What prep's needed to tile front pathway?

Russinating · 22 May 2020 at 14:48

Our front space needs some work, and having taken some local inspo we want to go down the not-so-complicated route of a tiled walkway (probably cement tiles) with gravel/stones across the remainder.

A brick or wooden divider and the stoned bit is easy, but what prep would I need to do for the tiled pathway?

Fortunately the entire space is concrete at the moment, BUT it's not entirely flat. I'm assuming it needs to be else tiles that fall on a change in gradient will easily crack. It's not a large space, 1720x880mm, so what would be the best way to even it out? Obviously we want it to have a gradient towards the pavement so anything self-levelling is no good, but I'm sure there's an easy alternative.

Space in question to be tiled... ignore the weeds and mess

...

Kol · 22 May 2020 at 14:58

Watching with interest, we are intending to do the same soon.

Russinating · 22 May 2020 at 15:09

Kol said:
Watching with interest, we are intending to do the same soon.

Nice. Check out www.cement-tiles.com, might be useful. Their Instagram is home inspo porn, and their tile designer is pretty cool. We're planning to create a bespoke tile and match the door to one of the colours. They're not cheap but with such small space we think it might be worth it for kerb appeal!

FNG · 22 May 2020 at 16:38

You might get more help over on diynot. I think I have read previously though that outdoor tiling of paths etc is one of the most difficult, although that might have been for Victorian type paths...

eviled · 22 May 2020 at 23:27

I’ve done my bathroom in cement encaustic tiles
I’d recommend besttile.ie they were the cheapest by far and very helpful and packed very well for delivery

For you path, solid concrete is the ideal base, and a bit of self levelling compound (depending on the gradient) might be all you need.

cement tiles are extremely sensitive to how they are laid, undyed slow set adhesives, undyed grouts, special sealers. You need someone who is experience and can show you tiles they out down >12 months ago to prove it

Russinating · 24 May 2020 at 14:40

eviled said:
I’ve done my bathroom in cement encaustic tiles
I’d recommend besttile.ie they were the cheapest by far and very helpful and packed very well for delivery

For you path, solid concrete is the ideal base, and a bit of self levelling compound (depending on the gradient) might be all you need.

cement tiles are extremely sensitive to how they are laid, undyed slow set adhesives, undyed grouts, special sealers. You need someone who is experience and can show you tiles they out down >12 months ago to prove it

Sooo... don't do it myself then?

Thanks for the website, looks good.

JRJ · 24 May 2020 at 15:50

What height is the door threshold?

Russinating · 25 May 2020 at 11:13

JRJ said:
What height is the door threshold?

It's decent, at least 100mm to a lip on the threshold and 130mm to be in-line with the internal floor. Which is why I'm assuming I won't need to dig down at all.

JRJ · 25 May 2020 at 12:37

Russinating said:
It's decent, at least 100mm to a lip on the threshold and 130mm to be in-line with the internal floor. Which is why I'm assuming I won't need to dig down at all.

No I'd be happy going straight on top, looks very solid with no cracks or dips. Have you put a level across it to see how far out it is?

Russinating · 25 May 2020 at 17:00

JRJ said:
No I'd be happy going straight on top, looks very solid with no cracks or dips. Have you put a level across it to see how far out it is?

Yeah so it basically goes from being sloped to level about 2/3 of the way up. Difference at the threshold is 20mm. Photo below shows what I mean.

Neighbours said the concrete was done about 3 years ago after the drain out front collapsed (common to happen once on these houses, they were built with a kink to keep rats out apparently. Clever Victorians!).

JRJ · 25 May 2020 at 17:17

Depending on the size of the tile you could follow the same line, or slightly thicker bed up top to pull it out?

eviled · 26 May 2020 at 10:19

Russinating said:
Sooo... don't do it myself then?

Shouldn't be technically anymore difficult than normal tiling as long as you follow correct procedures and use the proper materials.

I wouldn't have any issues tiling onto the concrete and following the current level of it flattening off towards the door