Tiling onto balconies

The balcony should be designed in such a way that there is a slope to allow drainage. Water should not be allowed to pool.

The structure must be strong enough to support the expected load including tiles, adhesive, grout and a screed if needed, without undue movement.

Wooden balconies are not suitable for tiling.

Balconies will receive a full array of weather conditions from freeze/thaw in the winter to direct sunshine in the summer.

Screed or adhesive that is constantly saturated with water will freeze and expand causing it to break up.

Direct sunlight onto tiles will cause them to warm up and expand causing stresses to form between the tile, adhesive and screed.

External grade asphalt should not be tiled directly onto. The asphalt is not a stable base as it is very soft and malleable. Due to the oils naturally present in the asphalt, it is also very difficult to adhere to.

The existing design of a balcony should be of rigid concrete construction with a gradient of 1.5mm/m towards drainage points. The construction should be capable of withstanding the extra load of adhesive, grout and tiles (consult a structural engineer). Polymer-modified adhesives and grouts offer better adhesion strengths and reduced porosity. Therefore, they offer greater resistance to frost and thermally induced movement. Dark coloured tiles absorb more heat than light coloured tiles and therefore experience greater thermal movement. Smaller tiles create less stresses than larger tiles.