Hi,
How to Build a planter box and install the tiles around it
Thanks
Hi @Beginner20,
Using melamine scraps for a planter box and then tiling over it might seem like a good way to reuse materials, but unfortunately it is not a great choice for a few important reasons.
Melamine is essentially particleboard with a thin decorative coating. It is designed for dry, internal use like cabinetry. Once moisture gets in through cut edges, screw holes or small cracks, the particleboard core swells and breaks down very quickly. A planter box is constantly exposed to moisture from soil and watering, so the board would likely fail in a short period of time.
Tiling over melamine does not solve the problem of moisture as tiles and grout are not fully waterproof on their own. Water can still penetrate through grout lines, small cracks or edges. Also, tiles need a stable, moisture resistant substrate. As the melamine swells and moves, tiles can crack or delaminate. The weight of wet soil plus tiles also adds significant load, which melamine is not designed to handle structurally.
For a simple timber planter box check out How To Build a Raised Garden Bed With Sleepers, which uses treated sleepers, that are capable of withstanding the moist environment.
If you want a tiled finish, you will then need to add a tile suitable substrate over the planter box. Villaboard is a fibre cement sheet that is a suitable substrate for tiling.
You can check out How To Tile a Wall for some guidance on the process of laying your tiles.
Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Jacob
