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The Beginner’s Guide To Choosing The Perfect Outdoor Tiles

February 20, 2024

If you are considering upgrading your outside space with some tiling, it can be easy to get carried away with beautiful images of pristine poolsides and so on, especially if you are prone to browsing on sites such as Pinterest. However, it’s important to consider the practicalities of the material as well as the aesthetics.

There is so much choice when it comes to outdoor tiles, especially in recent years when there has been a huge upsurge in garden design trends. We now see our back gardens as extensions of our homes; spaces where we eat, relax, socialise and even work. Therefore it’s natural to want stylish and practical flooring for patios, paths, and terraces.

At one time, the choice was confined to concrete pavers, expensive natural stone slabs made from granite or sandstone, timber, or brick. However, a more contemporary choice are outdoor porcelain tiles. These are tiles that are typically twice the thickness of indoor tiles, and are extremely durable. Here are some of the benefits of outdoor tiles.

 

A wide range of styles

The beauty of porcelain tiles is that they can be manufactured to resemble other materials, due to fine details of texture and colour. For example, they can be convincing replicas for Indian sandstone, or other natural stone such as granite, slate, limestone or marble. 

This gives you all the beauty and charm of a natural stone appearance without the expense and effort of maintaining natural stone, which is a porous material that requires regular sealing. Porcelain is much more moisture resistant and less prone to cracking, fading or staining. It’s also much more affordable than natural stone.

The style is not just limited to imitation stone however. Porcelain tiles can also be manufactured to resemble wood in a range of shades such as grey or brown. This brings the attractive warmth of wood to your outdoor space, without the associated hassle of keeping it waterproofed and free from moss and mildew discolouration. 

No matter how well you look after outdoor wooden flooring, the British climate can take its toll and it takes a lot of effort to extend its lifespan. Porcelain tiles are glazed and easy to keep clean, and far more resistant to rain, frost, and general wear and tear than real wood. 

If you prefer the industrial look of concrete, porcelain tiles can also be manufactured to resemble weathered or smooth concrete for a contemporary feel. This can provide a more hard-wearing alternative to real concrete, because porcelain is more water resistant and less prone to cracking.

 

Choosing the right outdoor tiles for your space

Porcelain tiles are very versatile, and will suit almost any situation in your garden. Therefore your main consideration should be the overall appearance and effect that you want to achieve with the tiles. Consider the size of the space. Larger tiles can help to make a small back yard feel bigger, while smaller tiles can create areas of interest in larger gardens.

The anti-slip properties of the tile may be another factor to consider, particularly if they are intended for a poolside or pathway. Gritty textured finishes provide good slip-resistance, but don’t just judge on this alone. The tiles should have an anti-slip rating regardless of the apparent smoothness or roughness of the finish.

If you will be walking barefoot on the tiles around a pool for example, you may want to consider a flatter matt texture that still has a good slip resistance.

Yet another advantage of outdoor porcelain tiles is that they can be blended seamlessly with indoor tiles to create a sense of continuity between an indoor and outdoor space. This helps to make your home feel more spacious, especially if the level of the indoor and outdoor floors are almost the same. It’s also convenient for outdoor dining and hosting.

When choosing the colour and style of the tiles, consider how well they will complement the overall style of your home and garden. For example, if you already have a lot of wood in fencing and outbuildings, you may choose to create a sense of harmony with wood effect tiles. 

 

Maintaining outdoor porcelain tiles

While porcelain is far more stain, scratch, and water resistant than most traditional materials, it is still important to clean them every few months to keep them looking their best. Simply sweep up debris and wash with mild soap and water.

If you are looking for outdoor tiles in Hertfordshire, please visit our website today.

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