This article was co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle. Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.
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When thinking about using porcelain tiles outdoors there are a number of important considerations to take into account. Firstly, and very importantly, porcelain tiles have different grades and you will need to check that your chosen tiles are Grade 5 i.e. suitable for outdoor use. Check with the supplier or manufacturer if you are unsure and double check that they are suitable for extremes of weather if that is relevant to where you live.
Steps
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1Use a bonded cement/sand screed to level the concrete substrate if necessary. To avoid problems with the screed shrinking (and causing the tiles to crack), allow it to dry out for 1 to 2 weeks. For minor surface irregularities simply use a levelling compound.[1]
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2Ensure the surface that you are laying the porcelain tiles on is as level as possible, clean and dry, and remove any loose particles.[2]Advertisement
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3Select a "thin bed" adhesive for very flat surfaces with level differences of no more than 6mm. Otherwise select a "thick bed" adhesive.[3]
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4Always press the porcelain tiles firmly in place to avoid any air pockets forming underneath.
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5Remove any excess adhesive from the tile surface immediately as it is difficult to clean off once dry.
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6Allow the adhesive to dry for at least a day (longer in very cold weather) and protect from rain during the drying period if necessary.
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7Once the adhesive is dry you can then apply the grout between the tiles; the type you choose is important because some grouts are only suitable for narrow joints but others for wide joints up to 20mm. Press the grouting well down into the joints so that no air pockets are created and remove the excess with a damp cloth. Again, leave to dry for at least a day, covering if it starts to rain.[4]
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can you remove grout?
Ryaan TuttleRyaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.
Home Improvement SpecialistYou can use a Dremel tool. It's an awesome tool for grout removal. They have a special grout bit attachment. -
QuestionHow could you whiten dirty grout?Ryaan TuttleRyaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.
Home Improvement SpecialistThey make these cool grout pens. It's like a paint marker that's designed to paint the grout lines. Instead of re-grouting an entire floor, you can buy a white grout pen, and go over all the grout lines. One tip is depending on what type of tile you're going to do, you may want to use some painter's tape or blue masking tape and tape off the grout lines. -
QuestionWhy does my tile under a covered patio get wet all over when it rains?
Community AnswerThere may be cracks or faults in the sealing that allow water in and under.
References
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