Search Articles Local Directory Product Directory Name Search

Outdoor Tiles

With outdoor entertaining becoming ever more popular, it’s worth taking a look at a great option for outdoor flooring and that is outdoor tiles.  Outdoor tiles can be used to create a seamless flow from indoors to out or even to create a feature in itself. There are many tiles and tilers to choose from so here's a little background information. 

Why Use Tile?

Tile is a very popular flooring material both indoors and out and for very good reason.  It is durable and easy to care for, and it is great for areas where there are high amounts of foot traffic.  This is often the case when it comes to outdoor entertaining.  Tiles are also very flexible design-wise, as they are available in a virtually limitless combination of colours, styles, textures, shapes, and patterns.  You can even use coloured grouts to create more of a design feature.

Selecting Tiles

In outdoor areas, you need to use tiles that are non-porous, resist stains, and be salt-safe, if you are using them around a pool.  It is also very important that the tile has a non-slip surface for safety reasons.  The two main tiles used in outdoor applications are ceramic and porcelain tiles.  Ceramic tiles are usually cheaper but they are not as strong as porcelain tiles and the lower end tiles generally should not be used in an outdoor setting.  Good quality porcelain tiles are saltwater and chlorine safe, are resistant to losing colour over time, and can be used in areas where there is likely to be food or oil spills, such as around the barbecue without the risk of staining.  However, there are a number of tiles on the market that combine the qualities of porcelain and ceramic tiles, making them an excellent choice for where a wholly porcelain tile is not necessary.

Whenever they are used outdoors, tiles must be classified as being non-slip.  There is an Australian Standard to regulate this.  The tiles are given an “R” rating based on how they perform in a test that uses oil and a ramp.  The lowest allowable rating for an outdoor area is R9 and the highest to be found is R12.  Around a pool area, the rating must be at least R11.  However, the texture of the tile is not necessarily a good indicator of how non-slip it is.  Some of the smoothest feeling tiles are actually some of the most non slip.

Installing Tiles

When installing tiles outdoor, they must be laid on a concrete slab.  This is so that the tiles have a uniform flatness level.  Generally, tiles are glued to the slab and then grout is applied to the gaps.  If your tiles are not currently protected from the elements, you need to pre-seal them before they are laid.  Once the tiles are laid, a penetrating seal is applied, and this is particularly important for ceramic tiles.

Related Categories