Are you questioning about whether it is possible or not to install interlocking patio tiles over grass? If so, you are in the right place.
Such question is quite common to occur among both homeowners and renters with grass covering most of their yard landscape design. It is also inseparable from some things like the need for an extra outdoor sitting area, the ease in installing the interlocking tiles, and the desire to save money when building a patio.
If all of those things are in your mind right now, you can read this post further to get all the facts you need to know about the patio material type. You can find all of the topics of discussion in the list below:
- General Introduction on Interlocking Tiles
- The Importance of Flat Surface for the Installation
- Over-Grass Interlocking Tiles Installation to Create a Patio
- You Can Attach and Remove Interlocking Tiles over Grass Easily
- Different Choices of Material to Select
- Perfect for Creating a Temporary Flooring Solution
- The Disadvantages of Interlocking Tiles for Patio over a Grassy Land
For the opening, let us start by knowing about what interlocking tiles are.
General Introduction on Interlocking Tiles
Interlocking tiles are none other but tiles that come with a simple interlocking design. It includes some pegs and holes that allow you to lock them together.
This kind of design is made, particularly for the sake of the installation process. Indeed, the purpose of everything is for an easier way to install the tiles that can be done by everyone with different building skills, including those who have no building experience before.
This kind of outdoor tiles come in at least five different types. Those include carpet, clear, deck, PVC, and rubber interlocking tiles.
The one that you can use to create a patio over grass is none other but the deck type. It is a good match for the outdoor conditions, especially the weather-related ones. That is why it is an excellent choice for a patio. Of course, it also means that it is a strong and durable option.
Although the deck type comes in various price ranges depending on the quality and design, you can still say that it belongs to the cost-effective category. More importantly, many of interlocking tiles are easy to install, so you do not need to pay any builders to finish the project.
So, yes it is like a gift from heaven for DIYers, including those who have an interest in building their patio but have rather low skills. Thanks to the easy-locking system that makes everything possible.
In the installation of interlocking tiles for creating a patio is undeniably an easy one to do, mainly because of the design they have. However, there is one essential thing that must exist for the sake of an excellent result. It is none other but a flat surface.
It is essential because, with it, each of the tiles can interlock with another precisely. Besides, an uneven surface can create dents that will possibly make the tiles to detach easily or even get damages.
Based on these, before you start installing the tiles to create a patio, it is crucial to make sure that the grassy ground is flat and even. If unfortunately, you find some part of the surface is uneven, it seems better for you to fix it first so the final result of the project will be excellent.
At first, it may take some effort to create an even grass floor surface. However, it is much better than finding out later that some of the patio tiles are detached or also damaged so that you need to provide more time to fix it or even worse you should buy some extra tiles to replace the damaged parts.
Over-Grass Interlocking Tiles Installation to Create a Patio
The following fact you need to know is about the installation of interlocking tiles over the grass to create a patio. Is it the same with when you install them on another surface? Is the process the same with the installation of other types of interlocking tiles for a patio?
Well, generally it is suitable to say that installing the tiles on the grass and another surface is different. While it is best to install them on a hard and even surface, you need to know that grassy land is a soft surface.
It can create particular difficulty that makes it hard for you to place the tiles right over the grass. However, it does not mean that it is impossible to do.
The most important thing to do is choosing the right deck tiles that you can install easily on the grass even if you do not have any building skill. It is none other but the interlocking tiles that have a feet on the underside just like the one you see in the picture above. Commonly, this detail is made of plastic.
With the feet, you can easily place the tiles over the grass without doing any preparation first. You only need to lock each tile to another by using the pegs and holes available based on the patio shape that you want without using any adhesive or building grout in between the tiles.
About the patio shape, you can also cut the tiles if needed. It is something you can do without any difficulty.
The existence of the feet is not only beneficial for the installation process. It will also give you other benefits.
It creates a kind of breathable space between the tiles and the grassy land so there won’t be any water or moisture trapped there. Besides, it functions as drainage too.
As we all already know, some things like water and excessive moisture can create different types of damages to a deck or a patio.
You Can Attach and Remove Interlocking Tiles over Grass Easily
Another fact that you need to know is that interlocking tiles for a patio that you want to build over grass are something that you can attach and remove easily. If you wonder why it is mentioned here while it is obvious that the interlocking system allows the tiles to be so, here is the further explanation.
The interlocking design of the tiles is more than just the ease you can get in the installing process. There is a more significant benefit here.
Imagine that you are a renter of a house with no outdoor sitting area and you want to build one since you like spending time outside alone or with your friends or relatives. The interlocking tiles are the best solution you should choose.
