In most cases your existing framing is sufficient, but you will need to make sure that it can support 11 lbs. per sq. ft dead load. Most lumber companies are usually able to help you with this calculation. You will need to give them the size of the deck joists 2x10, 2x12, 2x8 etc. and the length of joist from the house to the support beam. They should be able to let you know if it can support 11 lbs. dead load. If it can support the tile, then you will just need to add one 2x4 sister joist per main joist. If your existing joists do not have enough weight capacity, then you might have to add a sister joist that is larger than 2x4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! You first need to remove the old decking material from the existing joists if exposed to the elements, (as mentioned in Can DekTek Tiles Be Installed Over My Existing Decking (wood/composite)? before you can apply the new DekTek pavers. It is also a good idea to remove the dirt and grime from the top of the joist so that the adhesive will bond to the joists better. The best way to do this is to sand it with a belt sander or a power washer with enough pressure will also work.
The next step in installing DekTek Tile on your existing wood joists, is that you need to add on a sister joist. This allows enough space for the tiles to bare on. For decks that can support 11 lbs per sq. ft. then a 2” x 4” sister joist is sufficient. For decks that need additional structural support you may need to add a larger sister joist such as a 2” x 8” or 2” or 10”. Refer to your local lumber company for weight calculations and joists size.
If you’re concerned that your deck joists may not be strong enough, you’ll need to consult your local lumber company to make sure your framing is sufficient for supporting 11 lbs. per sq. ft. dead load.
Maybe. DekTek Tiles can be installed over your existing deck if the following stipulations are met:
- Your existing deck must be in good enough shape to install DekTek Tiles over them. If you have a rotting old deck where the wood deck boards are about to give way, it would not work to lay DekTek Tile over your existing deck. DekTek Tiles weigh 11 pounds per square foot so your existing deck needs to be in good enough shape to hold that and would also need to be framed for 11 pounds per square foot. In situations where your deck is structurally sound, you can install DekTek Tiles right over your existing deck.
- In order to be able to install DekTek Tiles right over your old decking material, height constraints must not be an issue. DekTek Tiles are 1" thick (same thickness as standard decking materials). If you are wanting to set these concrete tiles over your existing deck, you will need 1-1/2" thick clearance to the bottom of the sill minimum, which takes into account DekTek Tiles are slightly crowned in the center of the tiles so water will drain properly, plus it accounts for shimming the tiles up.
- On applications where a lot of water will not come in: i.e., enclosed three-season porches, covered decks, screened-in decks…this type of situation is best when installing DekTek's Tiles over your existing deck, as it ensures there will not be any water issues later on down the road. In states like Minnesota where they get the full range of weather conditions with rain and snow, it is important that the water be able to drain all the way through your deck. In light of this, we recommend the concrete deck tiles be shimmed up 1/16" to 1/4" to allow the water to drain through your existing deck better.
For decks that are not covered, we feel the best installation process is to remove the existing decking because water could get trapped between existing deck boards and the concrete tile. Ultimately it is up to you and your contractor to make that final decision. If you do wish to proceed installing DekTek Tiles over your existing deck that is not covered and exposed to all of the elements, it may work better to remove a few of your deck boards to maximize the water drainage. Please note DekTek Tile will not be liable for any water issues.
If DekTek Tiles are being installed over existing decking, the edge of the tiles must be set directly over the existing joist. The only exception is if the existing decking is 2" thick, in which case they do not have to be set a specific way. If you have further questions on this matter, please contact us at 218-380-9330 or email: info@dektektile.com.
The really cool thing about DekTek’s concrete tile decks is that they are lightweight enough so the sub-structure doesn’t have to be “heavy duty” and expensive. Standard deck framing is usually sufficient with a few minor modifications: a 2x4 sister joist needs to be attached to each main joist for additional support. Or, if there aren't any heighth restrictions, then a 2x4 sleeper could be added to the top of the joists, running the opposite direction of the joists. This will make your deck 1-1/2" higher.
DekTek Tiles weigh approximately 11 lbs. per sq.ft. so the deck must be framed for a minimum of 11 lbs per sq. ft. dead load. If existing joists are not strong enough then you would need to add a bigger sister joist. Most decks framed with 2x10 joists will be sufficient. The beams that sit on the posts may need an additional 2x12 or 2x10 if the span is extra-long, or are supporting a large area. For questions regarding joist size and length of spans please refer to your local lumber yard for sizing. Visit Installation (link this to the installation tab) for more information on installing DekTek Tiles.
Each tile is 1" x 16" x 16" nominal (1.78 square foot), and the tiles weighs roughly 11 pounds per square foot, which is a total approximate weight of 20 pounds per tile. Although DekTek tiles weigh a little more than composite decking, most standard wood-framed decks are sufficient to support the DekTek pavers. You can ask your local lumber yard if the wood joists are sufficient? They usually have engineering facts to verify the load capacity of your existing deck.
DekTek’s concrete tile needs to be installed using a construction adhesive like Liquid Nails Polyurethane Adhesive. The main reason an adhesive is necessary is to bed the tile so they won’t rock when walked on, otherwise it could be gravity laid.
Yes, installing DekTek Tiles over your existing concrete slab is a great way to dress up your outdoor living space and really give your outdoors a classy elegant look. Depending on the condition of your slab there are a few different options. If your concrete slab is in good condition, you can Thinset the tiles down over the existing concrete and grout them in.
If your existing concrete patio or staircase is not in good condition and is cracked or busted up, we recommend installing a sleeper system 1" x 4" or 2" x 4" sleepers directly on the concrete and then set the tile on the sleepers. This will enable the wood sleepers to float over the cracked/damaged concrete without damaging the tile. This will give your deck and patio area the maximum longevity.
