Installation – Rubber Pads
Solid wood tiles should not be laid directly over a firm substrate such as concrete but should always be raised sufficiently to allow good air circulation under the tiles and permit water to drain away freely.
If wood is allowed to remain in contact with water for extended periods, some swelling of the bearers may occur and possibly temporary warping or twisting of the wood slats.
Unless the tiles are all laid parallel to the slope (and not in an alternating checkerboard pattern), the bearers on the underside will prevent water flowing freely underneath the tiles.
If the substrate is slightly uneven, the tiles could “rock” on the surface, or one or more of the edges may protrude upwards, creating a tripping hazard.
For best results, we thus recommend laying the tiles on our 3/8″ high fixed height rubber support pads placed under each corner of the tiles.
For on-grade applications, our SwiftDeck range of interlocking wood tiles could also be considered. With these tiles, the Ipe wood slats are screwed to a raised plastic mesh base, providing excellent drainage and enabling the tiles to be locked together by integral connecting tabs for quick and easy installation. Although the largest SwiftDeck tile is 24″ x 12″, two tiles can be connected side by side, effectively creating the appearance of a single 24″ x 24″ panel.