They will allow you to build a patio effortlessly even over grass. Besides, the tiles commonly last for a quite long time.
The question how if you need to move to another place someday? Do you just leave the tiles, which also mean that you lose the money you use to buy them?
You do not have to do so. You only need to detach the tiles, remove them from the grass, pack them, and bring them with you when you need to move to a new place. There, you can reuse the tiles for the same purpose or another as long as there are no damages.
Of course, purchasing some interlocking tiles to build a patio is a good investment that you should take into consideration. This idea is applied not only when you are a renter but also when the house is yours.
Another benefit that still has a relation to the fact that you can attach and detach the interlocking tiles for the over-grass patio is the replacement. When you find that there are some damages, you do not have to remove all the tiles. You only need to detach some of them and replace it with the new ones.
This solution is not only effortless. It will also enable you to save money when replacement is necessary since you will only need to purchase some extra tiles to replace the damaged ones.
Different Choices of Material to Select
The last but not least fact that you need to know about the interlocking patio tiles you can use over grass is related to the material. What you need to know is that there are quite a lot of choices available.
However, it is undeniable that some materials are more popular than others. The ones meant here are wood and composite.
Both are compatible to be designed with an interlocking system with the unique ‘feet’ below that can make the tiles attach to the grass floor properly. Of course, they are also suitable to use on other flat surfaces.
Let us talk a bit more of wooden interlocking tiles for patio as one of the most recommended and preferred material. With more advanced technologies, right now, this tile type has even more good qualities that make it an even better selection.
Many wooden interlocking tiles for patio are stronger and more durable right now. They are even resistant to different things, including water.
It makes them perfect for an outdoor environment. Besides, the area where you are about to install the tiles are on grass, which is prone to tiny crawlies, water, moisture, and some other things.
For an even better quality, it is recommended to treat the wooden tiles with a special solution. A thing like this can also enhance the natural wood appearance to look more beautiful.
An example of wood material that is used quite often to create interlocking tiles for patio is teak. It is well-known because of its natural water-proof and insect-proof.
There is also eucalyptus, which is an excellent alternative to teak but comes at a more affordable price. This wooden material is also known for its resistance to bugs, decay, and water.
If you are not interested in the physical appearance of both examples above, there is acacia that is popular because of its toughness. There is also Ipe wood that has excellent weather-resistance ability and strength.
If you want something more affordable, you can pick composite tiles instead of wooden. These are made from blended materials that are cost-effective while at the same time also offer weather resistance qualities, strength, and even the look of wood. It is also great because of the zero maintenance value.
Some interlocking tiles for patio are even from recycled materials. These are eco-friendly and are perfect to choose if you are a person who always gives more concern to the environment.
Perfect for Creating a Temporary Flooring Solution
This one is another fun fact you also must know about the tiles. These are perfect for creating temporary flooring on your grassy front yard or backyard.
You will find this idea beneficial when you are about to host an event or a party at your house, but there is a lack of sitting area to accommodate all the guests. All you need to do is temporarily installing the tiles on your designated area in the yard and add some seats there.
You can even create some stepping tiles or a pathway to add more convenience for your guest while exploring the venue of the event. This way, you do not have to worry that the guests will get discomfort from stepping their feet on the grassy area.
The Disadvantages of Interlocking Tiles for Patio over a Grassy Land
It is clear that all the facts mention above tends to show the advantages of installing interlocking tiles over the grass for creating a patio outside your house. Although so, it does not mean that there is not any disadvantage at all.
The first one is the visible seams. Although it is a minor disadvantage, for some people it looks quite irritating.
The second is the fact that interlocking tiles will never create a permanent patio over the grassy or any other yard type. It also means that it will not add any additional home value, especially when you are thinking about selling the property.
Even the patio from the interlocking tiles can last for a quite long time it is still not a permanent one. That is why when you want to enhance the home value for a higher selling price, it will be much better to consider an actual patio instead of the one we talk about here.
For the closing, having interlocking patio tiles over the grass is an excellent idea if you want to try something new for your outdoor area. Moreover, you can easily change the position of your patio as the interlocking tiles are not permanent.
After you read these seven facts about interlocking patio tiles over the grass, hopefully, you can have useful information before you decide to have it or avoid it. For the last words, we say thanks for visiting our site.
Will the grass underneath the tiles, die?
Most definitely the grass will die if the tiles are left in the same position for any length of time as I would suggest laying a porous membrane down on top of the area before laying your tiles, this will prevent any grass or weeds to grow through the spaces of your tiles.
I was thinking of doing this, but since grass will die. I might as well get a permanent paver just to put my grill on, my porch is cemented ground, but I need something to cook on away from the house and porch fixture for fire safety.