Should I tile my balcony?
A suitable substrate for balcony tiles requires the entire balcony build-up to be suitable for outdoor use, frost-resistant and reliably drained.
A tiled finish is not a waterproofing layer. Water can enter the build-up through joints, junctions and damaged areas. Where it cannot drain away, it freezes in frosty conditions and expands. In a build-up not designed to resist frost, repeated freezing and thawing can open joints, crack tiles, cause spalling and loosen bonding.
Frost-resistant tiles, suitable installation materials, an intact waterproofing layer and adequate falls are indispensable.
Balcony tiles made from PU-bound rubber granules are an alternative to tiled finishes and are easier to lay. Rainwater passes through the porous tiles across their full surface. The rubber-granule covering is elastic and water-permeable; frost damage through bursting, breaking or spalling does not occur.
The tiles are laid loose and, depending on the system, joined using puzzle joints or connectors. The balcony waterproofing layer and the required falls remain part of the balcony build-up.