How to Lay Down Outdoor Tile
Outdoor tiling is a great way to add some extra decoration and functionality to a yard. Outdoor tiling creates paths through a garden or a small patio where family and friends can gather. It is also fairly simple to maintain, though extra care must be taken to keep plants from growing beneath it and to protect it from mold. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Identify where you want to tile. Are you looking to make a walkway or a small entryway? Measure the area's dimensions.
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Level the ground. You will need a flat surface on which to tile, both to make sure that your tile is stable and to seal it properly with grout. Get rid of any roots, debris, rocks or plants that are in the way, and use a hoe to level out any bumps and fill in any crevices.
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Choose your tile. Buy all of your tile at once, if possible, so find a design that appeals to you. If you want to be more decorative, you can use solid tiles for the interior and then decorate the edges of your area with a different design. Most hardware or gardening stores will have outdoor tiles for sale. Your general outdoor tile will be about 10 inches square and will be made out of ceramic or stone. Thin tiles are best used as decoration, whereas the heavier ones that are available are good if you expect heavy foot traffic. Stone tiles are less prone to breaking but are heavier.
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Lay down a moisture barrier. This will be some kind of surface that will sit under your tiles and help prevent mold and mildew as well as keep plants from growing underneath your tiled area. Moisture barriers are often sold in the same stores that provide the tile, and the salespeople can recommend an appropriate one for your desired surface and climate. They are usually made out of polyethylene plastic. Some manufacturers of high-quality vapor barriers are Raven, Sto-Cote and Armtec.
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Set down the tile. Place all of your tile on the moisture barrier and fit them all together closely.
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Grout in between the tiles. Put grout in between each tile using a trowel to help hold it in place and to seal it, to keep water from seeping in. Let the grout cure for about 24 hours before you walk on the tile. You can use any sort of waterproof grout for outdoor tiling, or you may choose to use mortar for an option that is less likely to stain.
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