*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.*
If you’ve been following our outdoor gazebo makeover project, you may remember my shopping trip to pick up eco-friendly Envirotiles from The Home Depot. This week my husband Joe finished the installation, and I wanted to share how the project came together, what worked well, and the solutions we found for a few unexpected challenges.
When the tiles arrived, Joe began by laying them out on the gazebo platform to get a visual sense of the pattern. He measured to find the center of the platform and started the layout in a plus shape, creating four quadrants, then filled each quadrant outward. Because the gazebo platform is 10′ x 10′ and the Envirotiles come in 18″ squares, there was an overhang to address along the outer edges.
The manufacturer’s installation instructions recommend using connector clips around the perimeter to hold tiles together. In theory, you line the tiles up and secure them with clips, then tap them into place with a rubber mallet. In our case, several practical issues made the standard approach difficult.
First, the tiles we received were not uniformly square. Some tiles were slightly larger or smaller, which made it hard to get the seams to line up neatly. Trying to use the supplied clips became a puzzle: even when a clip fit between two tiles, previously installed clips sometimes would not stay put because the tiles didn’t sit flush.
Joe was hesitant to cut tiles square because he didn’t want perfect, uniform squares to be the only option for the overall look. He also knew that cutting would be necessary if he followed the plan to fit the 18″ tiles into a 10′ x 10′ frame, which would leave about a 6″ overhang (3″ on each side). The usual recommendation to place clips only on end tiles works best when tiles are consistently sized, but that wasn’t our situation.
Modifying the clips
Rather than force the tiles or spend a lot of time trimming, Joe experimented with several starting placements and then modified the connector clips. He carefully broke off one of the small tabs that projected upward and then fastened the clip into the patio base with a screw. The clip now put constant pressure on adjacent tiles and held them securely in place. This simple modification solved the alignment problem and kept the tiles from shifting.
Solving the overhang
Faced with a six-inch overhang, Joe initially intended to use Envirotile edging and trim the tiles, but our local store did not have the edging in stock. Instead of cutting the tiles, he chose to expand the patio slightly so the tiles would fit cleanly without trimming. After laying the tiles, the actual overhang measured about 2.5 inches. That matched the combined thickness of a 1×4 and a 2×4 stacked together (about 3/4″ + 1-3/4″), so he purchased lumber and built out the edge to support the tiles. The tiles fit perfectly against the new ledger, and the expanded surface resolved the gazebo frame overhang that had bothered us before.
The lumber and hardware cost about fifty dollars. For that modest investment we avoided cutting tiles, gained a slightly larger patio footprint, and achieved a tidy, finished edge that complements the gazebo.
I was really pleased with this practical solution. Instead of doing a lot of cutting or forcing imperfect tiles to conform, Joe adjusted the space to fit the product. That approach saved time and resulted in a clean, finished look.
We also had help from our five-year-old son Warren, who enjoyed raking leaves and handing tiles to Dad. His enthusiasm was contagious and made the project feel like a real family effort.
Final reveal coming soon
The Envirotiles are now installed and the gazebo space looks finished and inviting. I love how the tiles define the area and complete the makeover. Watch for the next post where I’ll share the final reveal and how the finished gazebo works for relaxing and entertaining.
It’s spring home improvement season, and The Home Depot carries a range of products to help with outdoor projects like this one. From advice and tools to materials like Envirotiles, the right supplies make it easier to tackle yard projects and outdoor renovations.
Disclosure: I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with The Home Depot and receive product to enhance our backyard. All thoughts and opinions are my own.