How to Apply Tile to Patios

Remove all patio furniture and fixtures from the patio to expose only the bare concrete surface. Spray down the patio surface with concrete wash; many of these products attach directly to your hose for easier application.

Brush away all dirt, mud and algae from the patio surface with a push broom; you will also be brushing away excess cleaner. When you have cleaned the entire surface, rinse the area with a clean blast of water from a hose to remove residual cleaning product.

Dry lay your tile in one vertical row and horizontal rows across your patio surface, leaving a ½-inch gap between each tile for grouting. Lay all full tiles that you can in each row. When you reach the edges, mark the lines where you need to cut the tiles, with a mason's crayon. Dry laying first ensures that you can do all cutting before you begin to adhere the tile to the surface.

Cut each tile to fit using a diamond blade wet saw. Wear protective goggles, a dust mask and ear protection when cutting. Cut straight through the lines you made with the same, to cut each tile to fit. Set the tiles into place after you cut them.

Mix exterior-grade thinset mortar with acrylic fortifier at a rate of 2 gallons of acrylic for 1 bag of mortar. Pour the two ingredients into a bucket and mix them with a drill mixer until they are completely combined. Allow the mortar to rest for 10 minutes before continuing.

Remove a small area of tiles (about 3-by-3 feet) and spread a 1-inch thick layer of mortar over the patio with a notched trowel. Spread the mortar with the flat edge and then rake the notched edge back through to create ridges in the mortar for better hold.

Spread a thin (1/2 inch to 1 inch) layer of mortar onto the back of each tile in an even layer with your trowel. This will add extra hold to the installation. Do not get mortar on the face of the tiles or it will stain.

Set the tiles back into place, remember to leave the ½-inch gap required. Gently tap the tiles into place with a rubber mallet. Run a level over each adjacent tile to make sure it sits completely flat. Repeat for all full and cut tiles in your installation. Allow the mortar to dry overnight before continuing.

Seal the tiles with pre-grouting sealer so that they can better withstand the outdoor wear and tear. Consult your manufacturer's instructions for details, since some tiles come pre-sealed and others are only compatible with certain types of sealer. Allow the sealer to dry before continuing.

Mix a bag of exterior grade grout and a gallon of water, using the drill paddle mixer. Spread the grout over the tile surfaces with a rubber grout float, holding the float at a 45 degree angle to force the grout into the gaps between tiles.

Clean the tile surfaces with a damp sponge to remove grout from the surface. Allow the grout to dry overnight before returning fixtures and foot traffic to the patio.