Can terrace pavers laid on pedestals crack?
One of the most frequently asked questions about raised deck terraces is the durability of pavers supported by pedestals. Many investors worry that point support may cause cracking. In reality, properly selected pavers and correctly executed installation allow the terrace to be used for many years without any damage.
1. Choosing the right paver for terrace pedestals
Typically, the main cause of paver cracking on traditional terraces is weather conditions, especially moisture penetrating poorly finished joints, under the adhesive, where rainwater accumulates year after year and, when freezing, further expands the damage that has already occurred. However, in the raised deck terrace system, this problem does not arise because there are voids between the pavers or boards from which water can drain freely.
Material stress can occur in pavers on a raised deck terrace, which ultimately leads to cracking. However, terrace pavers from reputable manufacturers are resistant to this type of action. It is always worth checking the manufacturer's information to see whether the pavers are suitable for laying on pedestals.
When selecting terrace pavers, consider not only the visual aspect, but also the ability to set them on a pedestal and the manufacturer's reputation.
Terrace pavers that are typically suitable for laying on pedestals are:
- 2 cm ceramic pavers
- stone pavers
- 4-5 cm concrete pavers
The most frequently chosen pavers for a terrace are 2 cm thick ceramic pavers with dimensions of 60x60 cm. With such dimensions, pedestals are placed every 60 cm.
2. Paver strength for raised deck terraces
Before choosing or purchasing, it is worth familiarizing yourself with or checking the strength of the paver. This is especially important when designing a space with heavy foot traffic or point loads. Using pavers whose material has the appropriate specifications will be the key to success.
Before purchasing, it is worth checking the technical parameters of the paver, especially if the terrace will be exposed to greater loads.
This applies primarily to:
- restaurants,
- hotels,
- rooftop terraces,
- areas with heavy planters or pergolas.
The manufacturer should specify the permissible support methods and maximum service loads.
3. Use the appropriate number of support points
The number of pedestals depends on the paver dimensions.
For example:
- 60×60 cm paver - 4 support points,
- 60×120 cm paver - usually 6 support points,
- large-format pavers may require additional support in the center of the paver
Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines. They specify the minimum number of support points required to maintain the full strength of the paver. This information can usually be found on the terrace paver packaging.
According to what you find on the packaging or in the manufacturer's catalog, you should follow the recommendations - if necessary, support the appropriate terrace pavers additionally in the center.
These distances must be strictly followed and maintained. Thanks to this data, we can be sure that the pavers will not crack after being laid on the pedestals. This is a kind of manufacturer's guarantee, based on repeatedly conducted tests, that the pavers will withstand such a spacing.
Installation of a raised deck terrace on a paving stone base
The standard thickness of ceramic pavers is 2 cm, while concrete terrace pavers have a thickness of 4-5 cm.
This results from the specific physical properties of concrete (it is a very brittle material). By increasing the thickness, concrete pavers can be fully safely supported pointwise on adjustable pedestals.
Regardless of the type of pavers - whether ceramic, concrete, or stone - if you install them in a raised deck terrace system, you can remove / lift / replace each one individually at any time. Sometimes, even during the construction stage, an installed paver may get damaged.
In a traditional system, you would have to chisel out the tiles and replacing one would be terribly problematic. However, the method of removing a single paver in the raised deck terrace system, which is gaining increasing popularity among professionals, is extremely simple. There is no need to dismantle anything, grind, chisel, or dissolve adhesive. You simply lift the damaged paver off the terrace surface and lay a new one in its place.
4. Ensure a stable base
Even the best paver can be damaged if the pedestals are placed on an unstable base.
The base should be:
- rigid,
- level,
- adequately load-bearing,
- resistant to settling.
Movement of the pedestals causes a loss of support for the corners of the pavers, which can consequently lead to their cracking. Therefore, preparing the base is one of the most important stages of building a raised deck terrace.
Proper base preparation determines its usability for years to come.
To create a raised deck terrace resistant to loads, the terrace pedestals must be installed on compacted ground. This can only be achieved through adequate rigidity of the base.
If the base has many protruding elements, it is best to support the pedestals so as to avoid them, which is why it is worth properly designing the paver spacing before starting installation to avoid such problems.
If the base is unstable, it will cause the pedestals to move. As a result, the surface pavers will
not have adequate support for their corners. The pavers must rest evenly on each of the pedestals.
Stone paver placed on an adjustable pedestal
5. Ensure proper drainage
One of the greatest advantages of a raised deck terrace is effective water drainage.
Thanks to the gaps between the pavers, rainwater penetrates to the waterproofing layer and then flows according to the slope of the substrate to roof drains or outlets.
The absence of lingering moisture means a lower risk of damage, which often occurs in traditional glued terraces.
Draining moisture outside the building protects not only the terrace itself, but also the walls and other structural elements. In such places, slopes should be properly planned - it is recommended to create slopes of 1.5%-2%. This way, water does not pool on the waterproofing surface but freely flows from the terrace to the installed drainage.
Summary
Terrace pavers installed on pedestals do not crack on their own. The most common causes of damage are:
- the use of pavers not suited for point support,
- incorrect pedestal spacing,
- lack of additional support for large formats,
- unstable substrate,
- installation errors.
If the pavers have been properly selected and the installation was carried out according to the manufacturer's recommendations, the raised deck terrace will be a durable and safe solution for many years.
