Resurfacing Patios with Porcelain Pavers or Wood Tiles

Porcelain Pavers

The most elegant, low-maintenance patio paving solution for covering concrete.

Although Archatrak 3/4″ thick porcelain pavers can be laid over existing concrete with traditional thin-set and grout, (necessary for vehicular applications) these durable, high quality porcelain pavers can be easily laid over existing concrete on outdoor patios using Archatrak rubber support pads placed under each corner of the pavers. This essentially creates a ‘floating’ paver surface where water can freely disperse under the pavers.

Archatrak rubber pads are available in 1/4″ and 3/8″ thickness and are designed to be stacked to build up the height. 1/16″ thick leveling shims are used to make slight height adjustments if needed. Since the rubber pads have inbuilt spacer tabs, alignment and spacing are automatically taken care of.

Generally, a cracked patio isn’t a problem. Just make sure the rubber pads are not placed across any cracks.

Most patio decks slope slightly to allow water run-off. But if you want perfectly level patio flooring, just stack the rubber pads, increasing the height of the stack as you move down the slope.

We currently offer over 80 colors of porcelain pavers, so generally you’ll have no problem in matching pavers with your surrounding environment.

Unlike concrete pavers, porcelain pavers are extremely resistant to staining, are scratch-resistant, fade-resistant, and frost resistant. 2 x 2 pavers are the most common, but we also supply plank-style 16” x 48” or 12”x 48” pavers as well as 8″ x 8″ or 8″ x 12″ cobblestone tiles.

Interlocking Ipe Wood Patio Tiles

The easiest, do-it-yourself outdoor patio flooring solution for covering an existing patio.

Archatrak’s 12” x 12” or 12” x 24” Ipe wood interlocking patio tiles are constructed with an integral plastic mesh base with inbuilt connecting tabs. They are installed by simply snapping them in place right over the top of the existing patio surface – no adhesives, no nails, no screws or any other fixing devices needed.

The only important requirement is that the patio surface is relatively smooth with no large cracks and no significant height mismatch on either side of any cracks, so the tiles don’t rock on the surface.

Clip-on transition pieces are available to provide a neat finish to the outside edge of the patio deck as well as providing a sloping transition to the concrete base.

Our interlocking outdoor patio tiles are made exclusively with ¾” thick Ipe hardwood, one of the hardest and most durable wood species commercially available.

Watch out for cheap wood deck tiles promoted as exterior interlocking patio pavers which use non-durable or only moderately durable wood species – such tiles might only last 12 months or so before you need to throw them out. Check the length of the warranty offered before you buy.

Structural Ipe Wood Decking Tiles

An excellent option if you prefer a natural wood look and want a perfectly level patio deck.

Archatrak 24” x 24” solid Ipe wood decking tiles are not interlocking but are laid over rubber support pads just like our porcelain patio pavers. This lifts the wood off the concrete surface to promote both good drainage and air circulation under the tiles. The rubber pads can be stacked up to a height of approx. 1 1/2″, thus enabling the ‘floating’ patio floor to be made perfectly level, irrespective of the slope of the underlying concrete.

For large deck areas requiring a greater height adjustment to compensate for a sloping concrete base, you can use Archatrak ‘Prime’ adjustable height pedestals to support the Ipe wood tiles.

We use Ipe wood for construction of these wood pavers for patios since this wood species is exceptionally dense, strong, durable and scratch resistant. Ipe wood is used extensively for decks and boardwalks in high traffic commercial locations as well as rooftop decks.

Just remember that wood needs ongoing maintenance. Archatrak Ipe wood tiles tiles are supplied raw finished with only some natural wax applied at the ends of the wood slats to reduce end cracking. They should always be coated with a good quality decking oil or sealant as soon as practical after installation. We also strongly recommend you coat the wood tiles every 12 months or so with a good-quality decking oil to slow the rate of natural fading and prolong the life of the tiles.