Lay Patio Tile
To have a patio is really nice as a patio is a nice place to hang out and relax. To have tiles in your patio is even nicer. But, before having tiles in your patio, one has to install them first one by one. There are many types of tiles available that you can choose from for your patio. By having a tile patio will certainly add some class to your old patio design because tile is always available in a wide range of textures, materials and colors for you to choose from. It will give your patio a whole different look, one that you certainly would like. When it comes to the weather, tiles for your patio are more durable. Installation on your own will take a lot of your effort and patience, plus also a sunny weather condition in order for the tile to dry thoroughly.
What you need:
- Sponge
- Grout
- Cement
- Wood spacers for the tile
- Circular saw or a snap cutter
- Mixing container
- Square shovel
- Mason\’s twine
- Jointing tool
Method:
- For cutting patio tile, you can use a circular saw that comes with a masonry blade or a wet saw. A snap cutter can also be used for setting the tile in place so that your marks align over the middle part of the cutter. In order to do that, you need to hold the snap cutter in place before sliding it over the tile while pressing downward and quickly bringing the handle back to the center of the tile to snap the tile in half.
- Next step is to lay a concrete slab (at least 4-inch thick) as your base for the patio tile. Then, set up some guides for grouting your tile onto the cement around the slab before leveling the mortar to at least 1-inch bed.
- After that, you have to mix your mortar where you need at least 4 parts sand per 1 part cement for getting the consistency in making the tile stick.
- You need to lay down your selected tile onto the patio using tile spacers between each tile for allowing you to organize it accordingly before laying the grout.
- Next step is to remove the spacers one at a time and at the same time, add the grout. The joints of your tile also need to be dampened and if there is any grout spills around the area, you have to wipe them immediately before it dries. Once your grout on the joints has dried, you should smooth the joints using a joint tool and pack the grout into the joints tightly.
- Finally, use a sponge in order to wipe away any excess grout from the joints.
By now, you must have successfully laid the tiles on your patio. From there after, take good care of your patio and make sure it doesn\’t get spoil easily. Hereafter, enjoy your new patio with its new look.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/captainfats/4288707184/
Additional Reading:
The Complete Photo Guide to Outdoor Home Improvement (Black & Decker Outdoor Home)
