Wooden tiles are not only very popular on terraces, but also on balconies. They exude a cozy atmosphere and are also very easy to lay.
Wooden tiles are becoming increasingly popular for both indoor and outdoor use. A good wooden tile is popular today, especially for terraces, balconies or other seating areas, because they radiate natural warmth and thus a feeling of being close to nature. So it's no wonder that, in addition to wooden furniture, natural flooring has also become more and more fashionable in recent years.
Of course, there is also the fact that wooden tiles not only look good and natural - they are also very easy to lay and almost as easy to maintain. So if you follow a few simple principles, a wooden tile can be a great alternative to ceramic tiles or even a plain concrete floor.
Important in brief:
When choosing wood tiles, there are a few points to consider.
Before you jump straight into it, it's important to think about the wood you want to use. Depending on how much the wooden tiles are exposed to the influences of wind and weather, you should use a rather weather-resistant wood. Teak wood is very popular today - not just because it simply has a pleasant look. But also because it is largely weatherproof and is also difficult to ignite. If you have a balcony that is quite well protected from rain and cold, it can also be a different and perhaps cheaper wood.
However, if you choose the cheapest tiles from the hardware store from the start, you run the risk of having to remove them from the balcony every year at the beginning of autumn and have to lay them again in spring, since the very cheap wooden tile variants are not the least bit resistant about the winter cold. So it's worth spending a few more euros right from the start and getting good advice from the dealer of your choice so that you know directly which properties the selected wood actually has.
Tip for wooden tiles with a good price/performance ratio: The wooden tilesfrom IKEA, model "Runnen" are made of solid acacia wood and have been optimized several times since their introduction. That's why you now get a really good product at a very good price.
Make necessary preparations
You have decided to decorate your balcony with wooden tiles and have already decided which wood you would like to use. Now there are a few more things to do in preparation for laying the wood tiles.
Underground
First you have to check whether there is a suitable substrate for the wooden tiles. Any surface that is flat, clean and, above all, dry is suitable here. For example, concrete, tiled floors or other stone floors are ideal for laying wooden tiles. It is sufficient if you simply sweep the surface clean or clean it vigorously with a high-pressure cleaner. The drainage, which ensures that rainwater can drain away, is usually located directly on the underside of the wooden tiles.
If you want to lay the wooden tiles on an uneven floor or even on a lawn, you should create an appropriate substructure. This preferably consists of a roughly 5 cm thick layer of gravel with a grain size of 0/45. In addition, a root mat should be placed between the lawn and the layer of gravel so that no lawn grows through the gravel and finally pushes through the wooden tiles.
Additional tip: With an uneven floor made of concrete or stone tiles, any unevenness that may be present must be filled with leveling compound so that the surface is actually level.
Required Area
The next step is to measure the area on which the wooden tiles are to be laid. Once the width and depth of the area have been measured, you should decide for yourself whether you want to have the tiles for the edge cut to size at your trusted hardware store, or whether you want to cut the tiles yourself. It is important when you cut the tiles yourself that the cuts are absolutely straight. You should also apply wood polish to the cut edges so that the wood does not swell when it comes into contact with moisture for the first time.
Determine laying system
Finally, it is important to determine which laying system you want to choose. Most wooden tiles are already available today in the simple and inexpensive click system. This makes it very easy to lay the wooden tiles, as you only have to click the tiles into the already laid tiles at the edge. WantSo if you want to enjoy your wooden tiles for as long as possible, you should take the following steps into account before laying them
- Check how much the wooden tiles are exposed to the weather outside
- Choose the type of wood according to the demands that the weather will place on the tiles
- Check the substrate and if necessary. make a substructure of gravel and possibly a root fleece
- Concrete or stone substrates, if necessary, straighten with appropriate filling compound
- Measure the area and either have the tiles trimmed for the border if necessary or make sure you have the appropriate cutting tool at home
- If cutting is necessary, apply wood oil to the cut edges
- Decide which type of laying you would like to choose - the simplest variant is click wooden tiles
Laying wooden tiles - this is how it works best
When it comes to wooden tiles for the balcony, you will usually have a floor made of concrete, screed or old tiles on which you want to attach the wooden tiles. First of all - the wooden tiles are only laid on the floor. They are neither glued nor permanently attached in any other way, which of course has the advantage that they are ideally suited to beautify the floor of a balcony in a rented apartment without you having to consult your landlord. As a rule, wooden tiles have their own substructure. This is mainly used to ensure that the wooden tiles do not stand in the water when it rains, but that rainwater can run off under the tiles. When laying the tiles, the following order should be observed:
❶ You clean the floor of all loose dirt.
❷ Then you first lay the wooden tiles loosely over the entire surface.
❸ Then you cut the tiles that are on the Edge will be appropriate to. A circular saw is best suited for this.
❹ The existing substructure must also be cut to size - at least if the floor is still partially uneven or the substructure installed from the outset is higher than planned.
❺ Now the individual tiles are plugged into one another and carefully tapped.
❻ The wooden tiles can be laid opposite or parallel to each other.
❼ The wooden terrace should also have a firm hold. As already mentioned, the wooden tiles are not glued. That's why it's importantFinish with concrete border tiles or, if you don't want to make any permanent changes to the fabric of the balcony, use a wooden frame.
In the following video you will find quick and clear instructions on how to easily and effectively lay wooden tiles on your balcony at home.
By loading the video, you accept YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Load video
Always Unblock YouTube
And here are the most important advantages of wooden tile flooring for the balcony at a glance
| Advantages | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Natural look | In recent years, more and more people have returned to the warm and natural look of the natural material wood. Whether as garden or patio furniture, as furniture for indoor use or as flooring. The grain of the wood, the natural smell and last but not least the warmth that this floor covering radiates make it a much more pleasant covering for every balcony than cold tiles or even bare concrete. |
| Easy to install | If you want to lay wooden tiles for the balcony, you usually use a simple click system - since the wooden tiles are not glued on or otherwise permanently fixed, laying is comparatively easy. |
| Can be removed at any time | Especially in a rented apartment, it is important that structural changes can be reversed quickly and easily. Wooden tiles on the balcony are a floor covering that you have to remove yourself if in doubt if you move out. Thanks to the simple laying technique, wooden tiles for the balcony are just as easy to remove as they are to lay. So no problems if you want a different surface or if you have to remove the wooden tiles when you leave the apartment. |
| Available in all price ranges | Wooden tiles for outdoor use can be found in all price ranges. From €2 per square meter to €25 and more per square meter, everything is possible here. Ultimately, what matters is personal taste and how robust the tile really has to be in the area in which it is to be laid |
| Many different types of wood | The following types of wood are common on the market:
|
» By the way: It is very easy to look after wooden balcony tiles. Usually it is enough to simply sweep them off. However, it is even more effective and better for the wood itself to wipe the wood with an oil cloth every one to two weeks. In this way, the wood is permanently strengthened for outdoor use and no deep-seated dirt can develop. Once a year you should clean the wooden tiles with a little cleaning agent and then wash them off with clear water. Then you have to check the tiles for smaller and larger quirks. Areas that are slightly damaged should then be carefully sanded and then coated with wood oil. Every three to four years it makes sense to sand the entire surface of the wooden tiles and treat them with wood oil.
All in all, it can be said that wooden balcony tiles not only look great, but also have a whole range of other advantages. And the best thing is - you don't even have to be a really good craftsman to be able to lay these wooden tiles quickly and well.