Installing porcelain pavers over a concrete substrate using a thinset method is recommended for driveways, car parking areas, and other applications subject to light vehicular traffic. This approach creates a strong, bonded surface while maintaining a clean, continuous appearance between pedestrian spaces and vehicular access areas. Proper substrate preparation, drainage, and installation techniques are essential to ensure long-term performance and prevent cracking or failure.
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Step One
Verify the concrete substrate is in good condition, is installed in accordance with relevant building codes and reinforced with steel mesh and is constructed with approx. 2% slope pitched away from any building.
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Step Two
Clean the surface of the concrete well to ensure good adhesion of the pavers.
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Step Three
Spread an approved exterior grade thinset mortar over the concrete using the correct sized notched trowel.
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Step Four
Lay the pavers on the thinset with minimum 1/8” to 3/16“ joint spacing where the area is not large enough to require expansion joints, or with 3/8” spacing where expansion joints are present. All expansion joints must be located along the joint line of the installed pavers to avoid cracking of the pavers. If a porcelain paver is installed over a control joint, the paver will eventually crack along the expansion joint beneath it.
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Step Five
After the thinset has dried, grout the pavers with an approved exterior grade grout. Wash the pavers carefully and thoroughly after grouting to remove excess grout.
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Step Six
A final buffered acid wash will also be required to remove any invisible grout residue.
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