Measure and Compare Removable Balcony Floor Coverings

To pick a removable covering for an apartment balcony, start with a measured plan of the floor you actually have. Then compare each candidate using its own documentation: dimensions and thickness, the surface it can sit on, the clearances it needs, how drains stay reachable, how it is cleaned, and how it comes up again. Interlocking deck tiles are a common choice because some systems are designed to sit on an existing hard surface and lift out in pieces. That is only true of the specific system documented, so each tile, rug or mat you consider needs its own row in your comparison.

What interlocking deck tiles are, using one documented example

Interlocking deck tiles are modular squares that clip together instead of being fastened to the floor. As one example, the manufacturer Wallong lists its conventional WL-SS05 tile at 300 × 300 mm (about 11.8 × 11.8 inches) with an interlocking plastic base. Wallong's installation guide describes these as removable units assembled over a suitable existing hard surface, with no supporting joist structure underneath. Treat those details as belonging to that product. Other patio, composite or plastic floor tiles may use different sizes, base designs and installation conditions, so record each product's figures from its own instructions.

Get permission before you plan the layout

Tile documentation tells you how a product is meant to be installed. It does not tell you whether your building allows it or whether your balcony is suited to it. Wallong's guide, for instance, offers no approval or structural assessment for any particular residence. Before buying anything, ask your landlord or building management whether removable floor coverings are allowed. Ask too whether any area must stay uncovered, and whether a professional assessment is required. Write those answers down separately from your appearance preferences so they can't get lost in the design choices.

Measure the balcony

Sketch the balcony floor as seen from above, then record the following on the sketch:

• Overall length and width of the floor surface
• Irregular corners, angles or notches, each with its own dimensions
• Fixed obstructions such as posts, railings bases, pipes, utility fixtures or wall-mounted items that reach the floor
• The door: which way it swings or slides, and the measured gap between the bottom of the door and the current floor
• The location of every drain outlet, scupper or drainage channel
• Areas that must stay uncovered or reachable, based on building instructions and product instructions
• The current floor material, such as concrete or existing tile, and its visible condition

The door measurement matters because any covering raises the floor level. Compare the measured door gap against each candidate's total documented thickness, including any base or underlayment.

BALCONY MEASUREMENT WORKSHEET

Floor length: ________   Floor width: ________
Irregular areas (location + dimensions): ____________________
Fixed obstructions (location + footprint): __________________
Door type / swing direction: ________
Door-to-floor clearance (measured): ________
Drain outlet locations: _____________________________________
Areas to remain uncovered/accessible: _______________________
Existing floor surface: ________

Building permission obtained? (Y/N, date, from whom): ________
Professional assessment required? (Y/N, result): ________

Estimate how many tiles you would need

Hypothetical example: a rectangular area measures 2.4 m × 1.5 m, which is 3.6 m². A nominal 0.3 m × 0.3 m tile covers 0.09 m². Dividing 3.6 by 0.09 gives 40 tiles. That figure is an area-only estimate. Your actual purchase quantity depends on the layout after you subtract excluded areas, leave any gaps the manufacturer requires, plan for cut pieces around obstructions, and round up to the product's documented pack size.

Compare candidates side by side

Build a table with one row for each exact product you are considering, whether it's an interlocking tile, an outdoor rug or another removable covering. Fill in each cell from that product's own documentation. Don't copy one manufacturer's specifications onto a similar-looking product.

Column	What to record
Product reference	Brand, model or item number
Dimensions and total thickness	Unit size and full height as installed
Permitted substrate	Surfaces the instructions say it can be placed on
Required clearances or accessories	Perimeter gaps, edge pieces, connectors
Drainage access	How drains stay open and reachable
Cleaning instructions	The manufacturer's stated method
Removal method	How it is lifted or disassembled
Storage needs	Space needed for removed pieces
Evidence reference	Where each entry came from

Decide which option fits

Check each row against your measured plan and your building's answers, then sort it into one of three groups:

• Keep for further comparison: permission is in place, and the product documents everything your plan requires (fit, thickness under the door, substrate, clearances and drain access).
• Hold for clarification: a needed dimension or instruction is missing. Ask the seller or manufacturer before deciding.
• Exclude: the product requires structural decking, ground preparation or any permanent change to the balcony. That is a different project and needs proper authority.

Among the products you keep, use your apartment's actual limits to choose:

• Available space: a small or oddly shaped balcony may favor a covering that needs few cuts around obstructions.
• Access: if drains or utility points must stay reachable, favor a covering whose instructions show how to leave or open those areas.
• Effort: compare the documented assembly steps and any accessories or cutting each option needs.
• Portability: if you expect to move, compare how each option is removed and how much storage the pieces take up.
• Weather exposure: rely only on what each product's documentation states about outdoor use, and compare that against how exposed your balcony is.

Installing deck tiles on a concrete balcony

The exact steps depend on the product, but Wallong's guide for its system covers checks that are worth noting for any tile you consider:

• Evaluate the existing base before laying anything on it.
• Keep drainage outlets clear and reachable.
• Check that the door still opens and closes properly over the new floor height.
• Leave the perimeter clearances specified for that product.
• Assemble the units by connecting the interlocking bases according to the product instructions.

Plan maintenance and removal before you buy

Wallong's maintenance guidance includes clearing debris from tile joints and drainage areas and following the manufacturer's cleaning procedure. Whatever you choose, write out three things in advance: how the covering will be lifted, how the floor and drains underneath will stay accessible for cleaning, and where removed pieces will be stored. This is especially useful if you're preparing for a move. A covering that comes up in a known way and fits in a known spot in your storage is easier to pack and reinstall. Compare these tasks across your options using what each product actually documents. Don't assume weather resistance, load capacity or safety ratings that the manufacturer hasn't stated.