QUESTION

Can I install Wood Style Porcelain Tile on an Exterior Deck in Maryland? I want to build a deck which will be 19.5 by 12.5 and want to use a ceramic tile that is designed to look like wood (which I have on another floor and love). It would be exposed to the elements until I screen it in in a few years and will be up from ground level from 2 to 5 feet based on slope of ground. Can I do this?

ANSWER

ANSWER - I assume you have a porcelain wood looking tile that you want to use on the exterior deck of your home in MD. If so, yes, porcelain tiles can be used on exterior areas in freeze thaw climatic areas if it is installed correctly. Exterior decks are often not installed correctly and there have been a lot of failures because of that. You want to make sure the deck is structurally sound the way it is constructed. That it is properly waterproofed with an adequate drainage system. The tile assembly needs to be a quality system. It needs to be installed per industry standards. We can provide installation guidelines for these types of installations, and we do have a CTaSC inspector in MD, and throughout North America, who can perform quality control inspections. Although the cost of our services may or may not be practical depending on your budget and situation.