How to Lay Tile for a Balcony

Mix a batch of mortar, following the instructions on the packaging, and cover the balcony's floor with the mortar. Create a slope in the mortar leading away from the building at a rate of about 1/4 inch for every foot of length. This allows water to drain away from the building, which is especially important if the balcony is uncovered. Allow the mortar to set for the time specified on the packaging.

Mix a batch of thinset mortar, following the instructions on the packaging.

Begin spreading the thinset onto the floor in one of the outer corners with a trowel. Cover an area that measures about 6 feet long, and as wide as the roll of tiling membrane. The tiling membrane provides a stable base for the tiles while acting as a barrier that blocks water from leaking to the balcony's concrete base.

Place the edge of the tiling membrane against the edge of the balcony floor, then unroll the membrane on the floor where you applied the thinset. Unroll the membrane until you reach the other end of the floor, adding thinset as you go. Press the membrane down into the thinset with a grout float.

Cover the rest of the patio floor with the tiling membrane, adhering it with thinset.

Cut 4-inch-wide strips of tiling membrane. Apply thinset on the floor along the base of the wall in a line about 2 inches wide. Place the strips of tiling membrane over the joint between the floor and the wall, centering each strip so 2 inches of membrane sits on the floor and 2 inches lies on the wall. This allows it to act as flashing to prevent leaks.

Cover the seams between the strips of tile membrane with polyethylene seaming tape.

Divide the balcony into four equal quadrants by measuring the midpoint of each side of the floor, and snapping a chalk line in each direction at the midpoints.

Apply thinset onto the floor in the corner of one quadrant, covering an area that measures about 3 feet square. Lay the thinset in the corner that meets the other quadrants in the center of the floor so you can work out toward the perimeter of the balcony. This enables you to center the tiles on the floor.

Place the first tile into the thinset, lining the edges up with the chalk lines. Place tile spacers next to the tile, then lay more tiles and tile spacers until you reach one edge of the balcony. If you cannot fit a full-sized tile, leave the space bare for now.

Lay another row of tiles in the same quadrant, but this time work out from the center along the other chalk line, so the two rows form an "L."

Finish laying tiles in this quadrant, alternating back and forth between the two rows until it's complete.

Set the tiles in the other three quadrants, following the same method. If you need to install tiles around the perimeter of the floor, cut them to size with a wet saw and lay them with thinset.

Pull the tile spacers out of the joints between the tiles with needle-nose pliers. Scrape off any thinset that got on the surface of the tiles with a putty knife.

Prepare a batch of grout, following the instructions on the packaging. Begin applying the grout to the tiles in one of the outer corners. Run the grout float diagonally across the tiles to completely fill the joints. Allow the grout to set for the time specified on the packaging.

Wipe off the surface of the tiles with a damp sponge, rinsing it frequently. Allow the tiles to set for about 45 minutes, then wipe them off with paper towels to remove the hazy film from the surface.

Trim off any of the tiling membrane that's exposed along the edge of the wall with a utility knife.