How to choose an interlocking wood deck tile

Wood deck tiles or interlocking patio pavers are fast becoming a very popular product for quickly and easily covering gray concrete patios with an attractive solid wood surface. They have the great advantage that it is not necessary to break old concrete and you can simply lay them on top, without any special surface preparation. And the beauty of these handy patio pavers is that you don’t need to be a skilled technician and you won’t need a special set of power tools to install them. They just click together like a puzzle.

However, there are now a growing number of manufacturers offering such products, so making an informed choice between what is available is increasingly difficult. In this article, we discuss some of the main features of tiles that you should probably consider before making a final decision on which tile is best for you in your particular circumstances.

Wood species

This is probably one of the most important aspects when choosing a deck tile. Ideally, you should choose a type of wood with the greatest natural durability, but you also have to consider the color aspect. Wood species can vary greatly in color, from light straw to chocolate browns to deep orange-red colors. But based solely on durability considerations, one of the most durable and resistant species is undoubtedly the Ipe wood from South America. Below this are other wood species also from South America and some from Southeast Asia. Rather than listing all the individual species, we suggest that you check the durability and other characteristics from an authorized website such as the USDA Forest Service at http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/Menu.ssi. Be aware that some species, while they may be durable with regards to climatic considerations, may still be subject to attack by insects, such as termites, which could be an important consideration in your particular region.

Other considerations when choosing wood species are, of course, whether the wood has been used responsibly or comes from managed forests.

Wood thickness

Most of the tiles on the market use wood slats that are approximately 5/8 “(15 mm) thick. Some manufacturers supply tiles with 3/4” thick slats and others with ½ “slats. The product of your choice it depends to some extent on where you want to lay the tiles.For interior situations such as basements, covered patios and other areas not subject to extreme weather conditions, then ½ “thick planks may be entirely suitable. However, in areas with more extreme climatic variations, we suggest that thicker wood is a better option.

Plastic base composition

Plastic tile bases can be made from many combinations of plastic, including polypropylene, polyethylene, or other plastic materials. While different manufacturers have their particular reason for choosing a specific plastic compound, the main considerations you need to take into account are the brittleness of the plastic, low-temperature characteristics (if you live in a very cold area), and UV stability. of the plastic used. This last point is extremely important since, unless a plastic product used in outdoor conditions contains a UV stabilizer, it can degrade very quickly.

Interlocking mechanism

Generally speaking, there are only two types of interlocking mechanisms that are used in terrace tiles currently on the market. First of all, there is the type that has female connectors on two sides and male connectors on the other two sides. Generally speaking, female connectors are a series of loops that mesh with the pins on the other two sides.

The other type of locking mechanism is completely symmetrical, so either side of any tile will lock to either side of any other tile, such as the SwiftDeck tiles from http://www.swiftdeck.com.

The downside to the loop and peg style is that it requires a bit more thought when laying the tiles in the first place, as you only need to start at one corner of the area to be covered and keep moving from that corner. It is difficult to install or remove one of these types of tiles in a central area without breaking at least three of the tiles that surround it. The other problem is that on the outer edge of the last row you will have one tile with loops on the edge and the next tile with pins on the edge.

There are also tiles on the market that are effectively one-way connectors. Once you click the tiles into position, you won’t be able to easily lift them back. While this may not be a disadvantage if you do not intend to change the tiles at any time, it does limit your options if you intend to move your home or if you want to change the design of the deck.

The other problem with pin and loop design is that if the manufacturer offers a choice of clip-on transition strips, then you need two types of these: one that will connect with the pins and one that will connect with the loops. And similarly, if corner transition pieces are supplied as an option, you will also need two types of these.

Availability of different designs

Some manufacturers only supply a deck tile design, usually with four wooden slats running in the same direction. Sometimes there is the option of a five- or six-strip tile. With other manufacturers, you may have the option of more than one design. The advantage of this is that you can later mix and match the different designs to make attractive borders, centerpieces, etc.

Optional gadgets

If you are using the tile to cover an existing concrete patio, you probably have at least one side open. So in the last row tabs you will be able to see the plastic base and connecting pins unless they are hidden in some way. Therefore, some manufacturers provide clip-on transition strips which also have the advantage of reducing the danger of shipping on the outer row of tiles. Corner transition strips are also commonly available from such vendors for external corners.

This covers the main design and material factors to consider when choosing a wood deck / patio tile. Of course, in addition to the above factors, you probably also want to take into account the price of the tile, the warranty offered, any trial period offered, after-sales service, return policy, etc.