Tiles have been used as an outdoor flooring material for eons . In the earliest times blocks of natural stone were the only available materials, but in modern times manufactured materials and of course the ubiquitous concrete have become much more common . Partly for cost reasons , clay fired bricks and pavers and porcelain tiles laid over a concrete base have tended to replace natural stone paversblocks or flagstones . And with a relatively low-cost and easy to install concrete substrate , it is of course possible to install a surface layer which is much thinner than natural stone which would otherwise be required to provide the required strength and long-term durability.
Although it’s possible to install an attractive natural stone surface by laying stone pavers over the top of a concrete base, this can be a relatively major undertaking , since not only are stone pavers quite heavy, but installing tiles or pavers is a task that does require some skill and experience to achieve a professional finish . So it is generally not a job undertaken by a homeowner unless it is a relatively small area.
In the last few years however, a cost-effective and convenient alternative has come onto the market which enables even someone without any particular DIY skills to install pavers or tiles over their decks or patios and virtually guarantees a professional finish without a lot of frustration or effort . Modular interlocking deck tiles, such as those available from HandyDeck, use conventional exterior surfacing materials, which can be slate, granite, sandstone, ceramic or even wood, but this surface layer is bonded to a specially designed polymer mesh base with connecting tabs on all four sides to interlock each tile securely to the surrounding tiles.
This makes tile installation much easier as it not only guarantees gaps between the tiles remains constant, but there’s no need to use any adhesives or other fixing devices , as the tiles are simply placed on top of the existing hard surface such as concrete . The weight of the tiles and friction between the plastic base and the substrate stop the tiles from moving, even if the area is sloping. Normally the tiles are laid on a concrete base but they can also be laid on a well compacted and even surface such as asphalt, gravel or even bare ground in some cases .
Interlocking deck tiles are particularly useful for apartment dwellers on both balconies and rooftops, since not only are they convenient to carry up stairs or elevators, but there’s no messy installation involved apart from maybe the need to cut a few tiles to fit the area precisely. And for rooftops, in many cases, condo associations will not allow permanent materials to be installed , so these decking tiles can provide a neat solution to this problem.
Another advantage of interlocking deck tiles is that the plastic base is specifically designed to allow water to drain away freely underneath the tiles, eliminating surface puddles of water, and reduce the potential for slipping on the surface.
So next time you are considering a makeover for your patio, porch or other exterior areas , give some thought to the alternative of using interlocking deck tiles rather than convential tiling or paving materials.
