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Spending time at home is almost a necessary requirement of modern life. After all, everywhere else is so busy – work, errands, kids’ activities. It all adds up so much that you crave returning to your home, your haven. Your home needs to be a place of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. So, it makes sense that you’d want to enjoy being at home and that you’d put in some effort to make your home comfortable and pleasing to the eye.
The same thing applies to your yard, front or back. You want them to appear nice and neat and be the perfect place to host a BBQ or play with the kids. But this can mean working to get your yard looking fantastic. And installing outdoor tiles can be a great way to breathe new life into your yard. But how do you install outdoor tiles? Lucky for you, this helpful article will explain all the steps. Read on to discover more.
Step 1 – Mark the Area
You’ll first mark the area where you’ll install the tiles, such as a patio or flat surface in your yard, and get the surface ready for the job. This means cleaning the area by brooming it or with a leaf blower. There is no need to get the space spotless, but a simple brush job can help prep the surface. The essential thing to do is to mark the area of work to figure out the square meterage of the tiles you’ll purchase.
This is a simple calculation that you can do on your phone. You’ll need to calculate the length and width of the area and multiply them. This will give you the total square metre area. If you have a particularly tricky surface, you can split the measurement into smaller chunks to calculate it all.
The next step is to put small posts with strings on every length and width. This will help you to calculate the surface area and will come in handy when it comes time to install your new tiles.
Step 2 – Apply Coating to the Tiles
The next step is to apply some protective coating to the tiles, which will help to keep them clean and ensure the slurry and mortar you’ll use don’t stick to them. Apply the coating with a small roller suitable for the job. Don’t coat the sides, just the tops. The sides need to remain free of coating for the grout.
Step 3 – Prepare the Area
You need to ensure the area is adequately prepared. If you’re tiling over concrete, you can skip this step. Otherwise, dig the area to a depth of 15 to 20 centimetres. You need to ensure the surface has a smooth slope for adequate drainage. Direct the slope away from your home to avoid flooding during rain.
Step 4 – Apply the Mortar
Now it’s time to prepare the mortar. You can mix mortar with sand, using four parts of sand for every part of cement. Or, you may purchase a ready-mixed mortar and sand combination. Give it a good stir so it’s ready to use.
Step 5 – Apply the Primer
The next step is to apply your primer. Flip your tiles upside down, get a large bucket, fill it with 6-7 litres of
water, and mix the primer. When the mixture is smooth and lump-free, use a suitably sized roller to apply the primer to the bottom of your tiles. This coating will ensure the tiles properly adhere to the mortar without any issues.
Step 6 – Place the Tiles
Starting with the corner of your squared area, apply mortar and smooth it out, then place your first tile down. Using a rubber mallet, push down the tile and ensure it properly adheres to the mortar. Use a spirit level to make sure the drainage slope is correct. Continue laying each tile using this method, allowing a small 3-5mm gap between each one. You can use a tile space tool for this.
Using a damp sponge, clean each tile off after laying it. This step will take a while, depending on the size of your surface. Take time and ensure each is laid correctly before moving to the next.
Step 7 – Apply the Grout
After you’ve laid the entire area, avoid stepping on the tiles for a couple of days until the mortar beneath them dries. Then, it’s time for the final step, applying the grout. You can choose a coloured grout to match or contrast your tiles. Dark grout can create a lovely contrast.
Mix the grout in a bucket, or buy some ready-to-use grout and apply it between the tiles with a trowel.
Keep wiping down the tiles using a slightly damp cloth or sponge while you’re grouting and once you’re finished. Once the grout is applied, the job is done.
