How to tile an outdoor alfresco?

paula24

Hi

I am tiling outdoor alfresco. I am getting different answers from different tradesman.

Concreter allowed 15m gap 10m for tile and 5m for glue.

I just had someone look at it and saying that in back area gap is 20m.

He is saying glue is not option or screet but some time board or concrete to level it.

I am confused and would love your help.

2nd picture where black line is where he is saying 20m but u can see tile is ok at front.

JacobZ

Hi @paula24,

Tilers and flooring people will often times grind back or build up concrete to make sure everything matches up.

I wouldn't be too concerned that you are getting different answers from different types of trades. Concreters know concreting best, and tilers know tiling best. If your tiler has a solution, I wouldn't be concerned if it differs from what the concreter has mentioned.

In your situation, where you need to build up some areas but not others, they would likely use a product like this Dunlop Floor Repairer Rapid Patch Mortar to build up the level, before tiling over the top. This is pretty common and not something you should be overly concerned about.

Let me know if you have further questions.

Jacob

paula24

thank you for your response.

is that like screet? that you sent me

paula

JacobZ

Hi @paula24,

They are more or less the same thing. Screed and mortar are both mixtures of sand and cement, in slightly different ratios.

Either the Dunlop Floor Repairer Rapid Patch Mortar or a screed mix would work.

Let me know if you have further questions.

Jacob

paula24

Do you sell screed mix?

Paula

MitchellMc

Hi @paula24,

Thanks for your question. We don’t sell a product specifically called a “screed mix.” A screed is a thin layer of cement-based material applied over a base slab or concrete floor to level the surface or provide a smooth finish before tiles, carpet, or other floor coverings are installed. You can use sand & cement as a screed mixed with enough water added to achieve a workable, trowelable consistency.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

paula24

thank you for your response. it is confusing. one person said to level it another screet and another additional glue he said tile trowel or glue notcher. This person drew this for me. Tile is 10m and gap is 15m but some sections is more. One tiler said he wouldn't use screet because he would have to apply it thick otherwise it wont work. Its hard to know.

MitchellMc

Hi @paula24,

Yes, there’s often more than one way to approach a project like this, which is why you’re hearing slightly different advice. In your case, the person who suggested levelling it and using screed is essentially talking about the same thing, as you’d be levelling the area with a cement-based product such as a screed mix. The other approach, using a thicker layer of tile adhesive or glue, is to make up small variations in height. Adhesive can usually be applied up to about 5mm thick, but once you start needing more than that, it’s better to level the area first rather than relying on extra glue. So, for a 10 to 15mm difference, you could use a bit more adhesive to fill minor dips, but anything beyond about 5mm should really be addressed with a screed or patching compound. As with many tiling jobs, there’s more than one method that can work, and it depends on how uneven the surface is and what your tiler is comfortable with.

Mitchell

paula24

Thank you. That is very helpful.

In lower section did you mean 15m not 5m

Higher:)

In the first sentence you said 10 to 15m

Then 5m

Sorry

Paula

MitchellMc

So, it sounds like the issue is that you have 20mm of height to fill in some areas and only a 10mm thick tile and 5mm of adhesive @paula24. Those sections would need to be filled with 5mm of screed, as trying to use a 10mm thick layer of adhesive is typically too much. You'd then have 5mm of screed, 5mm of tile adhesive and then the 10mm tile, making up your overall height of 20mm.

Mitchell