Patios are one of the outdoor living spaces that add the most value to your home. But before you can start setting up your furniture, water features, or fire pits, you need to install the tile floor first. Deciding on the right type of floor can be a daunting process if you don’t know what you should be looking for. That’s why we’ve put together a complete guide to choosing the best outdoor tile for your exterior tile installation below.
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What’s the Difference Between Indoor Tile and Outdoor Tile?
Indoor tile and outdoor tile differ from each other in two main ways: design and durability.
Here’s what we mean by that.
Outdoor tiles often have the appearance of stones, pavement, concrete, decking, or other outdoor elements. Moreover, outdoor tiles are designed with a more textured surface compared to indoor tiles. This creates a slip-resistant surface that’ll give you, your pets, and your patio furniture traction.
Outdoor tile is also much more durable than indoor tile. It can withstand direct sunlight and harsh weather conditions without getting damaged.
Before you start laying tile in your patio, make sure you have outdoor tile. Otherwise, your hard work won’t last very long.
Tips for Choosing the Right Outdoor Tile for Your Home
When faced with numerous outdoor tile options, the decision-making process can feel overwhelming. To simplify your selection, consider the following tips aimed at helping you choose the best outdoor tile for your home.
1. What’s Your Budget?
The first thing you have to think about when buying outdoor tile is your budget. This may limit the selection you can choose from.
For example, if you can’t spend more than $12 per square foot of material, things like high-quality natural stone tile will be out of the question.
Decide on a budget first. You’ll be more likely to remember it and stick to it if you see it in writing.
Don’t let yourself get fooled by “cheap” prices. Spending $20 per square foot might not seem like much, but it can add up fast. “A well-designed patio is one that offers lots of functionality for your favorite activities. Before you begin building or redesigning your space, sit down with a piece of paper, and write out how you want to use your patio. If you have a family that you share the space with, talk to them about outdoor activities they might be interested in doing at home if they had space. Do this early on in the design or renovation phase. That way you can craft a space that really works with clear objectives in mind.” says Isabella Caprario on her article How to Create an Indoor/Outdoor Space That’s Fun and Functional.
2. Where and How Will You Use The Tiles?
While all outdoor tiles can withstand the elements, they aren’t all built the same.
Some outdoor tiles are tougher than others. That means some outdoor tile is prone to scratches, cracks, and other damage. Make sure you get an outdoor tile that can last in your area.
You should also think about how you plan to use your tile. Do you plan to use it on a wall? Are you installing in on the ground? The answer to this question might affect the type of tile you need.
Some outdoor tile works better on walls. Other outdoor tile works better when you install it on the ground. Make sure you get the right type for your project.
3. What’s the Weather Like in Your Area?
Do you live in an area with mild weather conditions? Do you get snow in the winter? Rain in the spring? Record high heat in the summer?
You should always look for outdoor tile that can handle your specific weather requirements. A tile that can hold up to heat may not do well with snow or ice. If you get a lot of rain, your tile might need an extra grip.
Base your tile search off of the type of weather your area gets.
4. How Much Light Do You Get?
Dark tile colors can make a shady area feel dank and gloomy. Similarly, light tile colors can make a sunny area feel washed out.
To get the best visual effect, always install light colored tile in places that don’t get a lot of sun. If your patio gets a lot of direct sunlight, use darker tile instead.
5. What Is the Current Style and Color of Your Home?
Don’t choose a tile style that’ll clash with the design of the rest of your home. For example, rustic outdoor tile will look odd and out of place with a sleek, modern home. Find something that’ll complement your style rather than detract from it.
You should also think about the color. Do you want your outdoor tile to match the color of your home? If not, make sure you pick a color that will blend in with the rest of your aesthetics.
Popular Types of Outdoor Tile
Now that you have some tips for choosing the ideal outdoor tile for your home, let’s explore various options available to you. Below is a brief list highlighting some of the most popular choices for outdoor tiles.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic can handle mild weather conditions and light outdoor use, but it isn’t as strong as other types of outdoor tile. Because of this, you should only pick ceramic for covered patios or patios that don’t see a lot of extreme weather changes.
Remember, not all ceramic tile is made the same. Some types are weaker or stronger than others, so make sure you pick a durable option. Depending on what you buy, ceramic can be an affordable choice, but there is a lot of flexibility in the price range.
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Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile is dense and strong, which makes it a good choice for outdoor use. Make sure you find porcelain tile rated for the outdoors.
Indoor porcelain tile often has a glossy surface that will become very slippery if it gets wet so consider getting porcelain tiles with a textured surface.
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Quarry Tile
Quarry tile might not be suitable if you reside in an area with severe winters. It tends to deteriorate in freezing conditions and when exposed to ice.
On the bright side, rain poses no issue. Quarry tiles are water-resistant and maintain their grip even when wet. However, caution is necessary with other liquids, as this tile type is prone to staining.
In warm climates, quarry tile can be one of the best outdoor tile options for your home.
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Slate Tile
Slate is a type of natural stone (which we will see more of on this list). Slate tile is durable and strong, and it also has a natural surface texture. This means it will be slip-resistant without you having to do anything else to it.
You can find slate in a variety of colors, including dark colors like black and grey and brighter colors like green or orange.
Granite Tile
Granite, another natural stone, makes beautiful indoor countertops, but it doesn’t hold up as well outside.
Apart from being slippery, granite is also a porous material. In other words, it will absorb moisture, causing stains and other damage if you don’t seal it every few years.
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Concrete Tile
Concrete tile gives you a cheaper way to get a “natural stone” outdoor floor. Manufacturers mold the concrete tiles into the right texture and color them to make them look like natural stone. This gives your home a high-end look for a fraction of the cost.
Concrete tile is durable and can withstand harsh weather and heavy foot traffic. However, you will have to reseal it every few years.
Travertine Tile
Travertine is a natural stone that creates beautifully textured and colored tile.
This tile is hard, but it also has a pitted surface that can gather dirt over time. You can avoid this problem by polishing the surface so it’s smooth. However, if you choose to do this, it will become slippery when wet.
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Soapstone Tile
Soapstone is a natural stone with a smooth and non-porous quality. This makes it resistant to stains and other types of water damage.
Want more information on 5 Questions to Ask Your Limestone Tile Supplier Before Purchasing? Feel free to contact us.
It can also withstand high levels of heat and freezing temperatures. Because of this, soapstone is a good option for almost any climate. If you’re looking for something to surround your pool, you might want to consider soapstone.
Limestone Tile
Limestone is a soft stone, meaning it can scratch and chip easily. You also have to seal this type of tile often to prevent water damage.
Don’t install limestone in your patio unless you live in a dry, mild environment.
Sandstone Tile
While sandstone has a beautiful texture, it is even more fragile than limestone. Since this tile is made from layers of sand compressed together over time, it is soft and prone to scratches, chips, and cracks.
Water can also cause a lot of problems for sandstone. However, if you live in a dry area and seal it often, this tile can make a beautiful addition to your yard.
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Choosing the Best Outdoor Tile for Your Project
Now that you know what outdoor tile suites your project best, it’s time to start the installation process. But, before you can get to work, you need the right tools!
Top 10 FAQs at the NEC Homebuilding Show
The top ten questions that people asked about using limestone and marble in their self build projects.
Over the years that we've been exhibiting at the Home Building Shows, we've been asked a wide variety of questions about using natural stone and particularly limestone but a few come up more frequently.
Here are the most commonly asked ones.
1) Do limestone tiles work with underfloor heating?
This was this year's most commonly asked question. It shows the rise in the trend for using underfloor heating whether it's an electric or a wet system. Many modern homes are built with only underfloor heating and no longer use radiators.
All types of natural stone flooring work very well with underfloor heating. There are some things to consider, such as using anti-fracture (or de-coupling) matting to prevent cracks caused by thermal expansion. This is the case whether you use stone or ceramic or porcelain tiles. We can advise on how the substrate should be prepared to maximise efficiency and minimise running costs.
2) Can you use limestone tiles outside?
Inside/outside living is another growing trend. Many of our visitors had architect plans featuring large glass doors leading out to terrace areas with the same flooring running from inside to outside.
Many types of stone are suitable for use outside but not all so it's important to get the right advice on this. Your stone supplier should provide you with technical test data which demonstrates its suitability. There's much more information in our Guide for Landscape Designers
3) How easy is it to maintain limestone flooring?
Many people that asked this question said they lived in the country and had dogs and/or children. It's a good question and it has an easy answer. The key thing is to seal the flooring correctly during installation and we can advise on how this should be done.
The ongoing maintenance is then low, simply mop the tiles with a PH neutral detergent. The frequency for resealing depends on the amount of traffic the area receives and the cleaning regime but is usually only every few years. Specialist cleaners are available for any spot or stubborn stains. One advantage is that the grout is also sealed during the process and, as many porcelain tiles should be sealed to prevent staining, the process isn't unique to natural stone.
Click here for further information on sealing and maintenance.
