Installing Slate Tile On Concrete Patio

Here are 7 steps to help you install tile on an exterior concrete slab surface like on your home s patio or porch.

Installing slate tile on concrete patio.

No concrete to mix mortar to spread or individual stones to set and grout. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material. Home improvement expert ron hazelton. Exterior slate tile will look its best if you lay it on a concrete base.

The tiles are laid onto a sand bed and the spaces between them are filled with traffic grade sealant. 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. Called the instant patio system it consists of 1 4 in thick slate tiles permanently adhered to 2 in thick polystyrene foam panels. Pour the concrete to the top of the forms and then float smooth out the concrete using a floating tool or wood 2x4s.

Often people want to cover a concrete patio or porch with tile and need to know how that differs from indoor tile installation. It doesn t allow dirt to show very much either. 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. Installing a slate tile over a concrete base is a task that you can do on your own by following certain steps and tips.

Let the concrete harden over night or at least 12 hours. Since pieces of slate will be the top layer of the slab the concrete doesn t have to look perfect underneath. 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. Make sure you have at least 10 percent extra tile for cuts and waste.

Installing tile directly on concrete. Cover your plain concrete patio with mexican saltillo tile to give it a face life and create a southwestern ambiance. Installing slate over concrete is a project anyone can complete but preparation is important. 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.