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tony_wong28

should i use 6" or 8" plank tiles for a balcony 18'x10'

4 years ago

should i use 6" or 8" plank tiles for a balcony 18'x10'. also what pattern to use?

Comments (44)

  • PRO
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    What are the plank tiles, are they wood look tile ? Maybe post a plan of the deck and the tiles you are thinking about.

  • 4 years ago

    Here

  • 4 years ago

    If that's an upper level, make sure it can support the extra weight of heavy tile. I think it's also better to use a surface that has some traction for an outdoor area.

  • 4 years ago

    should i use 6" or 8"? also what pattern?

  • 4 years ago

    Are asking about 6" x 6"??? Or 8" x 8"???? You have given us ONE dimension of the tile but you have not given us the OTHER dimension?


    What LOOK are you going for? What is on the INSIDE of the glass door? Do you have a wood-look product INSIDE??? Do you want wood look? Do you want STONE look? Do you want MEDITERRANEAN look???


    The 'pattern' is the last thing you think about...we can't answer the 'pattern' if we do not know the DIMENSIONS (both sides...not just one) of what you are hoping to use.


    What's on the balcony surface already?

  • 4 years ago

    yes I am looking for wood look

    I want to use plank tiles. 6"x48 or 8"x48. I am not sure


  • 4 years ago

    inside is beige carpet but I will change to wood floors


  • PRO
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    IMO best if the balconey has a wood floor in a color close to the interior floor .Where do you live ?If this is an upper floor you will aslo need to water proof the floor on the balcony.

  • 4 years ago

    Are there plank tiles for exterior use only?

  • 4 years ago

    Yes...but they are harder to find.


    Is this an apartment? If so, you will need to find out what floors are allowed in the unit because of noise restrictions. A condo board/HOA will have limits/restrictions on what can be used. Before doing anything PLEASE find out if your flooring of choice is allowed. I would hate for you to get $10K into a renovation only to find out your HOA does not allow any of it.

  • 4 years ago

    no this isa house. floor is already waterproofed. it can handle the weight. why would it matter if internal or external tiles? I just want to know by the size of the balcony, 6" or 8" . should i do herrigbone pattern or just parallel offset

  • 4 years ago

    Internal tiles have indoor temperature ratings. The installation materials (thinset/mortar) are also indoor products with the same restriction on temperature (too hot is an issue).


    Exterior grade products have different temperature requirements, different shatter requirements and have different installation requirements. They also have completely different slip ratings.


    If a homeowner uses the wrong product for the application AND something happens to a human being then the homeowner is open to a lawsuit that is not covered by home insurance. Ie. negligence.

  • 4 years ago

    So should I do herringbone?

  • 4 years ago

    No herringbone. You already have pattern in your railing. But you likely shouldn't use tile on that type of balcony at all. Also, since you're using hardwood inside, I'd use a different type of surface for outdoors - not a wood look tile up against real hardwood floors.

  • 4 years ago

    Herring bone is very attractive and very expensive. It requires another 15% waste (for a total of 20% - 25% waste) and an extra 25% increase for labour.


    Exterior grade tile can be $15/sf for labour + cost of tiles. Add another 25% to that number = $19/sf for this type of install.


    You have 180sf of balcony. Traditionally you would have $3,240 + cost of tile. If you increase your costs, it will be $3500 + cost of tile (with extra 25% waste ordered).


    Again, the INTERIOR look DICTATES THE EXTERIOR LOOK.


    You have never answered the question: Is this WOOD LOOK tile???


    Are you going to do the INTERIOR WOOD FLOORS in the SAME PATTERN?? How long from now are you changing the interior floors???

  • 4 years ago

    yes wood look tile. And I found this 6" . I dont know if interior or exterior but its what i am looking for



  • 4 years ago

    also do i need underlayment before I put the mortar down?

  • 4 years ago

    Your tile installer will know what to do. Exterior grade products will state it specifically. Find the website for the product and look it up.


    As for underlayment, what are you thinking about? The current surface must be prepared before anything happens.

  • 4 years ago

    What think of this

  • 4 years ago

    Again, when you install the INSIDE wood floor (have you found a GREAT match for the inside????) you will have to run it in a 'certain' direction. You will want to CONTINUE that direction onto the balcony.


    How are you going to install the wood on the inside??Which direction will the planks run???? That's the direction you will run the tiles on the balcony. Once again you need to PLAN the inside before doing the outside.


    Please answer the question: which direction MUST the wood run on the INSIDE???

  • 4 years ago

    It will be parallel.

    Will it look strange if I did herringbone on balcony and parallel inside?

