Quick video of how the tiles look and the installation:
Full Post:
We have a slab foundation ranch house built in the 1970s, with a concrete pad patio off the side. For some reason, the patio concrete was made from four different concrete sections and painted a series of unfortunate colors over the years (the latest being pink!?) The concrete collects dirt and leaves, and was generally not a space we could use other than traversing over to get to the rest of the yard.
After getting an estimate for over $30k(!) to upgrade the patio (new floor, raised roof to replace the aluminum awning, slightly widening footprint), we decided to make smaller, more budget-friendly upgrades to the area.
First, we added metal rods and outdoor curtains to help soften the look of the aluminum poles and give flexible sun/bug protection.
Most recently, we made the biggest purchase yet: Almost 300 square feet of wooden interlocking tiles (Amazon affiliate link used, not sponsored!). Laid directly on top of the concrete, these have instantly changed the usability of our patio for the better.
We debated getting these for years. They weren’t necessarily going to solve the problem of all the leaves and tree seeds blowing onto the deck, but they would allow water to flow between the slats, making the concrete less dirty/sticky for leaves.
We ordered enough to go beyond the existing footprint of our awning, so the flooring helps visually expand the patio area even if we don’t keep any furniture on the sides.
For our almost-three hundred square foot space, we ordered around ten boxes. So many boxes, apparently, the company contacted us to make sure we actually wanted that many. You’ll have to do some math for your own coverage area.
The wood deck tiles arrived in a huge stack of boxes piled by our garage. They were easy enough to haul around to the back.
They have a strong wood/stain smell, so we opened the boxes to give them air out time.
Since our concrete pad was uneven, in particular where all four concerns met, we put down some sand to help even the surface. We probably could have used a stronger type of sand that sets up nicely, but we just used play sand.
They weren’t able to completely smooth out our concrete bumps (again, our fault for not using the correct sand treatment underneath.) But we were pleasantly surprised that while there’s still a detectable rise, the tiles have stayed locked together. We placed an outdoor rug over the problem area to help smooth it over and further avoid stumbles on the slightly uneven surface.
Cons of the interlocking wood deck tiles:
- The edges aren’t finished and the company didn’t offer any finishing edge products. We’re considering adding half-rounds or some other transition to make the edges look nicer.
- The wood is quite soft, so dragging deck furniture or anything moderately heavy leaves scratches.
Pros of the interlocking wood deck tiles:
- It’s a quick upgrade to a surface, without actually installing new flooring.
- They lock well so they feel sturdy, but can be pulled apart and re-set of anything needs shifting.
- You can choose multiple colors and patterns on how you lay them. We chose an every-other pattern, but you could run them all lengthwise or widthwise. There is also a chevron/diagonal design!
- Real wood
- Mini ridges help with grip, so it’s not a smooth slippery surface
Here is the set we ordered, from Yaheetech (Amazon Affiliate link)
Overall, we are delighted with the upgrade. Super easy to install, looks great, and we’re actually using our outdoor space now, even in bare feet 🙂
You can find a general election of interlocking wood deck tiles on Amazon as well (affiliate link):
This upgrade also prompted us to nab a new set of patio furniture, upon which I am writing this post. I wish for you the same small-but-mighty outdoor life upgrade!
