Wood tiles are very popular not only on terraces, but also on balconies. They radiate a cosy atmosphere and are also easy to install.
Wood tiles are becoming increasingly popular for both indoor and outdoor use. Especially for terraces, balconies or other seating areas, a good wood tile is a popular choice today because it radiates a natural warmth and thus a feeling of being close to nature. No wonder, then, that in addition to wooden furniture, natural floor coverings have also become increasingly fashionable in recent years.
In addition, wood tiles not only look good and natural – they are also very easy to lay and almost as easy to maintain. So if you follow a few simple principles, a wood tile is a great alternative to ceramic tiles or even a simple concrete floor.
Important in brief:
If you choose wood tiles, there are a few points to keep in mind.
Before you start, it is important to think about the wood you want to use. Depending on how much the wood tiles are exposed to the effects of wind and weather, you should use a more weather-resistant wood. Teak wood is very popular today – not only because it simply has a pleasant appearance. But also because it is largely weather-resistant and is also difficult to ignite. If you have a balcony that is quite well protected from rain and cold, it can also be a different and perhaps cheaper wood. However, those who choose the cheapest tiles from the DIY store right from the start run the risk of having to lift them off the balcony at the beginning of autumn each year and install them again in spring, as the very inexpensive wood tile variants are not at all resistant to the winter cold. So it is worth taking a few dollars more into your hands right from the start and getting good advice from the dealer of your choice, so that you know directly which properties the selected wood actually has.
Make the necessary preparations
You have decided to refine your balcony with wood tiles and have already decided which wood you would like to use. Now there are a few more things to do to prepare for the laying of the wooden tiles.
The first step is to check whether there is a suitable substrate for the wood tiles. Any surface that is level, clean and above all dry is suitable. Concrete, tiled floors or other stone floors are ideal for laying wood tiles, for example. If you want to lay the wood tiles on an uneven floor or even on a lawn, you should create an appropriate substructure. This preferably consists of an approximately 5 cm thick gravel layer with a grain size of 0/45. In addition, a root fleece should be laid between the lawn and the gravel layer so that no lawn grows through the gravel and finally penetrates between the wood tiles. If, for example, you have a concrete or stone tile substrate, any unevenness must be filled with levelling compound so that the surface is actually level.
The next step is to measure the area on which the wooden tiles are to be laid. Once the width and depth of the surface have been measured, you should decide for yourself whether you would like to have the tiles cut for the edge, if necessary, in the DIY store you trust, or whether you would like to cut the tiles yourself. When you cut the tiles yourself, it is important that the cuts are absolutely straight. The cut edges should also be treated with wood polish so that the wood does not swell up with the first contact with moisture.
And last but not least, it is important to determine which installation system you want to choose. Most wood tiles today are already offered in the click system, which is as simple as it is inexpensive. This makes it very easy to lay the wood tiles, as you only have to click the tiles into the already laid tiles at the edge. So if you want to enjoy your wooden tiles as long as possible, you should follow these steps before laying them
- Check to what extent the wood tiles are exposed to the weather influences in the outdoor area
- Select the type of wood according to the requirements that the weather will place on the tiles.
- Check the subsoil and if necessary make a substructure of gravel and possibly a root tile.
- If necessary, straighten concrete or stone substrates with the appropriate filling compound.
- Measure the surface and either have the tiles cut to size for the edge if required or ensure that the appropriate cutting tool is available at home.
- If cutting to size is required, add wood oil to the cut edges.
- Decide which type of installation you would like to choose – the simplest variant is Click wood tiles
Laying wooden tiles – the best way to do it
When it comes to wooden tiles for the balcony, you will usually have a floor made of concrete, screed or old tiles on which you want to install the wooden tiles. First of all – the wooden tiles are simply laid on the floor. They are neither glued nor otherwise sustainably fastened, which of course has the advantage that they are ideally suited to beautify the floor of a balcony in a rental apartment without you having to consult your landlord. As a rule, wooden tiles have their own substructure. This is mainly used to ensure that the wood tiles do not stand in the water when it rains, but that rainwater can run off under the tiles. The tiles should be laid in the following order:
❶ Clean the floor from all loose dirt.
❷ Then the wood tiles are first laid out loosely over the entire surface.
❸ The tiles that will be lying on the edge are then cut to size. A circular saw is best suited for this purpose.
❹ The existing substructure must also be cut to size – at least if the floor is still partially uneven or if the substructure installed from the outset is higher than planned.
❺ Now the individual tiles are inserted into each other and carefully beaten.
❻ The wood tiles can be laid in opposite directions or parallel to each other.
❼ The wooden terrace should also get a firm hold. As already mentioned, the wooden tiles are not glued. Therefore, it is important to finish with concrete edge tiles or, if no permanent change is to be made to the substance of the balcony, to use a wooden frame.
In the following video you will find a quick and descriptive guide on how to lay wood tiles easily and well on your home balcony.
And here are the most important advantages of a floor covering made of wood tiles for the balcony at a glance
| advantages | explanation |
|---|---|
| Natural look | In recent years more and more people have returned to the warm and natural look of wood as a natural material. Whether as garden or patio furniture, as interior furniture or as floor covering. The grain of the wood, the natural smell and last but not least the warmth this floor covering radiates make it a much more pleasant floor covering for any balcony than cold tiles or even bare concrete. |
| Easy to install | If you want to lay wooden tiles for your balcony, you will generally use a simple click system – since the wooden tiles are not glued on or fixed in place in any other way, laying them is comparatively simple. |
| Can be removed at any time | Especially in a rented apartment it is important that structural changes can be reversed quickly and easily. Wooden tiles on the balcony are a floor covering, which you have to remove yourself in case of doubt. Thanks to the simple laying technique, wood tiles for the balcony are just as easy to remove as they can be laid. No problems if you need a different surface or if you have to remove the wooden tiles when you leave your home. |
| Available in all price ranges | Wood tiles for outdoor use can be found in all price ranges. From 2 € per square meter up to 25 € and more per square meter everything is possible here. Ultimately the personal taste and how robust the tile really must be in the area in which it is to be laid are decisive. |
| Many different wood variants | The following types of wood are common on the market:
Which type of wood you use is also a matter of taste. However, the necessary robustness of the wood should play an important role in the decision making process. |
“By the way: It is very easy to maintain wooden balcony tiles. Normally, it’s enough to just sweep them off. However, it is even more effective and better for the wood itself to wipe the wood with an oil cloth every one to two weeks. This permanently strengthens the wood for outdoor use and prevents deep-seated dirt from forming. Once a year you should clean the wood tiles with some cleaning agent and then wash them off with clear water. Then you have to check the tiles for smaller and larger imperfections. Slightly damaged areas should be carefully sanded and then coated with wood oil. Every three to four years it makes sense to sand the entire surface of the wood tiles once and treat it with a wood oil.
All in all, it can be said that wooden balcony tiles not only look great, but also have a number of other advantages. And the best thing is – you don’t even have to be really talented in craftsmanship to lay these wooden tiles quickly and well.
I am Don Burke, one of the authors at My Garden Guide. I am a horticulturist that cultivates, grows, and cares for plants, ranging from shrubs and fruits to flowers. I do it in my own garden and in my nursery. I show you how to take care of your garden and how to perform garden landscaping in an easy way, step by step.I am originally from Sydney and I wrote in local magazines. Later on, I have decided, more than two decades ago, to create my own blog. My area of specialization is related to orchid care, succulent care, and the study of the substrate and the soil. Therefore, you will see many articles dedicated to these disciplines. I also provide advice about how to improve the landscape design of your garden.
