What tiles can I use outside?

When renovating an outdoor space, it’s important to consider how you’ll use the space going forwards and what areas of the garden you can utilise for different uses. For example, do you want your patio area to be in the sun all day as you’re a habitual sunbather or to just catch it late afternoon and evening for enjoying entertaining outside.

It’s also important to use the right kind of tile for both the aesthetic you want to achieve and the safety of your family. In this article we take you through the different kinds of tile available and what tiles to use outside.

What tiles are suitable for use outdoors?

Porcelain

Porcelain tiles are lot hardier and durable than ceramic tiles however you still need to get the right tile for outdoor use, one preferably with a high slip resistance to make them safe in all weather. Vitrified porcelain is best as it’s impervious to frost, mould and staining making it a great investment year after year.

Our Everscape range is a 2cm porcelain tile specially designed to be used outdoors allowing you to fix the tiles in various ways whether that be on grass, gravel, pedestals, or a cement screed. For most 1cm thick tiles, you can only lay these on a cement screed using adhesive, this can be a little costly if you don’t have the right substrate to start with.

Natural Stone - General

Although most natural stone are durable and therefore technically suitable for outdoors, there’s only a few types of stone we’d recommend for outdoor use. Granite and travertine are the best for outdoor use however they do need regular maintenance to upkeep their finish and we’d recommend a more textured stone to make them safer in the wetter, colder months.

What tiles are not suitable for use outdoors?

Natural Stone - Marble

Most natural stone become slippery when wet and therefore not recommended for outdoor use however marble is one to miss as the wet will also discolour marble with yellow stains. This type of material prefers dry, hot conditions.

To create the look of marble that will stay looking new, invest in a porcelain replica like Everscape Marbex.

Ceramic

Ceramic tiles are simply not frost proof and therefore if laid outside will ‘pop’ or crack in cold weather. There is too much moisture left in the tile during the manufacturing process meaning its density is much lower than that of porcelain leaving room for moisture to expand when it freezes.

Porcelain comes in such a variety of finishes that it’s impossible not to find the right look for your new garden patio.

If you’re looking for further clarification on what’s most suitable for outdoor spaces, shop our designated outdoor tiles section for ultimate peace of mind.