Outdoor Tile Expansion Joints for tiles and concrete slab - tiles on concrete slab - how to grout outdoor tiles
If there are joints in the concrete slab under the tile, there needs to be an expansion joint in the concrete slab, as well. What Expansion Joints Are and Why You Should Use Them Expansion joints are spaces between tiles that, instead of being filled with grout , are filled with a flexible sealant. The type of sealant (also called the "caulk" or "caulking") chosen must be weather-resistant. Moreover, if you expect to be subjecting your patio to a lot of traffic, you must select a sealant designed to hold up to foot traffic. Note that even indoor tiling projects require the use of these joints. The elements can take their toll on pieces of tile used outdoors. These elements include direct sunlight, freezing temperatures, and snow and rain. All of these conditions can cause outdoor tile to move, and you need to allow room for it to do so. If the outdoor tile does not have room to move, it will make room. Grout will crack. Outdoor tiles will pop themselves ...