You need to post some pics and IMO get a coating of new concrete stained in a color you like and start putting drip pans under planters or get planters with built in ones.

LiveWire - I understand but solid stains show the fertilizer salts and they stain permanently. That would not happen with the MSI porcelain tile and not as bad with a sealed stain. But, even if they did, it wouldn't look as bad because it would blend in with the multiple colors. Regardless, my questions were in relation to a comparison of the tile vs overlay or acid vs water based stains and I wanted to get input from those who have had concrete overlays on patios, driveways or walkways and how they held up in general and what companies/products/methods they used.

Patricia, I have stained the concrete in a color I like in the past but solid color stains show everything. I also tried drip pans but water still seeps out of those as well. I am just trying to find a better solution and want to compare them - tile vs overlay and if I go with overlay, get input from others who have done this.

I would suggest you see if you can get a sample of the porcelain tiles you are looking at and lay them under your planters and see what happens.

Look into Happy Floors - they have a bunch of tile that is rated for outdoors.

Good luck

Beth, your patio is so charming! I love it. I can't remove my concrete patio so need to cover it with either a concrete overlay or tile. You put tile over fresh concrete so not sure if that is different than tiling over old concrete or not. Do you remember if the installers used any crack isolation products under yours?

Debbie - I did get samples of the MSI porcelain tile and it doesn't stain. And as I mentioned already, the multiple colors of the tile or if it is stained with a blend of colors that any stain would be camouflaged. I might need to edit my post so it is clear that my questions are not about that but about comparing my solution of tile vs overlay and getting info on how the overlay might hold up, the types of stains, etc.

H,,,, my husand did the tiling on the front patio. and no, just regular mortar no isolation.

6 years later, I did this tiling with Saltillo and Talavera tiles on this old concrete patio in the back.

the concrete was well over 25 years old.

I did the saltillo on the concrete w/regular mortar. ditto the pebbles. (those don't hold up too well after 10 years. some are coming loose from all the water since that is the main drainage pathway)

before that tile went down, you can see the patio that we had stained. it's the only pic I have that shows it.

It's perfectly fine to tile on top of your existing concrete if that's what you're asking

That existing concrete must get all of that old contaminants ground off first. That ”stain” thats really just paint wont let tile adhere to it.

if there is any type of coating, paint, sealer, etc, a concrete etching product could be used.

power washer is also good for removing concrete stains or paints. I used the power washer on my driveway and got rid of an old stain color

Perhaps an overlay of Pebblestone?