Deck tiles are a form of interlocking flooring, much like you would see with vinyl tiles used inside the home. They are a quick and easy method for updating your backyard look or your garden. The best part is, like vinyl wood flooring in the home, they are very easy to install.
The material that deck tiles are installed on, whether synthetic or natural is also largely irrelevant, whether it’s grass, sand, or concrete, so long as everything is level. Not all of the interlocking tile choices out there are created equally, so you’ll want to go with what works best for grass.
Interlocking tile patios are relative newcomers to outdoor decor options. Someone figured that since interlocking tiles worked so well and became so popular inside the home, it only made sense to take it outside and see where it went.
So far so good on that account. Now, the first thing that comes to mind is how to get them installed on top of the grass, which is perfectly doable and not as difficult as you might think. However, the selection is important, as some tiles will work better over grass than others.
Installing Interlocking Patio Tiles on Grass
This works almost exactly as it would for laying your interlocking tiles over dirt, the difference is, you have a little more leeway when it comes to leveling dirt. It’s a bit harder to level grass and if your area of choice is really bumpy, you may have to use dirt as a fill.
Also, you want to keep in mind that deck/patio tiles are similar to a wooden deck in that they expand and contract as the seasons and the temperature change. So you always want to leave a tiny gap of about a half-inch between your tiles and any permanent structure.
While it’s perfectly okay to install deck tiles on grass, it’s not the most ideal option and therefore requires a
elittle more prep work and a particular deck tile selection.
- Cut the grass area, where you are going to lay your tiles down, as close as the mower’s blades will cut it
- Either pour concrete or fill the grassy area with gravel or sand
- Compact any sand or gravel aggregate
- Avoid any areas where there is potential for moisture
- If you choose to leave the grass as is, use gravel or sand to level it
The main thing that you are trying to focus on is ensuring that the area is level and as compact as possible. You may have to rent a compacting hammer to get the job done. Either way, the grass underneath your deck tiles is going to die, so it’s not as if you have to worry about maintaining it.
An unlevel base will be detrimental in the long run, because your interlocking tiles will come apart from one section of the deck and continues to compact further down in the coming months or years.
If you stick with just grass, there is a level of risk that a level area will compact further. The risk is minimized if you choose to throw an aggregate down over it, compacting the aggregate as much as possible before laying your tiles.
Measure and Order Your Tiles
Once you have the entire area prepped and compact, you can measure the section out and order your tiles according to the square footage that you’re working with. You get your square feet by multiplying the width of the area by the length of the area.
Always order more square feet than you need. We all make mistakes and if you have to cut a tile, it’s best to have more backup in case you mess the cut up. Also, it’s good to stock a few backup tiles in the event that something goes wrong down the road.
This is especially essential if you have kids because kids just love to go through their early years like a wrecking ball in a China shop.
Best Tiles to Order for Grass, Dirt, or an Otherwise Natural Base
NewTechWood makes an excellent, composite deck tile material that is made for applying on grass, dirt, sand, or any other natural base foundation. Interlocking deck tiles typically have a bottom that is suitable for pegging down into the earth.
If the tiles you are looking at lack this feature, you should find some that do. Depending on how large your deck tile layout is going to be, it will shift around easier on grass or gravel, since deck tiles are not the heaviest things in the world.
Pegs on the bottom will alleviate this issue and keep everything in place. You can also order interlocking deck tiles that are designed to install on a flat concrete surface, if you are intending to fill the area in with concrete rather than leaving the grass alone or going with an aggregate of some kind.
Deck tiles should have a base and the above-business, NewTechWood, shows an example of this on their site, with a screw-in base that keeps the wood itself from sitting directly on the grass.
This will help keep the vast majority of the moisture well away from the deck tile itself, along with aiding the drainage aspect of your deck tiles. The better you are able to keep water away from your deck tiles, the longer they will last.
Once you have everything leveled, measured out, and the aggregate applied (if needed), you can begin to interlock the deck tiles.No matter which brand of interlocking deck tiles you choose, you will be able to snap them together quickly and easily.
Final Thoughts
You can place deck tiles on your grass so long as you are ready to do some solid preparation work. If you have a grassy backyard, it’s one of the best ways to go to get a quick and efficient patio set up without having to engage in intense labor and through-the-roof expenses.
Once your interlocking deck tiles are in place, you will have a long-term and viable patio that has an extraordinary look that lasts a long time.
If you found this blog post helpful please share it. Also take a look at our other most recent blog posts below.
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