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Now that it has finally cooled down a little, I have been able to get out and do some yard work that has been on my &#;to do list&#; for a while. One of the projects that I have been anxious to tackle is replacing the wood tiles in front of my outdoor kitchen area.
We made these tiles out of the left over boards from my fence, so they were very economical and they worked quite well for a while.
The problem is that the tiles where made from 1&#; x 4&#; and 1&#; x 2&#; boards. Those thin boards don&#;t stand up very well against the weather or people walking on them.
So I ended up with a lot of rotting and broken tiles which had to be replaced on a regular basis&#;not very safe or nice to look at!
I finally decided to replace them with composite deck tiles. They aren&#;t the cheapest solution around, but they are really easy to install, easy to keep clean and they don&#;t rot.
Plus you can put them down right over concrete or dirt (if it&#;s level). And the whole project doesn&#;t take more than an afternoon!
In this case, I think it&#;s worth spending a little more money to save time and effort.
Read on to see how to install deck tiles.
1 | Order The Tiles
Since these tiles are not wood, they come in a variety of colors&#;so step one was to decide which one I wanted. I was originally thinking of going with a really fun color like these blue tiles*.
Or maybe something more grounded like these dark grey tiles*.
Or a light grey like this one.*
I couldn&#;t make up my mind which one I liked best, so I ordered a bunch of samples to see them in person.
I laid them out and left them there for a little while&#;and then mother nature made the decision for me. All of the tiles except for the lightest one got so hot in the sun that I couldn&#;t walk on them (I do like to walk around in bare feet)&#;which also meant that my dog wouldn&#;t want to walk on them either.
Decision made&#;light colored tile it is!
Once you have decided on the color, measure the length and width of the space, and multiply them to come up with the square footage that you need. Then order the tiles.
2 | Prepare The Space
The one lesson I have learned that makes the tile installation so much easier, is to make sure that you are putting them down over a level surface.
Installation Over A Flat Surface
If you are installing over a concrete patio or flat, compacted dirt, then you don&#;t need to do any preparation to make the surface flat.
The only thing you&#;ll need is to install some edging around the area where your patio will be. I stood flagstones up on end for this. But you could also use standard patio edging (like you would for a brick patio) or even pressure treated 2&#; x 4&#; boards.
Installation Over An Uneven Surface
If you are creating a patio from scratch, chances are you have some bumps and valleys that need to be flattened out to make the tile installation go smoothly.
1. Start by removing any grass and plants that are the area.
2. Then depending on how high you want the tiles to be, you may need to dig out a couple of inches of soil.
3. Install edging around the perimeter. This will help keep the tiles in place. I stood flag stones up on end as the edging, but you could also use standard landscape edging pieces.
4. Lay down landscape fabric. You can also put this on top of the gravel, but I find it doesn&#;t disintegrate as quickly when it is under the gravel.
5. Fill the area with at least 2&#; of pea gravel.
6. Use a rake to level the gravel. This is an important step&#;the tiles will be much easier to install if they are even.
7. Pack the gravel down.
Now you are ready to starting tiling!
3 | Install The Full Tiles
1. The first row is pretty easy. Make sure the tile is pointing in the right direction.
I rotated each of the tiles to make a cross hatch pattern.
But you could also have them all pointing in the same line if you prefer that look.
2. Then line up the connectors on the edge of the tiles.
3. Push the notches from one tile down over the other tile so that they click together.
4. Keep going until you get to the end of the row. If you need to cut part tiles to finish the row, leave them off for now (we&#;ll cut them all at the end).
5. If you have any sections where the tiles are supposed to fit exactly (without needing any cuts), you will want to complete at least one row in each of those areas first before filling in the rest.
I didn&#;t do this and had filled in all of this area.
And then I realized that the tiles closest to the deck needed to be pushed up closer to it, because they weren&#;t going to fit at the bar end&#;so I had to take up a lot of the tiles and start over.
5. When you get to the second row, you will need to connect the tiles on 2 sides. I found it worked the best if you start with the connectors in the corner and then work out from there. Getting both sides of the corner to line up is the hardest part&#;once you get that to work, the rest of the connectors should just fall into place.
6. Keep going until you have laid all of the full tiles.
4 | Lay Part Tiles
To cut part tiles, use a circular saw, miter saw or jig saw.
If you&#;re lucky, you can cut along one of the divider lines (no measuring required).
I actually laid all of the edge tiles pointing in the same direction so that I could cut all of them along the divider line&#;and it makes it look like an edging.
Want more information on PP Interlocking Tiles? Feel free to contact us.
Otherwise, you&#;ll need to measure the space that needs to be filled and cut the tile to that width.
Make sure that you are cutting an end piece from the tile&#;otherwise you won&#;t be able to connect it to the rest of the tiles.
5 | Enjoy Your Finished Patio
The whole tiling project was finished in an afternoon (it would take longer if you are starting from scratch and have to prepare the space more than I did).
It makes the whole area look like new.
And it is much easier to clean than my old deck tiles. The leaves and dirt don&#;t seem to stick to it the same way as they did to the wood.
Most of the time the leaf blower takes care of anything that falls on it (and if not, the hose does).
6 | Change The Tiles Out
Then if you get tired of the color, just want a change, or move to a new house and want to take them with you&#;it&#;s no problem!
