#MAPEITechTip: Weekend project – Tiling an outdoor kitchen and BBQ

If your weekend plans include tiling an outdoor kitchen, MAPEI has you covered from start to finish with our exterior-installation products!

Probably one of the single most important points to keep in mind is what type of installation products can be used outside; refer to the tile or stone manufacturer for recommendations to determine if your tile or stone is suitable for outside use. MAPEI offers a full line of exterior-rated products that can be used to install your tile or stone on an outdoor kitchen.  

Setting materials that contain calcium-aluminate cement are best suited for tile installations near a heat source. These mortars and grouts exhibit high performance at high temperatures, allowing rapid development of strength over a relatively short period of time.

Keep in mind that, unlike countertops in your indoor kitchen, outdoor countertops will be constantly bombarded with rain, sunshine, cold and snow, so choosing materials that are appropriate to these environments is essential to a long-lasting installation.

For added protection on an approved, exterior-rated substrate (e.g., cement board), apply MAPEI’s Mapelastic AquaDefense waterproofing membrane along with fiber-reinforcing mesh. Not only will Mapelastic AquaDefense act as a barrier to moisture, but it also will provide in-plane crack isolation up to 1/8" (3 mm), minimizing cracking issues with your tile or stone.

Finish up your installation with MAPEI’s Ultracolor Plus FA grout (for joint widths from 1/16" to 3/4" [1.5 to 19 mm]), which uses calcium aluminates in place of traditional Portland-based cements, minimizing the risk of efflorescence. Additionally, this high-performance grout has low porosity and low water absorption, making it ideal for exterior applications.

Exterior applications must be protected from rain for three full days and from frost for 21 full days. If using a rapid-setting mortar or grout, the installation must be protected from rain and frost for three full days after installation.

Visit our Website’s Tile and Stone Installation Systems page for more exterior-installation products.