Table of contents
- sizes
- Lay wooden tiles
- substructure?
- Lay wooden tiles with click system
- Lay wooden tiles without a click system
- wooden tiles on lawn
- Conclusion
When it comes to wood tiles, you have the choice between real wood tiles, mostly made of acacia wood, and also made of high-quality wood-plastic composites, mostly called wood-plastic composites (WPC for short). These tiles are extremely moisture and weather resistant. The UV resistance is also quite high. We also offer golden acacia tiles. However, this is African teak, also a hardwood with a good durability class. Robinia wood is often sold as acacia. This can only be determined if it is stated that the wood comes from domestic production. Acacias do not thrive in Central Europe, they are not hardy. Robinia wood is good wood and also has a good durability class. Wood tiles made of pine, spruce and larch come from local production. However, this wood does not last that long.
sizes
As a rule, the tiles have a format of 30 x 30 cm. 11 tiles are required for one square meter. However, there are also other dimensions, for example 40 x 40 cm and 50 x 50 cm. Wood tiles usually have the typical warm wood color, while WPC tiles are often offered in shades of gray. Wood tiles can be laid in different ways, quite conventionally like tiles or in a click system, similar to laminate. The latter type is becoming increasingly popular because it is extremely simple and requires no tools or other additional material for fastening. Wooden tiles are mounted on special plastic plates. They are very precise and stable. The prices for a square meter of wood or WPC tiles are around €25. The wood is acacia (mostly from Vietnam). Robinia wood is more expensive, around €10. Golden acacia is really expensive. Here the square meter costs around 70 €. Special offers at €2 per square meter should be viewed with caution. For the price, that can't really be reasonable, that's what common sense tells you. Not only is the quality often poor, the origin is also questionable. The wood usually comes from illegal mining areas and the workers are extremely exploited. There is no other way to get a price like this.
Tip:
When buying the wooden tiles, pay attention to the FSC seal. The wood comes from responsibly managed forests and not from overexploitation.
Lay wooden tiles
The easiest way to lay wooden tiles is on a solid surface. This works wonderfully on a balcony, for example. A clean, flat surface makes laying wood tiles child's play. Of course, it must be ensured that water can drain off, not that the tiles are left in the water for a long time. They do not tolerate permanent wetness. In principle, the tiles can be laid well on the following substrates: on screed, concrete, concrete tiles, asphalt or ceramic tiles. With these floors, there is usually no need to level out any unevenness. They are straight, smooth and clean and can be covered immediately.
substructure?
The floor has to be even and smooth, but wooden tiles don't actually need a special substructure. However, it is recommended to buy wooden tiles with a grid system underneath. This prevents the tile or the wood is permanently wet from below. With high-quality wooden tiles, this grid underneath is standard. A substructure is therefore not absolutely necessary, but one is often made of concrete, just because a gradient can then be installed and it is guaranteed that the tiles will remain in the position they were immediately after lay out. Frequently only kerbstones or a socket are mounted in concrete. Such an edging gives the surface a stable appearance and a long service life.
Lay wooden tiles with click system
The tiles can be easily laid on a level surface. First you lay them out loosely on the desired surface and push them close together. You can lay out the tiles parallel or opposite, depending on the pattern you want to get. A staggered layout is also possible. It is important not to connect the wooden tiles firmly to the subsurface, as they can swell and shrink with changing weather conditions. It is therefore also important to keep a minimum distance of 10 to 15 mm to solid structures such as walls and doorsteps. Edge tiles must be cut for offset laying. The easiest way to cut these tiles is to just cut through the plastic grid underneath. If the wood also has to be cut, then work very neatly and if possible cut in an existing "crack". Do the same with the outside tiles. Connect all the tiles firmly with one another, i.e. click together. The surrounding edge looks better if it is screwed to suitable boards, of course only if no other edge solution has been prepared. It is important that the laid surface forms a solid unit and that no wooden tiles can become independent.
Lay wooden tiles without a click system
You do the same here. The difference is that these tiles usually have no substructure. As a result, the wood is in constant contact with the substrate. That must be stopped. For this reason, the height adjustment must be carried out with padding. Small pieces of wood or other fillers are suitable. The tiles must be raised evenly. Another difference is seen when cutting. To do this, attach a new support batten at the appropriate point and saw off the wooden tile at this point. The tiles can be easily cut and divided. A hand-held circular saw, for example, works well. The tiles are laid loosely. The gap between the joints should be about 5 mm. They are not connected directly to each other.
wooden tiles on lawn
When laying the lawn, the subsoil must be prepared accordingly. A root mat is laid out directly on the lawn. This prevents grass and weeds from growing through the cavities of the wooden tile later on. A layer of gravel about 5 cm thick should be placed on top, with a grain size of 0/30 or 0/45. The gravel evens out bumps that are often present in lawns. Waves, depressions and inclines should be avoided. Tiles laid on bumps are constantly under tension. If they are then loaded, they tear very easily and can also break. Make sure the gravel bed has a slight incline so that water can run off.
Conclusion
Wood tiles are easy to lay, at least on a smooth surface. The tiles with the click system are particularly easy to install. In addition to a level floor, an edge that prevents the tiles from slipping is important. The right choice of tiles, especially the type of wood, is crucial for long-lasting beauty. You should also be aware that wood needs to be cared for. WPC tiles are easier to care for, but you can't do without them either.
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