How to Build a Tiled Porch

Check out the utilities below ground. Before digging in the yard, call the utility companies to identify and mark the lines below ground. Local agencies in each area vary, but information about who to call in your particular area is usually obtained by calling 811 (if you are in the US). It will connect you with local agencies. ^[3] Don’t make the mistake of assuming there are no utilities in the area you’re digging! Safety still comes first.

Mark the yard area. Measure the yard size and mark it on the ground with stakes at the corners of the parcel. Wrap a thin rope or rope around the stakes to outline the perimeter of the porch. This will give you a good idea of how your yard will fit into the yard and will ensure that you will only prepare on the area where the yard will be built.

• To keep the balance of the yard right from the start, you need to make sure the ropes around the perimeter are even (building materials stores sell water pipes to measure the balance by hanging on the yarn). wire). If all the ropes are even, you can measure the distance from the rope down at any step and your measurement will be based on the same starting point.
• You can also use a laser leveler to save time and effort compared to using a spotlight.

Dig into the ground. Dig down 15 to 20 cm and remove the soil in this marked area. The depth you dig down will vary depending on how thick your tiles are and how much gravel you pour. This step creates gaps so that the tiles will be level with the ground when finished.

• Make a slight slope for the entire area in the direction you want the water to follow to exit the tiled porch. Place a plank across this area, and place the hose on top of the plank to create the desired slope.
• A rope around the balance perimeter will help here. Measure from the rope down around the porch to make sure you’ve dug down to an even depth. You can temporarily stretch the ropes across the area to determine if the midfield is even.

Add a gravel base to the area. Pour a 10 to 15 cm thick layer of gravel into the void of your yard and compact it with a soil compactor, also known as a flatbed compressor. Spray water over the gravel to make it wet and the gravel will be better compacted.

• If you don’t have a compressor, you can rent one at your local building materials store.
• Again, measure down from the leveling ropes that wrap around the perimeter to make sure your gravel is relatively even throughout the patio area. This doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect, and it does skew a little further away from any nearby houses, but it does give you an idea of whether you’ll have a good ballpark.
• If you’re going to be lining the geotextile, now is the time to lay it out. Be sure to buy porous and compostable fabrics to avoid releasing toxins into the soil or hindering drainage. ^[4]

Add a layer of fine sand on top of the gravel and press them down. The sand layer should be about 2.5 cm thick and balanced like a gravel layer. This is the last layer you create before placing the tiles, so make sure it’s flat. After spreading the layer of sand down and compacting it, lay down two pieces of round pipe more than 12.5 cm apart, pressing it into the sand. To make sure your surface is even, take a 2 x 4 and drag it across the top of the two tubes, it will level the sand underneath. Once the area has become flat, remove the two tubes from the sand. You will be left with two dents, where the two pipes used to be, but the rest of your porch is ready to be tiled. ^[5]

• You may have to move the two leveling pipes to several locations, depending on how large your porch is. Just remember that you have to make the entire porch area level with each other.

Lay tiles in the pattern you desire. Start at a corner and keep the balls as close together as possible. As you lay the bricks down, tap it lightly with a rubber hammer so that it makes good contact with the sand.

• Check the balance while you do. The porch needs to keep the same balance as you did. If a brick is protruding, knock it with a rubber hammer to get it in place. If a brick is too low, don’t hesitate to pry it up, put some sand underneath it, and put it back in place. It’s easier to do this now than to do it later. This is where the balancing ropes come in handy. While you can use a balance gauge on each brick, measuring the distance from the rope down can also help you keep all the bricks balanced.

Cut the tiles to match the surrounding obstacles. If you need your yard to fit in with surrounding trees or fences, cut the tiles using a diamond saw. Building material stores have rentals and it’s a good investment if you have a lot of obstacles.

• If you only have a few small obstacles in your way, try to solve them creatively. If there is a spot that requires a small piece of tile, consider simply filling the gap with gravel or a ground cover tree. This will save you time and energy that you will need for the rest of the project.

Build a border around the perimeter of the yard. The contours of the yard are made up of a variety of materials, including metal, plastic or wood. When the entire tile has been laid, secure the edging tightly, against the outer edge of the tile, using stakes spaced 20 cm or less apart. Whatever type of border you choose, it will keep the tiles in place, preventing them from sticking out.

Fill the cracks with sand. Cover the entire paved porch with a thin layer of fine sand like the kind you use for the base. Use a broom to sweep the sand back and forth, until they fill all the spaces between the tiles. If there is still space between the tiles, add more sand and sweep into the crack. You may have to scan across a few times.

Compress the pitch. Place a thick towel or piece of cardboard on the bottom of the compressor and move it around the yard. When you move, make sure that your yard is relatively even. You want the tiles to stick to the sand and have as few problems as possible in the future. Don’t be afraid to press a little hard when compressing. You don’t want to break the freshly laid tiles, but they can handle pressure well from the compressor with a layer of padding on top.

Finish the edges of the yard. Fill any areas along the border with soil, gravel, grass, or ground cover. Basically, you should fill the edge of the yard with whatever material matches the rest of the yard.