. This can be achieved by creating a slight gradient (known as a fall) so that the water runs away from any buildings into a gully, linear drain or into the garden.

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Falls are made in the sub-floor on a fall-to-run ratio of between 1:35 and 1:80. The run refers to the width of the paved edge.

For example: If you are working on the ratio of 1:80 and the paved area is 5,600mm wide.

Fall = 5,600 ÷ 80 = 70mm

Laying outdoor tiles on different substrates

Exterior tiles should ideally be laid onto a concrete slab or a cement sand screed with a minimum thickness of 50mm, however it is perfectly acceptable to lay them directly onto gravel or grass prepared correctly.

Tiling onto a concrete base

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Allow newly laid concrete to cure for six weeks (longer in low temperatures), before you start tiling with porcelain patio tiles. Create falls on a concrete slab with a cement sand screed. Load bearing will determine the thickness of the substrate. A driveway, for example, will need a base layer of at least 100mm thick, while a 50mm mortar bed laid directly onto firm ground is suitable for a light foot traffic area.

• Porcelain tiles have a face and base, so make sure they are the right way up when you lay them.
• Start by placing your porcelain paving onto a fresh bed of C2 tile adhesive.
• To prevent air pockets forming under the tiles we recommend you ‘butter the tiles’ (spread adhesive on the backs of the tiles) as well as the substrate.
• It’s better to work the exterior tiles one at a time, rather than laying the entire mortar base in one go, because the mortar dries very quickly.
• Once the tile is placed, gently tap it down with a rubber mallet. Check the tile is even with a spirit level before moving onto the next one.
• Use spacers to ensure at least 5mm grouting joints between the exterior tiles.
• Grout with Arc Grey Floor Grout or Arc Flexi Grout. We recommend you test the grout on a small patch of tile to ensure there isn’t staining.

Laying exterior tiles onto gravel

With the correct preparation, outdoor tiles can be laid directly onto gravel. Porcelain patio slabs should be a minimum of 20mm thick.

• Level the surface of the area you plan to tile.
• Cover with a layer of bidim cloth (non-woven cloth) to prevent weeds.
• Spread two layers of gravel, from large to small as follows:Gravel layer 1: Coarse gravel of 16-35mm stones spread evenly at least 5-10cm thick. For extra adherence, you can add a layer of lime to the gravel.Gravel layer 2: Fine gravel of 4-6mm spread evenly at least 5-10cm thick.
• Lay the tiles onto the fine gravel with spacers of at least 5mm to allow for correct drainage. Check continuously with a spirit level.

Laying outdoor tiles directly onto grass

It’s quick and easy to lay tiles directly onto grass producing a very attractive end result. Porcelain paving slabs should be at least 20mm thick.

• Start by planning your layout. Lay the tiles onto the grass in the pattern that you choose.
• Mark out the perimeter of each tile by slicing into the grass with a spade.
• Lift the tile away and dig a recess 5-6cm deep in the area you’ve just marked out with the spade.
• Fill your excavated area with fine gravel (4-6mm stone).
• Level the surface, then set the tile back in place over the gravel.
• Lightly tap with a rubber mallet to ensure the tile is set correctly.

Raised installation of outdoor tiles

When you have pipes and cables that need to run underneath the tiles, it’s possible to raise the tiles, rather than dig the cables underground. Follow these steps

• Thoroughly prepare a level substrate. A flat substrate will need to be properly waterproofed. Some makes of tile supports or ‘feet’ can be laid on level gravel.
• Place the supports onto the substrate. We recommend a maximum height of 10cm.
• Lay cables and pipes as needed.
• Place the tiles on the supports and check with a spirit level. Adjust the height of the feet as needed to ensure a planar surface.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor