EcoDeck Tiles F.A.Q.

General Questions:

Q. Where can the tiles be used?
Practically any solid, even surface e.g. courtyards, balconies, patios, porches, roof top gardens, hot tub surrounds, pool surrounds, garden paths, exhibition floors, gazebos, conservatories, wet rooms….etc.

Q. Are the tiles slippery when wet?
Ipe timber is considered the one of the least slippery timber surfaces when wet, the reason for this is that due to the density of the Ipe grain; the mosses and lichens that make other decks so slippery when wet have their ability to grow on Ipe severely restricted.

Q. Will you get splinters walking on the tiles in bare feet?
No, Ipe is considered a virtually splinter proof decking surface, unlike conventional decking both you and your children should be safe from splinters.

Q. If the tiles are not glued or fixed to the floor, why don’t they move?
The tiles have inbuilt tabs on all sides which lock securely to the adjacent tiles so they cannot move once laid.

Q. How do the tiles stay in place without the use of fixings?
The tiles have inbuilt tabs on all sides which lock securely to the adjacent tiles so they are held firmly in place. However for use on stairs or open edged balconies (balconies that have no retaining walls or lips on outside edges) the tiles must be fixed in place, either screwed securely to the floor or fixed with a suitable adhesive. We recommend the use of a good quality gap filling adhesive such as Gripfill Max which is a flexible water resistant adhesive that performs well even at extreme temperatures. You should always make sure that any fixings or adhesive you intend to use are suitable for the both the surfaces you wish to fix to each other.

Q. Are the tiles affected by snow or extremely cold conditions?
The wood is unaffected by snow although you may notice some minor cupping of the wood slats just after the snow has melted and the wood surface is still wet. This cupping will disappear once the snow completely melts and the wood surface dries.

Q. What affect will extremely cold conditions have on the polypropylene?
Whilst polypropylene becomes increasingly brittle at sub zero temperatures, this will not cause any problems once the tiles are laid. However we don't recommend laying tiles in sub zero conditions as the interlocking tabs could become brittle and break during installation.

Q. What about installation in extremely hot locations?
The polypropylene base can withstand temperatures up to 60 degrees C without any problem.

Q. Are the tiles affected by water or heavy rainfall in any way?
Due to the gaps between the slats of wood and the specially designed mesh base, any water drains away quickly and freely. No water remains trapped or in extended contact with the wood.

Q. Will the wood warp in hot, humid conditions?
The small gaps left between the slats of wood allow the wood to naturally expand and contract as needed. Under some conditions, a slight cupping of the wood slats may occur after heavy rainfall, but this will disappear as the surface dries.

Q. Can the wood slats come loose?
No. Each wood slat is secured to the plastic base by at least two corrosion resistant screws.

Q. What is the cost difference between installing this product versus a traditional deck?
Since you can install the deck tiles yourself, the difference in installation cost is huge. Also, if you compare the material cost of building a hardwood deck the traditional way, the materials cost would be far higher. Typically you can expect that a deck tile installation will be less than half the cost of building a conventional hardwood deck. Deck tiles also offer more possibilities in terms of design and can easily be taken up and reinstalled in another location as required. If you are installing the tiles over an existing concrete patio, then consider the massive savings in time, cost and the backbreaking work of digging up and re-laying the concrete pad.

Q. How long is the warranty?
The tiles are guaranteed against faulty workmanship for a period of 10 years from the date of purchase. This does not cover natural imperfections or variations in timber, misuse or failure to maintain the timber, or being laid on a surface that is not well drained.

Q. How long will the deck last?
Although the warranty period extends for 10 years from the date of purchase, Ipe timber should last a life time if cared for properly, the base has an estimated life span of in excess of 15 years.

Q. How fire resistant are the deck tiles?
Ipe timber is given a zero fire rating in the USA this is the same rating given to steel and concrete. However as the slats are attached to a plastic base, you need to take the same care as you would with a conventional wood deck. The tiles can however be used around barbeque areas provided normal precautions are observed against hot coals or burning embers falling through the tiles.

Q. Can a car be driven over the tiles?
Whilst the plastic bases would support the weight of a motor vehicle, we do not recommend their use for vehicular traffic.

Questions regarding installing in specific locations:

Q. Can you only install the tiles over concrete?
Whilst covering drab concrete surfaces is an ideal use for the tiles, they can equally well be laid over ceramic tiles, paving slabs.

Q. Can the tiles be laid directly on bare earth?
We normally recommend tiles are laid on well compacted gravel rather than bare earth. If you wish to lay the tiles directly on bare ground or grass, we recommend covering the area to be laid with weed control mat before laying the tiles. In all cases, the ground should be firm, level and with a slight slope for drainage.

Q. Can I lay the tiles on a conventional deck sub frame resting on the wood bearers?
The tiles are not designed to be laid on bearers. They must be laid on a solid surface.

Q. Can I use the tiles indoors?
Certainly. However you should take care that if any crumbs or other food particles fall in the gaps between the wood slats, they are vacuumed away promptly.

Q. Can the tiles be laid over an existing weathered wood deck?
Provided the surface and supporting framework are structurally sound and the surface is even, the tiles are an ideal and cost effective way to bring an existing deck back to its former glory.

