We normally recommend HandyDeck tiles be laid on well compacted gravel rather than directly on bare earth, because this will provide a more even surface and a better base for the tiles.

If you intend to lay the tiles directly on bare ground or grass, firstly and most importantly you need to make sure that the surface is level (in other words not bumpy) and has a slight slope to allow for water to drain away quickly in one direction.

Then you need to remove all vegetation and then make sure that the surface is as firm as possible.  You should then ideally lay a thin layer of fine gravel (but not sand) over the top of the prepared ground to improve drainage of surface water and make it easier to level the surface.

After that you should cover the area with a fabric type weed control barrier. You can purchase this material in rolls from e.g. Home Depot or Lowes. This not only prevents the growth of vegetation but helps to prevent the “feet” on the underside of the tiles from digging into the surface below.

When you have completed these steps, you can lay down the HandyDeck tiles over the top of the prepared surface.

The basic reason for this preparation is that our tiles have about 80 small feet on the underside, so if the tiles are not being laid on a solid surface such as concrete, then you need to ensure that these small feet do not dig into the surface below and also that subsurface is quite firm so that the tiles will lie as evenly as possible.

Please note however that we do not recommend the installation of EzyTile porcelain tiles over bare ground.