How to arrange a fashionable ventilated terrace (and not only), using 2cm terrace tiles?

Ceramic tiles as a terrace cladding and other external surfaces have a long tradition. Glazed and clinker tiles, frost-resistant, and easy to keep clean, although they are beautiful and durable in themselves, sometimes they do not meet the hopes we pin for them because of the implementation errors at the assembly stage. Bad waterproofing combined with extremely difficult conditions of our climate, leaks or minor mechanical damage, can cause the tiles to loosen up or other signs of degradation of the cladding.

What if it was not necessary to use glue and joints at all? Modern technologies of manufacturing ceramic tiles help to meet the needs of durability, comfort, and beauty. The optimal solution is terraced ceramic tiles with a thickness of 2 cm, for being laid on ventilated terraces or directly on external base surfaces.

The large tile format of 59.8 x 59.8 cm and the thickness of 2 cm is an ideal option for ventilated terraces and garden paths.

Durable and resistant terrace tiles

What are terrace tiles? They are frost-resistant, stoneware tiles with a thickness of 2 cm, which guarantees incomparable physical and chemical properties with other materials. Excellent parameters of bending and breaking strength (10 times higher than the requirements of the standard), water absorption parameters, resistance to stains and household cleaning agents, chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and anti-slip parameter (R11) – are all able to meet the needs of the most demanding users, for even the most difficult surfaces.

Durable and fashionable, resistant to staining, and non-slip terrace cladding.

On paths, terraces, parking lots, and driveways

Excellent parameters of resistance to bending and breaking strength make that thick terrace tiles are successfully suitable for effective finishing of space around buildings of various sizes – and not only as walking paths for pedestrians, but also as driveways for passenger cars and durable parking cladding.

Table of technical parameters of one of the terrace tile collection – Terrace, Paradyż.

For grass, soil, sand or gravel

Thick, not susceptible to any deformation, ceramic tiles can be laid on a levelled layer of soil, sand, grass or gravel (on the appropriate grit ballast). In this way, you can consistently arrange the garden space, using the same tiles for both terraces and garden paths.

Keeping the spacing between individual tiles makes the base surface naturally breathe and cope with the excess of natural moisture. This is one of the advantages, for instance, over paving stones, whose large surfaces around buildings give rise to the need to solve the problem of rainwater.

Thick ceramic tiles can be laid on soil, sand, gravel, and grass.

The characteristics of a ventilated terrace

What is a ventilated terrace? This is a solution where the tiles are not permanently attached to the ground – with the use of prime or the ceiling. The construction of such a terrace is based on brackets (fixed on a stable base surface) on which the terrace tiles are laid.

The technology of making such terraces does not require the use of glue and grouting. It also does not require the use of tiling services – it can be successfully used on your own.

What is more, with the use of floor brackets, such a terrace can be made on uneven ground, as well as on old, damaged balcony and terrace cladding (protected by a new damp insulation, without the necessity of forging off old tiles). It is important to maintain proper slopes, thanks to which rainwater will flow freely in the desired direction under the surface of terrace tiles.

On ventilated terraces

Ceramic terrace tiles are a well-thought-out answer to the problem of specificity of the Polish climate. Perennial cycles of freezing and thawing, thermal shock caused by sudden cold rainfall on a hot surface, moisture coming from rainwater – all these factors have a devastating effect on traditionally laid, ceramic terrace claddings. Especially when human errors will creep in during the design or execution stage (or when minor mechanical damage occur during its using).

Ventilated terraces lined with thick ceramic tiles combine functionality, aesthetics, and durability.

This type of terrace tiles is laid in the raised – ventilated technique.

Owing to it, we are completely independent of weather conditions and issues related to hydro-insulation. The insulation is made directly on the base surface, from flexible materials – e.g. PVC membranes, EPDM or bituminous roofing membranes, or specialist coating materials (e.g. suitable sealing mortar). The terrace tiles do not have rigid connections (in the form of glue and joints), which could be subjected to tensions – and under their influence, cracks and unsealing of hydro-insulation.

Floor brackets – base for terrace tiles

Terrace tiles are assembled with the use of special pads made of plastic with high strength parameters. Owing to good quality pads, you can correct any unevenness in the base surface and efficiently make a terrace, pool or balcony flooring.

Various models of such brackets are available on the Polish market. They usually have a base, extension, securing rings (bottom and top), adjusting screws (also lower and upper), and on the top – spacers.

Thanks to the use of mounting pads, we obtain additional profits: thermal and acoustic insulation, water drainage, perfect levelling of the surface as well as masking the installation (and also access to it without disassembly of the cladding).

Non-slip balconies with water drainage

Another important feature of terrace tiles mounted on mounting pads (raised terraces) is efficient drainage of rainwater. Owing to this, the balcony or terrace surface dries quickly, which together with the rough surface of the tiles minimises the risk of slipping.

More beautiful than the paving stone, more durable than tiles with joints

There is no aesthetic limitations for the design of thick terrace tiles. Thanks to the production in the glazed stoneware technology, you can give them almost any appearance – from the most sophisticated natural materials, such as stone or wood, to the appearance of raw concrete, geometric structures or unique colours.

In the case of manufacturing in unglazed stoneware technology, the pool of design possibilities is slightly smaller. However, tonal technologies (double charge, for instance) guarantee a unique look of each tile.

Cladding of thick tiles, due to their independence from adhesive mortars, joints, and destructive weather conditions, are much more durable than traditional flooring. Although their durability can be compared with the durability of paving stones, in our opinion – thick terrace tiles outweigh stones solutions in terms of both aesthetics and functionality.

Thick ceramic tiles enable attractive arrangement of garden spaces.

Easy to assemble, quick to disassemble 

Since ceramic tiles are not permanently attached to the ground, they are an ideal solution for temporarily used spaces – such as restaurant gardens, used during the summer or, for instance, elegant paths on beaches in coastal resorts. After the season, just dismantle it – and store it for another warm period.

Perfect as a floor in the office

Terrace tiles will also work well in offices, because you can run cabling and all specialist installations under them. And if the office is rented and the tenant decides to move – then thick tiles with mounting pads can be taken and easily applied in a new location. Therefore, it is not only effective, comfortable, but also very economical solution.

TO SUM UP: 

1. Terrace ceramic tiles with a thickness of 2 cm stand for a durable, effective alternative to other external floor coverings, not requiring the use of adhesive mortar and joints.
2. Thick “twenties” can be laid on levelled surfaces of grass, soil or gravel (on a suitable grit ballast).
3. Laying terrace tiles is so easy that you can do these works yourself, without the need to hire a professional tiler.
4. Finishing the area with thick ceramic tiles, keeping the gaps between them, makes it easier to drain rainwater into the soil.
5. Excellent strength parameters of the “twenties” make it an effective and at the same time valuable cladding material, also for seasonal or mobile terrace structures.
6. Thick ceramic tiles, laid on special mounting pads (without glue mortar and joints), ensure effective and durable finish of ventilated terraces, making the cladding independent of difficult weather conditions.
7. There is no design restriction for the appearance of ceramic tiles.
8. Easiness of assembly and disassembly on various base surfaces makes that thick ceramic tiles are often chosen as a seasonal cladding, for example for outdoor restaurant gardens.
9. Terrace tiles are also an excellent option for rented offices – they allow for perfect distribution of wiring, and when the time comes, they can be dismantled and moved to a new location.