Are porcelain tiles good for patios?

This is a robust, durable material

Porcelain tiles are super strong. Because they are made from a mix of clay and minerals fired at high temperatures, they are very robust and highly resistant to wear and tear. This makes them ideal for outdoor kitchen or dining spaces and well used areas.

Porcelain tiles are water and weather resistant

With porcelain you have the best of both worlds. Not only is this material water resistant and therefore frost proof, it is also fade resistant, so come rain, shine or even frost and snow, porcelain tiles can cope with the weather.

Porcelain surface finishes

Porcelain tiles come in a host of different finishes such as matt, natural, polished and more. In addition, for outside tiles, porcelain tiles are available in antislip finishes providing more grip than an internal tile.

Porcelain tiles are pretty easy to look after

This really is a low maintenance material. Porcelain tiles don’t require any sealing and can easily be cleaned. For external tiles a sweep with a good stiff brush and a little water if necessary will clear away most of the loose debris. There are also specially formulated cleaners for patio tiles that can help keep your tiles in tip top condition. The good news is that with the exception of a very dank, dark corner, porcelain tiles naturally inhibit the growth of mould or moss on the surface

Porcelain tiles are highly scratch and stain resistant

Another great reason to choose porcelain for outdoor patio areas is the fact they are not only durable, they are also highly scratch and stain resistant. Another reason they are also pretty easy to look after.

Tile designs

And of course, let’s not forget tile design. Porcelain tiles are designed specifically to mimic other materials and high-quality porcelain tiles do this in spades. There are some very clever tile innovations around design with tiles now echoing materials such as wood with ultra realism. You will find porcelain tiles that look like stone, marble, metallics, concrete, cements, woods and more. And it’s not only great design. Many of the tiles at the forefront of innovation have high numbers of patterns – gone are the days of just 2 or 3 marble patterns per tile, now collections can house 30, 40 or 50 different patterns and all that makes tiles more realistic than ever before.

Of course, the whole point of this is you are combining a superbly hardwearing material, with great design, low maintenance and great cost. What’s not to like?

So, are there any drawbacks with using porcelain tiles for our patio? Well cost is a consideration. Porcelain may be a little more expensive than a typical patio paver, but design, low maintenance and durability often make up for this. And porcelain tiles ideally require a solid concrete base for installation and to ensure that flush space continues to look beautiful.