In our blog we explore the question are porcelain tiles good for outdoors and dig into some of the features and benefits of using porcelain tiles for patios, pathways and more.
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Porcelain tiles are used extensively across the walls and floors of homes because they are highly practical. Whether it is bathrooms, kitchens, ground floors, boot rooms, wetrooms or offices, this is a material that is not only hardwearing it is also beautiful. The good news is it can also be used outside too. In fact, porcelain is not only good for outdoor areas, it’s an ideal material. Let’s find out why.
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As we look to increasingly maximise the useable space in our homes, well-designed outdoor spaces have become the must have. There has been a shift in recent years towards creating patio areas that are more than just a patio. These outside areas have become entertaining spaces, dining areas, kitchens or simply as place to unwind with the family.
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This has placed a real focus on the flooring chosen for these outdoor environments because it impacts the look and feel of the overall design you are looking to create. Â
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Porcelain tiles offer something a little different to other flooring materials. Unlike limestone, slate, natural stone or even wood decking, all of which tend to be a little more rustic in appearance, porcelain tiles deliver a patio that is flush and sleek. Effectively with porcelain tiles you are creating an inside room outside the home. This is a space that has a sleek, architectural feel with a flush surface and clean lines and the perfect canvas for that dining, kitchen or relaxing space. Â
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The fact that many porcelain tiles have rectified edges, ie straight edges also adds to this look. But it’s not just the precision design of porcelain tiles that make them perfect material for outdoor spaces. Porcelain is a brilliantly hardwearing material and in a whole of host of amazing designs allowing you to create exactly the look and feel you want.
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Porcelain tiles for outdoor spaces come in many sizes with 600 x 600mm formats popular for those seeking a porcelain tile that isn’t too large or too small. 800 x 800mm, 1200 x 600mm and larger formats are also in demand for those seeking more tile and less grout. These outdoor tiles are usually thicker than internal porcelain tiles. An internal porcelain tile is generally anything from 6mm – 10mm thickness and an outside porcelain tile is usually around 20mm in thickness.
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There are thinner porcelains for outside areas like our Docklands collection where the same tile can be used inside and outside in 9mm thickness. These thinner porcelain tiles must be installed onto a fully cured concrete bed with the correct tile adhesive and grouts.
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Thicker 20mm porcelain tiles are also ideally installed onto a fully cured concrete bed, however, 2cm porcelain pavers can also be installed onto compacted hardcore with the right tile adhesives etc or pedestals, or directly onto grass or gravel.
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Correct installation of your external tiles is crucial for longevity and to ensure tiles perform outdoors so we would always recommend hiring a professional installer.
This stand-out material is highly resistant to chipping and cracking giving you a hardwearing and highly durable canvas for your outdoor area. It is also highly scratch resistant meaning it can take the thrills and spills of every-day wear and tear in its stride. Also, unlike some natural stones, it won’t wear in well-trodden paths so it will maintain that flush appearance for many years to come.
Porcelain tiles are both frost and fade resistant. As a material porcelain has very little water absorption – less than 0.5% – and that makes it great for outdoor spaces. Add to that fade resistance and come rain, snow or shine, your porcelain tiles will continue to look amazing for years to come. Â
With the exception of a very dank, dark corner of the garden with overhanging trees and little daylight, porcelain naturally inhibits the growth of mould or moss on the tile surface making it easy to maintain.
Whilst it’s always advisable to mop up spillages quickly, as we have already discovered porcelain has a porosity level of less than 0.5%. That makes a porcelain tile highly stain resistant so an ideal canvas for kitchen and dining areas.
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For outdoor areas, porcelain tiles come in textured finishes that offer a higher slip rating than for indoor spaces. This means they are a great choice for patios or garden paths as well as swimming pools. Antislip porcelain tiles are rated R11 A+B+C or above for outdoor areas and these higher rated antislip tiles can be used for everything from that sweeping patio to pathways.
Porcelain tiles are specifically designed to mimic other materials. Whether you are looking to create a contemporary concrete or cement look, a marble oasis, a warm and inviting wooden canvas or a stunning stone floor, porcelain can give you the look you want for your outdoor area. And you have all the performance benefits of this superior material. That’s because unlike real wood porcelain tiles won’t warp or bend in wet conditions and unlike natural stone or marble porcelain tiles don’t need sealing or regular ongoing maintenance.
Porcelain is very easy to clean. It doesn’t require any ongoing regular sealing. Following installation an initial clean should take place to remove all the excess grout and dirt from the tile surface. This ensures that your tiles are easy to look after in the future. For more information click here.
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One of the huge advantages of porcelain tiles is they can be used both inside and outside the home.
All our 2cm porcelain pavers for outside areas have a co-ordinating 9mm tile for internal areas too so you can run the same look tile across both spaces. 9mm internal tiles are usually in a matt finish for inside spaces. The external paver looks the same but has an additional layer of frit on the surface to give the tile more grip. And of course, in most cases the outside tile is thicker as we have already discovered.Â
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Click here to view our 2cm porcelain paver collection.
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The fact that porcelain tiles are fade resistant means you can easily run the same tile across ground floor areas and up to large glazed areas and then continue outside with a co-ordinating paver without the worry that internal tiles near windows will fade.
So, are porcelain tiles good for outdoors? It’s a resounding yes, they are an excellent option because they are durable, weather resistant, hardwearing and beautiful to look at. They are a smart choice for low maintenance external areas whether you are creating a small courtyard area, a sweeping patio, designing a pool area or simply want a beautiful pathway.
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The TilePortfolio specialise in Italian and Spanish Porcelain and Ceramic tiles, in particular large format Porcelains and Porcelain tiles for inside and outside. Our carefully curated, stunning tile portfolios are beautifully presented online and supported by our fuss-free ‘go-the-extra-tile’ service. In addition, you can view our entire tile collection at our Northamptonshire Showroom. Visit our website for unmissable interiors inspiration. The TilePortfolio team are always available to chat, we’d be delighted to help with your project so please do get in touch.Â
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Please note: We strongly recommend using a professional tiler for your project. Installation requirements may vary depending on the tiles you choose, the fixing products used and the specific conditions. Always check with your tiler regards the suitability of the tiles. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.
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