The deck tiles pull apart just as easily as they went together.
As part of my recent deck makeover, I decided to replace some of the tiles with darker grey ones to create a checker board pattern, and I love the result! Even better? It only took a couple of hours to do.
Now I&#;ll just have to invite some people over to enjoy the new space.
Other deck ideas you might like
Have comments or questions on how to install deck tiles for a quick and easy patio? Tell us in the section below.
An outdoor space can be a true extension of your home but an old deck or patio can be an eyesore. Instead of ripping it out and starting from scratch, install interlocking deck tiles to completely transform the look of your existing deck or patio. No matter what your reasons for remodeling your deck, you&#;re sure to love the look and ease of installation offered by this modern outdoor material.
Why Use Interlocking Deck Tiles
When you&#;re designing an outdoor space, there are many different outdoor flooring materials available. Concrete and natural stone tile are popular options but they are also costly and require professional installation. A wood deck can be a challenging DIY project, as well. When you&#;re looking for a more modern selection, check out the wide range of interlocking deck tiles available at BuildDirect.
Long-Lasting Design
An interlocking deck is crafted from a variety of materials, including composite and natural hardwood. Because they are intended for outdoor use, they are designed to hold up to many years of exposure to the elements. You won&#;t have to worry about bugs, decay, or mold with these quick-install tiles. They are even UV resistant to prevent fading in the sun.
They&#;re Repositionable
The click-together design of these tiles makes them easy to re-arrange or remove down the line. This makes them a great choice for renters or anyone who may need to alter spaces down the road.
Versatility
Deck tiles aren&#;t just a great way to transform an outdoor space. You can check out many other ways to utilize deck tiles as well, including a children&#;s play area, garden walkway, and even transitional spaces.
Easy to Install
Unlike most other outdoor flooring options, interlocking deck tiles are specifically designed for easy installation. Their click-together design makes them easy to take on as a fun do-it-yourself project.
How to Choose Interlocking Deck Tiles
Once you&#;ve made the decision to install interlocking deck tiles, it&#;s time to make your purchase. To do that you have to consider three main things:
Choose a Finish
Like any flooring material, these tiles come in a variety of material and finish options from which to choose. Showcase the beauty of nature with a tropical hardwood deck tile or keep things a little more modern with an outdoor composite interlocking deck tile. Some tiles, such as the Kontiki Interlocking Deck Tiles provide a natural wood grain with a composite material.
Choose a Pattern
Consider the pattern for laying out your deck tiles and the final look you want to go for. You can lay all the deck tiles in the same direction for a continuous look or alternate directions with each tile for a fun twist on things. If your pattern will require a different border, take note of that in your plans.
Determine the Amount Needed
Find the square footage of your outdoor space by measuring the width by the length of the area. Once you&#;ve found the square feet needed to cover your space, add ten percent to account for cuts and overage and place your order.
Installing Your Interlocking Deck Tiles
This material is truly designed so it can be installed by anyone in minimal time. Before you begin, note that two of the edges will feature loops while two of the edges will feature pegs. These two click together with a simple push, but before you begin, there are a few basic tools you&#;ll need to have on hand. We&#;ve outlined the steps, but you can always check out the video below to see how to install interlocking deck tiles.
What You&#;ll Need
Step 1: Prepare the Surface
Deck tiles need to be installed on a smooth, even surface. They can be installed directly over concrete, brick, wood, vinyl, or another dense and supportive surface. Before you begin the installation, sweep the surface and check for any loose or uneven areas that may cause an issue when clicking the tiles together.
If you don&#;t have an existing structure, you can also install these tiles over a compacted and flat ground that is topped with a landscape geo mesh that prevents weeds and grass from growing up through the tiles.
Step 2: Finalize A Pattern
Using a few of the deck tiles, start to lay out a pattern. Step back and make sure the pattern provides the visual look you prefer. Make sure to include any borders you&#;ve chosen in your pattern.
Tip: If you don&#;t want to lay a matching border, consider laying some small stones around the perimeter for a spa-inspired border.
Step 3: Start in A Corner or the Center
Starting in a corner and working your way down a straight wall or area, start clicking the tiles together. If you&#;ve chosen a border, you may start with the border instead of a row of full tiles. When you don&#;t have a corner, start in the center of a long wall and work your way out from both sides. When you&#;re done with the first row, you can move on to the second and subsequent rows.
Step 4: Make Any Cuts Necessary
You may find that some tiles need cut down to size. When this is the case, mark the tile with a pencil and a straight edge. When making cuts, make sure to turn the tile over and make sure there aren&#;t any fastening screws along your cut line. If there are screws, remove them and move them to another spot on the grid.
Use a jigsaw to cut the interlocking deck tile to the correct size. As you do this, stop to think about how that tile will click into place and make sure you&#;re cutting off the proper edge. Once you&#;ve made the cut, sand down the cut edge using a sanding block or hand sander before clicking it into place.
Tip: If you have to cut around an object, make a template using a piece of cardboard first and use the template to cut your tile using the jigsaw.
Ready to Refresh?
With tiles this easy to install, you&#;ll want to refresh all your outdoor spaces. You can even take these tiles indoors for use in a sunroom or an unfinished basement where larger equipment may be harder to use.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit PVC Sports Flooring.
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