Q. Can the tiles be laid directly on rooftops covered with a rubber or bituminous membrane without damaging or puncturing the membrane?
The pressure on the tile base is normally distributed in such a way that no damage will occur. Having said this many people are now converting areas that were not originally designed as roof terraces, such as garage roofs or flat roof extensions. In some of these situations the bitumen/roof felt may not have been designed to be walked on, and may be very thin or may heat up in direct sunlight and become soft. In these situations we would advise the use of a protective underlay. We currently specify a recycled rubber product, that is simply rolled out and cut with a Stanley knife; the matting is porous so water flows off following the existing fall of the roof. The matting also offers excellent sound proofing qualities as well as adding a pleasant cushioned feel of the decking. The matting is available in 6mm, 8mm and 10mm thicknesses. Please contact us for details.

Q. Can the tiles be laid on a sloping roof deck?
If the slope is not so great that you can actually walk on it, then the tiles could satisfactorily be laid. Some slope is ideal as it allows water to drain freely away.

Other Installation Questions:

Q. Are the tiles glued or secured to the floor in any way?
No. Installation of the tiles requires no adhesives, nails, screws or any other fixing devices. The only time we would advise the fixing of the tiles would be for stairs or open balconies (balconies that do not have a retaining lip on the front edge.)

Q. How long does it normally take to install a deck or patio?
The easiest way to install Eco Decking Tiles is to just lay as many whole tiles as will fit the particular area and then just fill the borders with decorative pebble or stones. Using this method even large areas can be laid in minutes. If you intend to cut the tiles to fit a space exactly then it just depends on the complexity and number of cuts. A good rule of thumb is 4 minutes a square metre plus 5 minutes per cut.

Q What tools are required?
If you are using the whole tile and fill technique as described in the question directly above, then you should not require any tools. If you intend to cut the tiles to fit then you will require a tape measure, handsaw or jig saw (if there are any curved areas) plus a no.2 posi-drive screwdriver (if you need to relocate a screw should it clash with a saw cut).

Q. What level of skill is required to install the tiles?
If you played with Lego ® as a child, then you will find laying the tiles just as easy. The tiles lock securely and precisely in place with just a gentle push. Alignment of the tiles is automatic so you just extend the deck in whichever direction you want without any alignment problems. You only need to be able to use a handsaw or jigsaw if it is necessary to cut any tiles to fit around pipes or to fit a final row of tiles against a retaining wall or the outside deck edge.

Q. What do I do about corners or curved areas?
You can just simply cut the tile with a handsaw or jigsaw. You may however need to insert additional screws via the existing screw holes in the plastic base to ensure that each wood slat is still secured with a least two screws.

Q. How do I hide the plastic tabs on the outside edge of the tile?
Matching edge reducer pieces and corner reducer pieces are available that simply snap into place on the outer edge of a row of tiles. Or simply infill with a decorative gravel.

Q. Can I use the tiles for steps?
Tiles can only be used for steps or stairs if they are screwed or glued securely to the base of the stairway Additionally, end capping should be fixed to the edge of the tile to hide the plastic base this should also be fixed in place with a suitable adhesive or fixings. For these situations we advise the use of a good quality gap filling adhesive such as Gripfill Max which is a flexible water resistant adhesive that performs well even at extreme temperatures. You should always make sure that any fixings or adhesive you intend to use are suitable for the both the surfaces you wish to fix to each other.

For the stair riser, we recommend detaching the wood from the plastic base and affixing it to the surface with a quality adhesive suitable for both timber and the other surface .

Q. How level does the surface beneath the deck tiles have to be?
The tiles can cope with up to 5mm of disparity in height from one tile to the next but holes or drops under tile joints would need to be repaired of bridged. Particularly cracked or uneven surfaces may require repairing, or the use of a rubber underlay. We currently specify a recycled rubber product that is simply rolled out and cut with a Stanley knife; the matting is porous so water flows off, following the fall of the existing surface. The matting also offers excellent sound proofing qualities as well as adding a pleasant cushioned feel of the decking. The matting is available in 6mm 8mm and 10mm thicknesses. Please ask for details.

Q. How soon can I use the deck after installation?
You can use your new deck immediately.

Maintenance Questions:

Q. Will the wood grow mould and mildew?
In normal conditions, the gaps between the wood slats and the special mesh base ensure good airflow and quick drying which inhibits mould and mildew growth on the decking. The Ipe timber due to its density severely restrict the growth of moulds and lichens, if installed in exterior areas which remain damp and out of direct sunlight, then some growth of mould or mildew may occur but certainly less than would grow on conventional timber decking.

Q. How should I clean the tiles?
Light debris or dirt that may collect between the wood slats can be removed with a stiff broom, leaf blower, vacuum cleaner, or you can use garden hose or pressure washer .

Q. Does the sun affect the wood?
Any timber surface will fade and eventually silver if not treated with preservative oil at regular intervals. Although the tiles are pre-finished with a preservative soy oil containing UV absorbing properties however this will not provide a permanent protection against fading or silvering of the timber. For ongoing protection we recommend “Timberguard” a preservative oil with a UV filter which gives up to 3 years protection from an initial application. Please contact us for details.

Q. Can I remove the tiles once they are laid?
You can easily take up any or all of the tiles and re-install them in a new location as required.