Tile has a lot of different uses due to its durability. Tile is great for flooring, showers, kitchens and the like but what about outdoor use? The Grout Medic knows exactly how tiles can best be used and when they can be used for outdoors and when they shouldn’t be. There are a lot of different types of tiles and not all of them are good for outdoor use. The Grout Medic wants to help you on some of the outdoor projects you may have going on by giving you information on how to best use and set outdoor tile.
The first thing that you want to make sure of is that your tile has been rated for outdoor use. If your tile is ceramic that you’re wanting to put outside you might want to think twice depending on where you live. Ceramic tile is slightly porous meaning that if you have moisture during the day it will seep slightly into the tile, this doesn’t cause any problems unless where you live the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in an area where this happens then you risk the chance of the ceramic tile breaking because of the moisture that seeped into it expanding once it freezes.
The next step in the process is to make sure that you get high quality materials that are for outdoor use. That seems like a no brainer but almost everyone is into saving a dollar where they can but cutting cost by getting the cheaper thin-set, grout, sealer, or caulking isn’t the way to go. This is because it will end up costing more in the long run with the need to make repairs from a lack of integrity and possibly the damage that might ensue. Therefore, make sure to buy the correct materials that have the best integral strength and then follow the directions on them so that they set properly.
One of the most essential steps making sure that your outdoor tile is successful is to makes sure that your slab is level. If the place you’re looking at putting your tile down has cracks in the foundation, then it is not advised to put tile on it. This is because if there are cracks in the foundation then they may continue to shift causing a crack in the tile, grout or gaps in the set. This makes for a bigger problem to have to repair because the integrity for the entire tile slab to be compromised. You want to make sure that the slab is level and that their aren’t any parts that will puddle with water that will cause extensive wear and tear to the pad.
These are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when you’re thinking about putting tile outside. It can look very beautiful when it’s all put together, but it can make for a lot of maintenance if you’re wanting to make sure it stays beautiful. Here at the Grout Medic we can take care of any grout repair needs inside the home and can do some grout repair needs outside the home depending on the nature of the grout. Call us today for a free home estimate!
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