How To Lay Outdoor Tiles on Pedestals

Before laying any outdoor tiles, understanding your substrate is one of the most important decisions you will make. The method you use, the materials you need and even whether you can grout your patio all depend on what you are laying onto.

At 20mm thick, Everscape outdoor porcelain tiles are designed to work across multiple laying methods, and in this guide we show you how to lay them using a pedestal system, with step by step videos to support the process.

Using a pedestal system is a flexible and practical solution for raised paving. It is particularly useful where a patio needs to meet the height of an external door, or where you want to create steps. The height of each pedestal is fully adjustable, requires no skilled labour and allows tiles to be removed and repositioned at any time.

The fixed pedestal system is a flexible, easy to fit raised paving solution suitable for use on any clean, solid and level ground surface. With an adjustable height range of 35mm to 60mm, extendable up to 500mm with additional extensions, it is ideal for projects where a level raised floor is needed.

Ensure the area you are covering is clean, solid and level and remove any debris from the surface. It is recommended to work from a corner at the back of the area and work your way forward until the desired area is complete.

1. Using pliers, snap the base section of the pedestal to allow it to sit snug into your starting corner. Note that all edges of the base are removable.

2. Depending on the tile size, create a base using a suitable number of pedestals and sit the first tile directly onto them. You may need to remove some of the plastic holding brackets on top of the pedestals to allow the tile to sit correctly. Use pliers to snap off any brackets that are not required.

3. Using a spirit level, adjust each pedestal by turning the ferrules to ensure the tile is level in all directions.

4. Place additional pedestals on the ground and sit the second tile next to the first, removing any plastic holding brackets that are not required as before.

5. Using a spirit level across both tiles, adjust the pedestals by turning the ferrules to ensure the tiles are level.

6. Continue this process until the entire area is complete.

Watch our video guide below for a full walk through of the fixed pedestal installation process:

The Uptec pedestal is a universal, adjustable system designed for outdoor raised floor installations and is ideal for use with 2cm outdoor porcelain tiles such as Everscape. It features a tilting head that compensates for slopes of up to 5%, while a simple locking disc mechanism allows you to switch between a self-levelling head and a fixed head depending on your project requirements. Expansion rings can be added to achieve the desired floor height.

Ensure the surface is clean, level and free from any debris. Uptec pedestals can be placed on concrete, cement, EPDM, rubber or directly on insulation materials. Always check the compressive strength of the substrate and ensure adequate drainage is in place. The maximum centre to centre distance between pedestals must not exceed 60cm.

Please note that Uptec pedestals are suitable for pedestrian traffic only and appropriate PPE should always be worn during installation.

The number of pedestals required will vary depending on the tile size and layout. Typically, pedestals are placed at each corner of the tile, with additional pedestals added for larger formats to provide extra support.

For example, an 80x80cm tile should include a pedestal in the centre of the tile, while tiles with a length of around 90cm should have an additional pedestal positioned between the corners. As a general rule, the distance between pedestals should not exceed 600mm.

Corner Pedestals:
1. Turn the base upside down and remove two sides along the marked lines.
2. Assemble the pedestal and position it in the corner.
3. Remove the four tabs using the adjustment tool. 4. Place a perimeter spacer clip against the wall, then place a second clip perpendicular to the first.
5. Position the tile.

Perimeter Pedestals:
6. Turn the base upside down and remove one side along the marked line.
7. Assemble the pedestals and position them with the cut side towards the wall.
8. Insert a perimeter spacer clip between the two tabs perpendicular to the wall, then remove the other two tabs using the adjustment tool.
9. Position the tile.

Central Pedestals:
10. Place each pedestal centrally between the tile corners, ensuring the spacing does not exceed 60cm centre to centre.
11. Position the tile and place each corner between the tabs.
12. Check the flooring is level across the tiles with no lipping. If adjustment is needed, use the adjustment tool to correct the height.

What To Do If The Tiles Are Uneven:
13. Remove the unlevelled tile and place the pedestal at the level of the adjacent tiles.
14. Use the adjustment tool to correct the height, then reposition the pedestal and tile.
15. Check the installation is level before continuing.

For a full visual walk through on using Uptec Pedestals for outdoor tiles, watch our video guide below:

For more complex laying patterns or projects requiring additional stability, the Uptec Joist Rail System takes the standard Uptec pedestal a step further by combining pedestals with joists to create a raised floor system. This makes it particularly well suited to brick bond patterns and the installation of plank sized tiles, where a standard pedestal arrangement alone may not provide sufficient support.

Watch our video guide below for a full walkthrough of the Uptec Joist Rail System:

One of the main advantages of using any type of pedestal system is the ease of creating steps. The adjustable height of the pedestal combined with the range of outdoor trims gives any project a professional looking finish.

The profile edges use the weight of the outdoor porcelain tiles and a mechanism in the pedestal fixing to attach and stay in place. If you're choosing a step that has a cut tile in the instep then a box trim will neatly cover the cut edge of the tile. If you'd rather opt for no cut tile then the edging profile creates the instep for you.