Resurfacing a Concrete Patio with Deck Tiles

Information courtesy of Huck DeVenzio, Arch Treatment Technologies, Inc.; Marla Siegel, Ladera Systems, Inc.; and Malcolm Kay, HandyDeck Systems Inc.

Tiles are installed by aligning the interlocking tabs on the sides of the tiles, then swiftly pushing downwards to lock the next tile into position. For installation the only tool needed is the decking tile design tool on the interactive design tool grid. You will be able to select small photos of the decking tile styles that you want to use... then, you will be able to place those tiles on a grid that represents the dimensions of the area that you would like to cover.

That drab concrete patio is often the last thing to think about in any home improvement project. It’s such a daunting job to replace cracked concrete or outdated pavers and the thought of bringing in noisy jack-hammers, digging the lot up and carting it away can be enough to give you nightmares! And then you still need to think about what to replace it with.

Maybe you’ve always yearned for a solid wood deck, but the high cost of custom built deck has been a concern. And in many cases if you’re building a conventional wood deck over top of an existing patio, the new deck will be 4” or so higher than your current patio…which can be a real problem with outward opening doors.

Fortunately there’s another solution for resurfacing concrete patios. With HandyDeck patio deck tiles you simply snap the individual tiles directly into place over the top of the existing surface – no special surface preparation normally required.

No special preparation would be needed for the concrete; treated wood can be placed directly on (or in) concrete with no harm to either the wood or the concrete. The weight of the wood would probably hold the deck in place or wood could be bolted to the concrete.

Backyard Decks

There’s just a few points to keep in mind when installing a backyard deck. Firstly, if you’re planning on laying the tiles directly on bare ground, the surface should be even (not bumpy) and well compacted. Ideally the tiles should be laid on a layer of well compacted gravel in they are not being installed over a concrete slab. And if you’re laying them directly on the ground, you’ll also need to scrape off any grass or vegetation and place a weed control mat under the tiles first.

Natural Decking

StoneDeck™ by Ladera Systems natural stone decking combines premium-quality natural slates, granites and quartzite with a high- strength composite backing. This creates a durable, virtually maintenance-free surface. It is also fireproof and green roof compatible.

The system is designed to allow 1/8-inch joints between each tile. Water free drains through the joints away from the deck surface. Because the tiles are not mortared in place, they can be removed to allow access for maintenance on the waterproof surface.

StoneDeck does not require mortar or special framing. The system features a joist plate fastening matrix that connects to the deck frame while interlocking all structural panels in place.

Metal-Free Treated Wood

Arch Treatment Technologies, Inc. introduced Wolmanized“ L3 Outdoor“ Wood, the first decking product protected by a nonmetallic solution, in early 2007. Until then there had not been a residential treated wood preserved with carbon-based components.

By itself, the preservative would leave wood its natural color, however, to resemble familiar types of treated wood and distinguish treated from untreated material, pigment is being added to the treating solution, giving the wood a light brown hue. It has a built-in water repellent, is protected by an EPA-registered formulation that penetrates a wide range of wood species, and is comparable to untreated wood with regard to corrosion of metal hardware. www.handydeck.com