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I have a rental that the tennants have moved out, and its time for me to fix 20 years of their damage... Its almost done - except for this one - what to do with some broken tiles on the entrance patio....
I am not wanting a huge expense on this one - as I have already updated / fixed so much... Its time to get it on the market. Let someone enjoy this home...
The tiles are cracked - they are solid / not moving - just does not look as nice as it should be (the pictures show the long crack from the door to the edge and then runs along the front of it... A few mm thick and a few mm deep. These tiles were laid in concrete and are at least 15 - 20 mm thick. (Yes I need to clean the tiles before anything).
I am not wanting to retile or replace them -wanting an easier fix.
I have thought of two options - and want to run these past the community for thoughts or even other suggestions.
First Option.
I could fill the cracks - maybe builders bog and sand them smooth.
Then use concrete / patio paint to bring a new life... Something like Berger Jet Dry 4L Heavy Duty Deep Charcoal Paving Paint - Bunnings Australia
Second Option
Fill the cracks or not - but use epoxy (stuff you do floors in the garage). Something like Dy-Mark 4L Slate Water-Based Epoxy Coat Garage Floor Kit - Bunnings Australia
I need a hard wearing solution - its the traffic area - people coming in and out (and certainly washing machines / fridges at some stage). Little concerned on epoxy / paint because I hear stories of flaking / peeling etc.
Luckily the area is undercover... Well it is a patio and there is a roof over it - of course rain would come in on an angle... Guess a non slip surface might be good...
Thoughts on my options or something else ?
Hello @kchambers
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your patio tiles.
Are they pavers with a rough surface finish or tiles with a ceramic gloss finish? If they have a rough non ceramic finish, I suggest using a pressure washer to clean the surface and remove all the debris that is on the surface and between the cracks. I recommend using Earl's 1kg Concremate Expanding Cement to fill in the cracks. The Berger Jet Dry 4L Heavy Duty Deep Charcoal Paving Paint is specifically designed for concrete and paved surfaces. They will not work on ceramic tiled surfaces.
The Dy-Mark 4L Slate Water-Based Epoxy Coat Garage Floor Kit is automatically eliminated as an option as it is designed for interior use only. If the surface is made of tiles with a ceramic gloss surface, I'm afraid your only choice is to remove the broken pieces and replace them with new ones. There are no products available for painting outdoor tiles. Tiles have a glazed or water-impervious coating which prevents the paint from adhering to them.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
Hi @kchambers
You can try a water absorption test and see if the surface of the tile is porous. Place a few drops of water on the surface of the tile and wait a few minutes. If the water has beaded up and is still on the surface of the tile, odds are it has a sealer underneath or is hydrophobic. But if the water is fully absorbed, then it's safe to say that the surface is porous. Make sure to try it on several tiles and not just on one surface. Please let me know what the results are.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
