ARDEX and BAL products have been used for years to fix tiles and cladding externally. With more people using tiles outside more and more questions are been asked with respect to External Tiling. A few simple steps will ensure a successful installation.

1. Is the area to be tiled well drained avoid areas with a high water table that will mean the Adhesive, Levelling compound and Grout are not constantly sitting in water especially in winter time.

2. If above is an issue you should consider a drainage mat under your tile system to ensure as little moisture as possible is retained in the Tile System.

For more details on drainage mats please click here.

3. Ensure the substrate you are tiling is Clean, flat and sound before you commence tiling. A regulating layer of levelling compound (Floors) or Render (walls) maybe required to ensure a flat substrate is achieved. For Walls ARDEX AM100 or BAL Quick Set Render can be used to remove any undulations in the surface (these modified renders can be tiled on in as little as two hours versus three weeks if using an ordinary sand cement render).

When levelling a floor outside ensure your Floor levelling compound is suitable for exterior use. You can use ARDEX K301 or BAL Acrybase in exterior locations to level the floor areas.

4. Solid Bed fixing must be achieved to ensure there are no voids behind the tiles where water can pool. Trapped water behind the tile system can expand when temperatures go below freezing thus putting great pressure on the tile system. This constant freeze/Thaw effect will soon cause a failure in your tile System.

When Tiling a floor outside you should consider Pourable Adhesives like BAL Pourable one or ARDEX S20.

When wall tiling you should consider BAL Max Flex Fibre or ARDEX X7 G Plus ensuring the adhesive is spread evenly on the wall and that all tiles are back buttered prior to been applied to the wet adhesive bed on the wall this will help ensure solid bed fixing is achieved.

5. If tiling Externally to walls any tile or Cladding must be mechanically fixed if above 2m as well as adhesive.

6. Ensure the Tile you use is suitable for External locations.

7. A good cleaning regime is recommended, Lithofin have a full range of cleaners suitable for whatever type of tiles you choose.

8. Finally, when you are tiling externally always protect your work area from inclement weather, you should allow all products to set before you remove any protective sheltering.

For any advice or information please contact the technical team at ABPIL.