Laying tile outdoors to build a new patio may seem like a daunting task.
How to lay external ceramic tiles.
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.
Laying one s own tile is also much less expensive and possibly more rewarding than having it professionally installed.
Ensure you read our advice before beginning work on your new design project this will mean you are fully prepared and have everything to hand ready.
Figure a represents tile installed over a mortar bed fastened to masonry or concrete while figure b is tile bonded directly over masonry or concrete.
When laying tile you first need to ensure a solid bed this is where the tile sits and sticks to.
Suitable for outdoor use.
When thinking about using porcelain tiles outdoors there are a number of important considerations to take into account.
We ve outlined four of the most common installation.
Dry laying porcelain pavers on a sand and gravel bed.
Cost can be minimized by careful planning and preparation.
The transversal texture of cement.
Dirt can make for a perfect bed for outdoor tiles and best of all it s very affordable.
The material is actually no different to a standard porcelain tile and therefore is treated much the same.
Firstly and very importantly porcelain tiles have different grades and you will need to check that your chosen tiles are grade 5 i e.
Figure a and figure b are typical examples of exterior wall tiling.
Step 6 installing the tiles.
The tile itself should also be rated for outdoor use and as a general rule porcelain tends to be more durable than ceramic.
Installing tile on exterior walls.
Once a tile is set try to avoid touching it again.
External porcelain tends to be thicker than the tiles we re used to indoors generally around 18 22mm to help them withstand outdoor conditions.
Laying tile on sand is easier than laying tiles on gravel as it s a finer type of dirt.
How to lay porcelain paving in this short video our bradstone assured landscaper shows you the recommended method of installing porcelain patio paving including common pitfalls to look out for.
Continuity between interior and exterior environments to combine aesthetics and versatility.
So how do you install these tiles.
Of course it should also have a slip resistant surface.
Indeed it s a project that entails many steps and you ll be challenged to make the right decisions along the way.
Lay the tiles into the mortar and using the spacers make sure you are running even with the chalk line.
As you move on to the subsequent rows use the spacers to keep your pattern square.
To help illustrate how to install wall tile outdoors we ve included the diagram below.