subject: How To Use Interlocking Wood Deck Tiles [print this page] Interlocking deck tiles are quickly becoming one of the most convenient ways of resurfacing or remodeling an existing deck , patio or porch , especially since these modular tiles can be laid by practically anyone even if they don't have any particular handyman skills. So let's look at the steps involved in installing interlocking deck tiles.
To begin with and most obviously of course you need to clear the area of any items. Note that even though the tiles can be used over most solid surfaces such as concrete, asphalt etc, the surface should be as smooth and as level as possible so that the tiles will not rock on any bumps or rises . It is also crucial that your deck or patio slopes slightly away from your house walls to ensure correct drainage. If you have any large depressions or any cracked concrete where there is a substantial mismatch on either side of the cracking, you initially need to repair the area with some patching material. You can generally purchase bags of dry mix from most home centres which will serve this purpose .
After you have made the surface as smooth as practicable , then you can start laying the tiles. If your area has a wall on one or more sides, you should normally start laying the tiles from one of the outside edges so that the last tiles you lay will be alongside the walls. Many tile suppliers also supply edging or transition strips which afford a neat, professional finish to the outside edge of the area. If you wish to use these, then you must allow for the required space on the outside of the deck to clip on these transition pieces when you have completed the installation .
So you start off by taking one tile and placing it in position . Then take the next tile and simply snap it into position with the interconnecting tabs. Then just proceed the same way across the area of your deck. It's important that you proceed in an expanding triangular manner as opposed to laying the tiles in complete rows since you will find that the tiles will connect better and easier by this method. Remember to make sure though that the outer edges of the tiles are aligned parallel to the edge of the space you are covering.
With the last row of tiles, you might need to cut some tiles to fit . Wood tiles can be cut very easily with only a power saw, jigsaw or handsaw . A particular point you need to take care that when you are cutting the tiles, you don't strike any of the screws on the underside of the tile . And after you have cut the wood slats , you may need to pop in an additional screw or two ensuring each wood slat is secured to the plastic base by at least two screws.
If you need to cut any tiles to fit around posts or pipes or other irregular shaped objects, the best idea is to make a template of a thick piece of paper or cardboard the same size as a single tile with the shape to be cut from the tile marked on the template, so that you don't make any mistakes in cutting the wood tile.
But generally speaking you'll find that interlocking deck tiles are exceptionally easy to lay, and even if you've made a slight error in your initial alignment of the outside edge, you can always lift up the tiles again and put them down again.
