Deck Tiles

Deck tiles

To a novice handyman, building a deck may seem discouraging, and that is why there’s an easier option by resorting to deck tiles. In just a few hours, your porch, balcony or sundeck can be revamped to look entirely different and be admired by your guests. The interesting part about deck tiles is that you don’t need any preparations as these can be set over existing concrete floors or wood decks.

The advantages of deck tiles

• Saving time – deck tiles take the least amount of time when it comes to home improvements.
• Easily installed – Deck tiles are as easy to install as playing with LEGO; the only other material easier to install than deck tiles would be a rug, neither of the two require any tools.
• Hide any cracks, stains or gaps that are an eyesore – if covering minor damage and old wood without having to repair these is what you want, deck tiles will be your best bet when it comes to accessibility and cheapness.
• Deck tiles are resistant to scratches – Whether you have kids or pets, deck tiles will endure it all.
• Varied designs – Make a collage of colors, shapes and patters with the many choices deck tiles offer.
• Replacing the tiles – You won’t have to worry about your whole deck being ruined when you can change damaged tiles in a matter of seconds.

Installing your deck tiles

Deck tiles have a linking mechanism that snaps into place when enough pressure is applied. A frame is attached to each of the tiles, which secures the strips, preventing sliding and providing a stable surface that is not prone to shift or drift. When reaching edges of certain shapes, you will have to cut the tiles accordingly, but in some cases it won’t be necessary and you can just use edge trim.

Things to consider

The first thing to consider is durability. If wood is your tile of choice for an outdoor deck, tropical woods like ipe or teak will prove more durable against the elements on a longer period of time. If your deck will be installed in a place with extreme humidity, wood used on marine locations and boats would be favorable.

Color is another essential element to consider, but only for aesthetic value. When exposed to sun, some woods will either intensify their color and others will pale out, losing their tone.

You will also want to think about the style. If you decide to add a pattern or design to your deck, you might want to try combining different kinds of wood and coating in order to create a contrast in your design.

When picking your wood, make sure you also check that it’s resistant to insects and choose in accordance with what insects live in the vicinity of where you will be installing your deck.