If you have an existing stone floor in need of cleaning or restoration, we can put you in touch with specialists who can help.
4) Will a stone floor feel cold underfoot?
Many people's experience of stone flooring is on holiday abroad and they ask if it will feel cold when used in our cooler climate.
On a hot summer's day, a tiled floor will feel beautifully cool to walk on but on a cold winter's evening, you want a floor that feels warm and inviting. In this respect, natural stone is no different to any other hard floor covering. The answer is to incorporate underfloor heating into the design and it works really well with natural stone.
5) What size do limestone tiles come in?
Customers who buy "off the shelf" products are used to the idea of being limited to whatever size is in stock.
We source stone specifically for the project so it's more a question of what size you would like or what best suits your room size and style. There are constraints such as the maximum block size the quarries can handle and their factory processing capability but this does not normally restrict the choice of domestic tile size. The constraint is more likely to come from the practicalities of installation or the budget. Most of the quarries we work with will cut the tiles to whatever size is requested. So, you can have pretty much whatever size you want.
We're happy to advise on tile size and layout - just send us your project plans.
6) Is natural stone sustainable?
This has become an increasingly more important question for architects.
Natural stone is one of the most sustainable building materials. It is long-lasting, requires no heat or chemicals to manufacture, can be recycled if/when it reaches the end of its useful life and has no damaging impact on the environment when disposed of. Quarries can be returned to nature when they are no longer economically viable.
Amarestone was recently assessed by an independent consultancy which confirmed that we and the quarries in our supply chain operate sustainably and ethically. Here's a link to a useful article that explains more about sustainable stone.
7) Can you use marble and limestone in bathrooms?
The reason behind this question is usually that the customer is aware that limestones and marbles are porous.
The answer to the question is definitely, yes, you can use stone in bathrooms. Marble (or hard, polishable limestone) is the preferred choice for many high end bathrooms and is seen in top class hotels and private residences all over the world. The surface of the stone should be sealed with a good quality sealer to minimise the maintenance. As with any tiled bathroom, the key to a long-lasting solution is to ensure that the walls and floor are stable and fully waterproofed or tanked before the tiles are installed. There are several articles on our blog pages that explain more about natural stone in bathrooms.
8) Do you have a catalogue?
We're often asked if we have a catalogue or if all the available choices of stone are shown on our website.
The simple answer is no. We have a downloadable brochure but it is just a general guide to what we offer rather than a list of products that we supply. This is because we have access to such a huge selection of stone, from a wide range of quarries across Europe. Each stone type is available in a large selection of sizes and surface finishes and the range is constantly being added to or updated so it would be impossible for us to show all the choices available to you.
You may already know the type of stone (or even the exact stone) that you want to use but if you don't, where do you start?
Firstly, have a browse of our website. We particularly specialise in French limestone and most of the stones we deal with are described in detail there. There is also a gallery of images of completed projects to help give you some ideas and you can download our brochure.
Then just send us an or call with details of your project. We'll be happy to discuss the options with you and arrange for you to see some samples. Let us know if you have seen a stone you like for sale or installed elsewhere. We may be able to identify the stone and provide you with a quote or suggest a suitable alternative. Photos are always helpful of course.
9) Which is better, marble or limestone?
We are sometimes asked what is the difference between marble and limestone, which is better and is one more expensive than the other.
Limestone is defined as a sedimentary rock predominantly composed of calcium carbonate. Marble is defined as a metamorphic rock which has been subjected to very high temperatures and pressures resulting in a crystalline structure.
One isn't inherently 'better' than the other. The technical properties of the proposed stone should be checked against the project requirements. This is where the CE certificate is so useful. It lists out the test results for the stone and helps the specifier to determine whether or not a particular stone is fit for purpose.
The range of prices overlap with some marbles being cheaper than some limestones. It just depends on the particular material chosen.
10) What happens if I spill red wine on my new limestone floor?
This has always been a popular question whenever we exhibit at the homebuilding shows. Red wine and turmeric are widely perceived to be the villains and the potential ruin of natural stone floors.
An unsealed floor will absorb whatever liquid is spilled on it. The key to keeping the floor in pristine, clean condition is to seal the stone tiles with a good quality sealer. This will help to keep it stain free and easy to maintain. The best type of sealer impregnates into the stone and protects it from within. The video below is from one of our old blogs that shows how a good sealer can protect against staining - from coffee, in the demonstration (it was early in the day and the wine hadn't been opened!)
If you have any other questions or need expert help with your natural stone project, please call us on 260 80 70 or .
Thanks for reading.
Steve Turner
Amarestone
: 260
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