Installing Slate Tile On Concrete Patio

Exterior slate tile will look its best if you lay it on a concrete base.

Installing slate tile on concrete patio.

It doesn t allow dirt to show very much either. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. It is usually a good idea to have 20 percent extra so you will have enough tile on hand in the future to fix and replace any tiles that break. Prepare the ground for concrete by clearing the patio or path area using a sod cutter rake and shovel to remove grass plants and weeds.

Installing a slate tile over a concrete base is a task that you can do on your own by following certain steps and tips. No concrete to mix mortar to spread or individual stones to set and grout. Here are 7 steps to help you install tile on an exterior concrete slab surface like on your home s patio or porch. Cover your plain concrete patio with mexican saltillo tile to give it a face life and create a southwestern ambiance.

Pour the concrete to the top of the forms and then float smooth out the concrete using a floating tool or wood 2x4s. Installing tile directly on concrete. 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. The tiles are laid onto a sand bed and the spaces between them are filled with traffic grade sealant.

Installing slate over concrete is a project anyone can complete but preparation is important. Often people want to cover a concrete patio or porch with tile and need to know how that differs from indoor tile installation. Home improvement expert ron hazelton. Or lay your slate patio tiles out in a pattern to get an idea of how the floor will look before starting the installation.

Slate is one of the most durable and long lasting floor materials and requires little maintenance. Let the concrete harden over night or at least 12 hours. Slate an extremely versatile natural stone can be used in a variety of ways from being installed like ceramic tile to being embedded in sand like a paver stone for patios and walkways. Make sure you have at least 10 percent extra tile for cuts and waste.