    Inside wood will be 7-8” wide

    The tiles shown at 6”

  • 4 years ago

    Yes...especially if you have a great colour match. What is it about herring bone that makes you want to use it outside but NOT inside?

  • 4 years ago

    The 6” narrow tiles in a parallel look on the balcony make it look too plain

  • 4 years ago

    Then choose something else. Remember: gray + gray + gray = boring.


    Try putting them in a herring bone pattern (and don't forget to 'add in' the grout line so that you can see if it will work or not) to see if it peps up the boring gray.

  • 4 years ago

    Herringbone pattern

  • 4 years ago

    "(and don't forget to 'add in' the grout line so that you can see if it will work or not)"


    ^^^^^^^^^^^. To me that tile is about as boring as looking at painted concrete with the dollars spent on tile.

  • 4 years ago

    can i install this w/o grout line?

  • 4 years ago

    also do i need underlayment? the floor is already waterproofed i believe

  • 4 years ago

    what tiles you suggest putting on this?

  • 4 years ago

    stucco is brown. need to stick to brown tiles. what the hell you talking about boring. BS

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago



    This runner was done with a mixture of wood plank tiles of different colors. If you have a good tile guy you could do a balcony floor that resembles an outdoor rug. Just a thought. The person that mentioned indoor vs outdoor tile is right... some tile stores I visited had what looked to be the exact same tile but one was for outdoors and one was for indoors.

  • 4 years ago

    You need a tile installer or contractor who knows what they are doing, for so many reasons. Did you have anyone actually determine whether the balcony can hold the weight or are you guessing?

  • 4 years ago

    Yes it will hold. Everyone has same house putting tiles on

  • 4 years ago

    "what the hell you talking about boring. BS"


    Good luck with your project.

  • 4 years ago

    Asking about underlayment and grout lines = out of your depth.


    You KNOW you need to REMOVE the paint on the balcony, RIGHT? You KNOW you need to knock down the aggregate, don't you?


    You know you need to maintain the slope on the balcony, RIGHT???


    If you don't know what is about to happen with the current surface then asking about grout lines (zero grout lines = NO-NO!!!!) and underlayment is putting the cart before the horse...before you invented the wheel!


    And you STILL HAVE NOT found out of the tiles are EXTERIOR GRADE.


    And yes, the tiles are - in my eyes - boring. But if you like them AND THEY ARE EXTERIOR GRADE then go ahead and PAY A PROFESSIONAL to install them.


    Please stop guessing. It's now time for you to find a professional who will set the record straight about the grade of tile, the surface of the balcony and the requirements for grout (always need grout!!! Always).


    As millworkman says, "Good luck with your project". SJ out.

  • 4 years ago

    You are asking way too much for requirement. The floor is water proofed and sealed. No paint
    Do you know what u talking avout

  • 4 years ago

    Boring in your own eyes. Not trying to create piece of art

  • 4 years ago

    ....oh Tony....

    "You are asking way too much for requirement. The floor is water proofed and sealed. No paint
    Do you know what u talking avout"


    You have missing patches of colour OR you have white stains on the balcony (visible in the last 2 pics). That indicates one of two situations:

    1. You have paint on the aggregate, or

    2. You have COLOURED AGGREGATE on that balcony. "Water proofed" right now isn't the same as water proofed AFTER you get rid of the coloured aggregate. And SLOPE is needed.


    Regardless of what is on there...it has to COME OFF. Then you find out if you need underlay.


    How much are you willing to *trust someone else's renovation with their own home? How do you know they didn't CHEAP OUT and just slop down some tiles and say, "Hey. It's fine...it's been 6 weeks and nothing happened."


    You are assuming a HUGE amount. You ASSUME the balcony has been PROPERLY built. You are ASSUMING someone else had their balcony INVESTIGATED for structural soundness. You are assuming you need 'underlay'.


    You still have not answered the question: Is the tile RATED for EXTERIOR USE????

    Are you hiring a PROFESSIONAL?

    Are you going to DIY this project?

  • 4 years ago


    what grout size should i use? 1/16" ? or 1/8?

  • 4 years ago

    I would suggest following the manufacturer's directions. If both 1/16 and 1/8 are within the manufacturer's specs, then lay it out with both and see which you like better.

  • 4 years ago

    can i do without grout line?

  • 4 years ago

    Oh Tony....

  • 4 years ago

    can i do without grout line?


    If the manufacturer's specs say you can go with no grout line, then you can. I don't think they will say that. If you don't follow the manufacturer's directions, you will be voiding your warranty while you are laying the tile. If there is a failure of some sort, you will have no one to blame, or to sue.