Can I Tile A Concrete Patio

Step 1 preparing the concrete.

Can i tile a concrete patio.

Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete. Cracks normally widen and narrow slightly with the seasons but if they re getting wider year by year don t tile over them. Installing tile directly on concrete. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material.

Before you begin to lay the tile over your concrete slab make sure the concrete is properly prepared. Thinking about your taste lifestyle and location should help you select the right outdoor tiles for your deck or patio. Before you transform your concrete patio into a beautiful tiled masterpiece you will want to clean and prep the surface for your installation. Laying floor tile over concrete is not a technically demanding job.

Cover your plain concrete patio with mexican saltillo tile to give it a face life and create a southwestern ambiance. Different types of outdoor tiles also have different strengths and weaknesses. 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. 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.

Find patios tile at lowe s today. It can be physically strenuous and messy but it is a home improvement project that will allow you to cut labor costs by doing it yourself. Set the tiles by gently sliding into place. An existing concrete patio or walkway can be tiled as long as water drains off it and any cracks in it are stable and level one side of the crack shouldn t be higher than the other.

Scrub the surface clean using the proper precautions and then rinse with warm water. Use the flat side of trowel to apply the thin set and the comb edge of the trowel to create grooves image 1. Home improvement expert ron hazelton. Often people want to cover a concrete patio or porch with tile and need to know how that differs from indoor tile installation.

Mix thin set mortar according to directions. Outdoor tiles can dramatically impact the look and feel of any outdoor space. But it is also possible to apply tile to a patio an option that gives you gives you many more design choices.