How to Easily Tile Over an Existing Concrete Patio
While we’ve made the most of our fenced backyard & patio, the existing footprint, and the pergola… there is one thing I’ve always wanted to update: the concrete. We’re approaching the sixth year in our home (the longest we’ve ever lived in a house), and I’m excited to finally be updating the sea of concrete that is our back patio. We spend so much time outside, but the gray utilitarian aesthetic has always bothered me. Our home was built in the 90’s and we’ve slowly been adding character with each renovation, giving it an older, intentional feel. This project is no different. I always envisioned beautiful pavers or a tiled patio that is as functional as it is beautiful. Click through for a step-by-step tutorial on how to easily tile over an existing concrete patio. This project has me questioning why we didn’t tackle the patio sooner…
Each year, our home exterior and outdoor living spaces continue to evolve. We’ve replaced the roof, the garage doors, built a storage shed, replaced the front door, are currently working on installing an outdoor kitchen, added a garden, gave the bedroom balcony a makeover, and even installed solar landscape lighting over the summer. This is simply one of many projects that is part of our larger goal in making our house (including the outdoor living spaces) feel like home. Since I began sharing the outdoor tile project, questions have consistently rolled in. While we’re not quite finished, I did want to publish this post sooner rather than later, in an effort to answer your questions more quickly (with the seasons changing). Read on for the process!
Why Tile Over Existing Concrete?
The fenced-in portion of our backyard is primarily tiered boulders (a retaining wall of sorts) and a sea of concrete with a strip of grass between the two, which wraps around our house. We live in a mountainous area and the incline definitely makes our space more difficult to use. While we love and appreciate the flat concreted patio- it is an eyesore. When researching pavers, tile, or brick veneer, I ultimately landed on an affordable, yet aesthetically pleasing option that could accommodate our harsh climate (snow to extreme heat here in Salt Lake City). It’s also a great option for pool surrounds, should we ever want to extend our patio and add one in the future.
Tools & Supplies
This is the list of everything we used to complete this project. Some things are certainly not necessary, but make the job much easier…
- Pressure Washer
- Self Leveling Sealant Caulk
- Self Leveling Underlayment Primer / Sealant
- Paint Roller with Extension Pole
- Tile (this is the exact tile we used)
- Grout (we used color Driftwood)
- Wet Saw (linking our exact one)
- Large Format Tile Mortar with Polymer (Ultraflex LFT)
- Bucket
- Notched Trowel (1/4″ x 1/4″ x 1/4″)
- Tile Spacers
- Grout Float
- Sponge
- Kneepads (a must for kneeling on concrete)
Choosing an Outdoor Rated Tile
Given we had so much concrete to cover, brick pavers or a mosaic brick veneer was out of budget. The amount of tile we needed for the patio is more than all of the tile inside our current home and our previous home combined (in terms of square footage)… it’s a lot. We also have a brick home exterior, so I was looking for something with a bit more contrast.
I landed on this budget-friendly textured porcelain tile, which happens to be made in Italy. It’s 8″ x 16″ and has a textural, weathered look. Porcelain tile does not absorb nearly as much water as ceramic tile, so if I couldn’t use a natural stone… porcelain was my next choice. It’s an affordable alternative to natural stone. Most importantly, the specs meet our needs: it’s waterproof, it’s porcelain, provides traction, doesn’t require sealing or maintenance, is outdoor rated, fade resistant, durable, and large format. It definitely gives a natural, old world look- on a budget.
Prep & Seal The Surface
The first step was to clear and clean the concrete. We used our pressure washer to thoroughly clean the patio, working section by section.
The next step was to caulk and seal all expansions cuts or grooves in the concrete. We used this self leveling sealant and applied it with a caulk gun (pictured above).
Then, we needed to prep the surface. You’ll ned a jug of self-leveling underlayment primer. This ensures your surface is smooth, level, and sealed. We poured it in sections, and used a paint roller to evenly coat the surface. Allow this to dry before installing your tile.