When installing your DekTek Tile deck, the sister joist is required on our standard installations. Of course, this does not apply to other applications like ground pavers or concrete slabs but on all elevated standard deck installations. The reason the sister joist is required is because it allows more space for the tiles to set on. If the sister joist wasn’t present, and the deck wasn’t framed to precision, there could be a failure down the road if something shifted. For this reason, the sister joists are required. (We also have our alternative elevated deck install in which the sister joist does not apply.)
DekTek Tile is made from concrete and does not scratch easily. The concrete can scratch and scuff over time, which is easily repaired by resealing the surface. If the concrete does get scratched, it can be easily fixed by using a colored marker close to the tile color, and then roll a layer of concrete sealer over it.
It depends on the application. When installing DekTek Tile on an elevated deck exposed to the elements, you DO NOT want to grout the tile. The tile joints are kept open so the water can drain through the deck.
If you are using DekTek Tile in conjunction with a “waterproof decking system,” then you may want to grout the joints, depending on the type of waterproofing system you use. If you do grout the tile joints, your deck should also be pitched down at the edge so water will drain off.
No. DekTek Tiles are sold unsealed and it is the responsibility of the contractor or homeowner to seal the tiles. By shipping the tiles unsealed, this allows for a much safer delivery as the nice finish would be more likely to get damaged. Also, this allows the homeowner to choose if they want more of a matte finish or a glossy finish on the tiles.
Very well! The first original DekTek Tile deck has been in Minnesota since 2009 (7 years now). If you’re familiar with Minnesota winters, we get cold and snow…and lots of it! The tiles hold up absolutely beautifully! Just be sure to use a plastic shovel. Salt is also not recommended. If you are going to be using your DekTek Tile deck in the winter, make sure to add the sand-grit to the sealer when sealing the tiles to make it non-skid.
Like most surfaces, when they get wet they can tend to get a little slippery. DekTek Tile is no different, but do not be alarmed! This is a very EASY SOLUTION! If the tiles are going to be installed in any of these applications, or if you're concerned about slippage, it's very important to add the non-skid material to these applications:
- If you get snow and use your deck in the winter
- If your deck is exposed to rain
- Around a pool deck
These applications listed above definitely need to be made non-skid, but we do recommend adding the non-skid grit to all applications. All that needs to be done is to add the recommended amount of grit to the sealer when the tiles are first sealed. This will give the tiles the non-skid surface you are looking for! You can usually find the sand-grit where you purchase the concrete sealer. One option that you might consider is Shark Grip available online.
Yes! DekTek’s concrete tiles are 100% non-combustible which gives you that peace of mind and allows you to fully utilize your outdoor living space with the comfort of knowing that you and your family are safe. So when you and your family are out grilling or want to enjoy an evening outdoors around the fire-pit roasting s’mores, you can do it right from the comfort of your beautiful DekTek Tile deck!
If you’re building a permanent fire pit on the deck, you need to make sure you have the proper framing below to support it.
Please note: if a log were to accidentally roll out of the fire pit onto the DekTek Tile, it may scuff the sealer. Easy solution: scrub the tile with soap and water, let it dry, then reseal it to restore its beautiful look.
In some states, Yes! DekTek Tile is a non-combustible decking material so it is perfectly safe to grill out on the deck, or have a bon-fire pit on your deck. If for some reason a log rolled out of the fire pit, it could potentially scuff the sealer but you could then wash it off and reseal the tile and it would look great again!
Yes, samples are currently available in 2 sizes. Our standard size is 1” x 16” x 16” and for standard colors it’s $19.00/tile & Tuscan Medley is $20.00/tile, plus the cost of shipping.
We also offer our DekTek Tile mini samples. The minis are 1” x 6” x 6” and weigh 3 pound per sample vs. 20 pounds for the standard tile. The cost of the mini samples is $10/tile with FREE Shipping to anywhere in the U.S.A.
Please note that all of our tiles are designed to vary in color, shades, and surface patterns so the deck has a quaint cobblestone effect. One tile is only part of the variation that complements the entire color scheme. Tuscan Medley has a greater variance than the standard colors. Please refer to pictures on our website, as they include many of the different colors.
One factor to keep in mind with the mini samples is that each tile is just a small representation of what the concrete tiles look like. The purpose of the mini samples is for color only. The thickness of the minis will vary and are not representative of our 1” x 16” x 16” tiles, which do not vary in thickness.
When you receive one sample of any color it is just one color or shade of many different color tones. It is not meant to represent all the other shades and tones of the whole color group, if you want a fuller color representation we recommend ordering 4 samples of the same color selection to show a better color variance. For standard colors we recommend a minimum of 2 tiles. For Tuscan Medley we recommend a minimum of 4 tiles to get a better feel for the color range.
The reason many homeowners build screened in decks or 3 season porches is so they can enjoy the outdoors without mother nature's little critters getting too close. When installing your DekTek Tile deck, you can easily prevent the pesky critters, insects, and bugs from invading your three-season porch or screened in deck if you install a screen underneath the deck at the bottom of the joists during the building process.
Another simple solution for keeping out those unwanted creatures would be to grout the tile. (This is only recommended on indoor or covered areas that do not get much water, or if your deck is pitched enough to drain.) If your deck is exposed to the elements and water needs to drain through the tile, then you would not want to grout the tile. If grouting the tile does work for your application, you need to use a flexible grout like silicone or acrylic. DO NOT USE CEMENTITIOUS GROUT because the flexing of the wood deck will crack the grout.