I am building a deck outside my living room am#92;nd the dimensions are 8‘ wide by 24‘ long.It is 14‘ up at the highest point as I am on a hill. I‘m using 2 by 6 joists with 2 by 12 headers. Here is what I want to do: someone told me to use a 1/4 in slope over 8 ft. for water run off. I want to tile the deck. Iwant to know what size plywood I should use and if there is some kind of waterproof fibreboard I can use as a base for the tile in lieu of laying down rubber for the base. I dont want sand or pitch due to the weight factor. Is there something fairly lightweight and waterproof suitable for a base for the tile? If so what is it called? and where can i get it? Thanks.
You need to use cement board
cement board or treated exterior plywood
Not to mention it will get very slippery after a time. See pool care products for cleaners.
Use treated 3/4 inch thick plywood that comes in size 8' x 4'.Then after thats on put contractor grade plastic paper probably 8mill thick;thicker plastic the better.When you put this over the plywood you still have to put the cement board on for the tile to adhere to.All this can be purchased at your lumber store,Home Depot or Lowes,etc..To help keep moisture from getting under neath..3M sells a under coat spray paint in the can for cars;you can spray all the wood that you see under the deck when finished(buy at auto parts store).
In my opinion the installing of tile over a wooden deck will probably not stand the test of time, because no matter how well you water-proof it, moisture will eventually rot out your wooden support, causing the tile to sag, crack, or break. The moisture may not come from the top as it will be absorbed into the wood from below the deck. If you have your heart set on this and you're willing to replace it all one day, I'd waterproof the deck first. There is a marvelous liquid rubber-like liquid called Red guard that can be painted on with a brush- cover it well and don't miss any spots. When dry, screw down some concrete backer board- it comes in 3 by 5 sheets, and you'll probably be better off to use 1/2 inch thick goods, as you need the support and non-flexibility of the thicker goods. If I were doing it, I'd coat this finished installation with Red guard too, and let it dry before you start setting the tile.Make sure to use exterior grade thinset mortar the best quality you can afford, and make sure you get tile suited for exterior applications, because there is a difference. I think the most important thing that should be mentioned is that your deck needs to be very strong to support all this extra weight that will be placed on it-beef it up extra if you intend to do this. Best of luck!!