Layout the Tile Pattern
Next, I needed to decide on a tile pattern. I was between two classic options: running bond on thirds (left image) or herringbone (right image). We’ve installed both for previous projects, but given this tile had a darker perimeter… when installed in a herringbone pattern, it looked much less distressed. We ended up going with the angular option. I also like the contrast it provides against our existing brick. Be sure to lay out and plan your tile pattern, then do a dry run prior to actual installation- ensuring it fits properly and looks nice.
Install the Tile
Then we began the fun part… installing the tile. Using the Ultraflex polymer mortar, we applied the thinset to the concrete, as well as the backside of each tile (back buttering) to ensure the tile is completely level, sealed, and has maximum adhesion. This needs to be extra durable! One more time- apply the mortar to the concrete surface AND the backside of the tile using your trowel. Choose a thin set rated for outdoor application… that’s why we landed on the polymer mortar.
We used tile spacers we already had on hand (leftover from previous projects), which is why they’re different colors, pictured below.
Grout the Tile
Once your tile is installed, it’s time to grout. We actually found it easiest to grout in sections, since we’re covering such a large surface area. In fact, we’re still not finished tiling, but grouting as we go. Grout dries out quickly and it’s best to work in small batches, whether it’s premixed or not.
To keep things quick and convenient, we used pre-mixed grout this time around… Mapei’s Flexcolor CQ in color Driftwood. Press it into the cracks, being meticulous as you go.
Once your tile has been grouted, wipe the excess using a damp sponge. This may take multiple passes to fully remove the grout haze. Luckily, this tile is very forgiving when it comes to haze and dirt… being outdoor, it cleans up easily. Check out this post on how to choose the best grout colors!
FAQ
This is totally dependent on your tile and grout selection. For ours, neither require sealant. Most natural stone tile needs to be sealed, as well as certain grout choices. Do consider a fade and / or stain resistant grout, considering it will be exposed to the elements. That’s why I landed on a neutral and medium color.
Prior to tiling, you should make sure your sub surface has an adequate slope- with no standing water. You should ensure proper drainage prior to tiling… that may mean re-leveling your concrete or installing a French drain. Luckily, our tile was quite level and doesn’t hold standing water, so we were able to proceed without further attention.
This is an outdoor rated tile that is specifically rated for patios and pools. Therefore, it has a textural surface that offers a nice amount of traction. That was definitely one of our concerns when making tile selections for this space. In regard to the tile temperature during the summer months, given it is a lighter color and in a shaded area- it should be much cooler than other surfaces. I’ll let you know this summer how it feels underfoot!
Related
Looking for more outdoor projects or tile related posts? We’ve shared so many from our past renovations. I’ll link some popular posts for you below…
- The Best Mapei Grout Colors (Designer Tile Pairings & Advice)
- Ideas & Design Plan for Our Outdoor Kitchen Build
- Where to Install Outdoor DIY Solar Landscape Lighting
- Choosing Timeless Exterior Lighting (A Designer Guide)
- How to Close & Remove a Window Well and Egress Window
- DIY Heated Floor Tile
- How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic, Not Basic
- How We Choose : Grout for Tile
- How to Faux Paint a Vent Cover to Seamlessly Blend with Stone
- How to Choose the Best Garage Door Style & Color
- Our Entryway Tile + Alternative Options
- How to Paint Exterior Brick
I hope this post was helpful! Please let me know if you have additional questions in the comment section below- I’d be happy to answer or add them to the FAQ. I’m really looking forward to sharing this completed outdoor renovation with you. Per usual, it’s taking longer than expected, but it already looks so much better. Our goal is to finish up before the snow begins to fall… then come spring, we’ll be ready to fully enjoy our outdoor living space. Here’s to a great weekend ahead! Sadly, no tiling for me (post surgery), but that’s what Emmett will be working on. What is everyone else up to?
