Need to Know Before Purchasing Balcony Flooring Tiles

In the early 2010’s, when  1×1-foot WPC deck tiles first entered Canada making their way to outdoor balconies, porches and rooftop terraces, it became apparent that some had a flaw.  The problem stemmed from the matte surface finish on the top and sides of each tile.   This porous, non-capped feature made the tiles prone to watermarking and staining from grease and oils (see photo below).  This lack of a physical barrier also made them prone to water absorption (ingress) if the tile ‘sat’ in pooled water, leading them to premature weathering.  In some cases, it led to tile decay, rotting and even warping.  However, it didn’t take long for the remedy to enter the scene.

Since the inception of Outdoor Floors in Toronto in 2014, I have learned a lot about interlocking (clickable) outdoor deck tiles. Much has changed over the years particularly with the introduction and subsequent explosion of robust wood-plastic composite (WPC) tiles into the Canadian market. Their predecessor cousins, WPC deck boards, commonly used in wooden backyard house decks, have been around since the 80’s and also underwent several iterations to ultimately become superior products because of their exceptional durability. The same evolution is occurring with WPC deck tiles.  Thus, not all composites are the same — they differ mainly in the type of plastics used  as well as the proportion of wood-to-recycled plastics. 

Despite early teething issues, the main commonality among all composite deck tiles is their heavy-duty ‘backbone’. This formed the foundation to which later improvements ultimately made it become superior to other tiles made from plastics, rubber or wood. Wood-plastic deck tile manufacturers soon discovered the type of plastic as well as the ratio of wood-to-plastic made them stronger and completely resistant to weathering, rot and decay. Equally important was the development of a cap barrier (“capping”) by baking in a microscopic glossy plastic layer during the manufacturing process. This was the icing on the cake; almost literally. It crowned the newer WPC deck tiles as KING of the Road, changing the world of deck tiles because they no longer were prone to water absorption and consequent warping or mold growth. They were now waterproof, weatherproof, mildew- and mold-proof.

Over the years 2017-2018, these heavy-duty deck tiles no longer had their plastic-looking finish created by the cap layer. However, they still retained the cap’s barrier function. The cap barrier also provided a substrate for chiseling (embossing) the tile, so that wood-grain patterns and textures could be applied during tile production process. Moreover, under natural sunlight, balcony floor installations utilizing particular tile patterns such as parquet (checkered) or herringbone (tiles at 90º, to each other) thoroughly highlighted the faux-wood grain finishes. It provided amazingly contrasted eye kandy. This gave another positive jump in the evolution of composite deck tiles because they started to resemble real, natural wood. This wood grain texture made them pleasing to the eye; amazing stuff when certain tile patterns were installed (especially herringbone) . Capping and embossing also allowed for colour and wood grain variations among tiles of a particular line. In fact, the newest tiles have colour and grain variations within a single slat of a single tile.

Finally and most recently, the cap surface layer was designed to increase slip resistance when walking on wet tiles. This helped to minimize the risk of slips and falls. It also incidentally led to an amusing feeling when walking barefoot on a tiled floor. No shoes required! In fact, wearing no shoes or slippers is highly recommended when it comes to high quality interlocking wood-plastic composite deck tiles. Going barefoot feels great.

“The end product of combining wood and plastic into WPC composites is greater than the sum of its parts”, many outdoor flooring contractors have concluded when it comes to their impressive durability. This can also be applied to their upkeep as wood-plastic composite floors simply do not require maintenance. The only thing to keep in mind each spring however, is to clean them once or twice a year. This is easily done with a house vacuum and spray mop. Soap, warm water and a scrub brush will tackle most stains. One final benefit of these amazing flooring products is they’re resistant to the mould, rot and decay that would otherwise affect wooden deck tiles in damp, moist environments. See some interesting photos below…

A final fantastic feature is that WPC patio deck tiles are waterproof and weatherproof by virtue of their plastic composition.   In addition, their inbuilt plastic bases elevate the deck slats above rainwater.  Along with their water channels, designed to allow rain water to flow underneath the tile, such intelligent features prevent pooling and promote water egress.  Furthermore, slit-like ventilation holes between each tile slat encourage the floor to ‘breathe’ and for water to evaporate.  Hurray, thanks for reading this right till the end!  Whoohoo!  Good for you!

Amazing stuff really.  Come get yours now!