Peter Wilson of Setcrete explains how an internal living space can be seamlessly extended onto an outdoor terrace with the help of floor tiling
The trend amongst homeowners to ‘bring the outside in’ is well established, driven to a large degree by the boom in bi-fold doors for garden rooms and kitchen/diners, which can fully open an entire wall to provide an unbroken view of their garden space.
Taking this one step further, a growing number of property owners are seeing an evolution of this trend by extending the interior living space out onto an adjoining terrace or patio. And they are using porcelain tiles to create a truly unbroken connection between the inside and outside of a property.
This not only visually extends the living area of a home, but creates usable living space outside that mimics the aesthetic quality of the internal floor.
As well as delivering a clean, high quality visual appeal, porcelain tiles are able to withstand the varying seasonal weather conditions experienced in the UK, while being easy to clean and maintain.
BE PREPARED
What’s crucial in achieving the perfect finish is to ensure that the subfloor is perfectly prepared, which means it must be sound and stable, as well as super smooth, level and at the same height as the internal floor. This makes the installation process easier and quicker to achieve that all-perfect finish; indistinguishable from the inside.
A typical concrete screed, while providing the solid base required, is unlikely to be laid so that it precisely matches the height of the internal flooring screed and certainly would not achieve the same level of smoothness as a purpose-designed levelling compound.
Levelling compounds are designed to deliver the perfect subfloor base as part of the tiling installation. The best performing ones are formulated to make the preparation process simple and quick, with super fast drying and setting times.
EXTERIOR PERFORMANCE
Importantly, for exterior applications, a specialist external levelling compound must be used to withstand what the British weather can throw at it; from severe winter frosts to 30°C plus summer sunshine and everything in between. Furthermore, having made the investment in good quality tiles, you’ll want to ensure that the levelling compound will retain its integrity throughout the lifetime of the installation.
High quality exterior levelling compounds have excellent flow properties and are designed to be self-levelling, requiring only minimal work with a smoothing trowel to ensure the floor is evenly covered. Normally, the levelling compound will be applied at a thickness of between 5-15 mm, but can be applied up to 50 mm deep with a gravel-filled mix.
The fast drying and setting times of high quality exterior levelling compounds mean the subfloor can be walked on after only a couple of hours and can be ready for tiles to be installed the following day.
TOUGH & DURABLE
The tiling doesn’t have to be installed that quickly however – if it doesn’t suit your schedule. The top performing exterior levelling compounds are formulated to be tough and durable and to withstand the weather even when they are not covered. In fact, they are designed so that they can be left uncovered permanently, if required, and used as a standalone ‘wearing surface.’ In this scenario it is recommended that a final scratch coat is applied and brushed finished to create a textured profile that will reduce the potential for slipping.
The super-smooth surface finish provided by the levelling compound optimises the application of tile adhesive, making the tile installation process
easier and faster. Crucially, it also avoids imperfections and undulations in the concrete base transferring to the finished appearance of the tiled area.
The result is a visually stunning floor that encourages a natural flow from the inside to the outside, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of a property and creating a practical and desirable outside space that really brings the inside out.
Peter Wilson is brand manager at Setcrete
