Wondering which outdoor tiles are best for your patio, garden, pool or terrace? Our guide will explore various types of outdoor tiles, highlight their benefits, and offer advice on choosing and maintaining them.
Our Parisian Cafe Porcelain Tri Black make striking garden tiles in a classic design. With inspiration taken from traditional encaustic tiles in Paris, this monochrome design adds a striking backdrop in this garden with a contemporary matt finish
What to consider
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Outdoor tiles enhance aesthetics and durability for patios and gardens, offering style, low maintenance, and long-lasting features.
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Popular materials for outdoor tiles include porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone, each with unique advantages in design, durability, and maintenance requirements.
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Choosing the right design and color for outdoor tiles is crucial in creating a cohesive and appealing space that reflects personal style while ensuring functionality for weather conditions.
Benefits of outdoor tiles
Our Sardinia Porcelain Dragonetti tiles have been inspired by the Mediterranean famed Maiolica' tiles, which feature hand-painted designs. This Italian style will instantly add a vibrant finish to your outside space
Outdoor tiles are an excellent choice for enhancing outdoor spaces due to their style, durability, low maintenance, and long-lasting features. The right outdoor floor tiles can transform patios, terraces, and gardens into inviting extensions of your living space. They offer a perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality, making them ideal for any outdoor setting.
One of the standout benefits of outdoor tiles is their durability. For example, porcelain outdoor tiles are highly resistant to cracking, even in extreme weather conditions, ensuring they remain intact and beautiful over the years. Their resistance to fading ensures that vibrant colours remain true even under constant sunlight. This durability makes them a wise investment for enhancing outdoor areas.
These tiles also offer aesthetic versatility by mimicking natural materials like stone and wood, creating a cohesive look that blends seamlessly with your garden or patio’s natural surroundings. This significantly elevates the overall ambiance of outdoor spaces.
Popular materials for outdoor tiles
Selecting the right material for outdoor floor tiles significantly impacts their performance and appearance. Popular choices include porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone tiles, each offering unique benefits and aesthetic possibilities. Understanding their characteristics is key to making an informed decision.
Our Portare Southdown Porcelain Paving Textured collection offers you the luxury of a concrete-effect patio with easier installation. Made from lighter weight porcelain, this style sits just as well around a swimming pool and on a patio as it does in a kitchen or hallway
Outdoor porcelain tiles
Porcelain tiles are a top choice for many homeowners due to their impressive durability and resistance to harsh weather conditions. The outdoor tiles are designed to withstand extreme temperatures without cracking or fading, making them ideal for patios and garden paths. Their low water absorption rate further enhances their suitability for outdoor use, ensuring they remain unaffected by frost and rain.
Compared to stone tiles, porcelain tiles require significantly less maintenance. They do not need sealing and are easy to clean, which is a considerable advantage for busy homeowners. Their availability in various finishes and styles allows you to achieve the perfect look for your outdoor space, whether you prefer a modern or traditional aesthetic.
Additionally, porcelain outdoor tiles are incredibly versatile. They can be used in various outdoor areas, including balcony, gardens, and terraces, providing a uniform look across different spaces. Their frost-resistant properties give you peace of mind, knowing that your tiles will remain in perfect condition even during the coldest months.
Ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiles are another excellent option for outside, known for their resilience and wide range of design options. These tiles are durable and weather-resistant, ensuring they maintain their appearance over time, even when exposed to the elements. Their hard-wearing nature makes them suitable for high-traffic areas like patios and terraces.
One of the key benefits of ceramic tiles is the variety they offer. Available in numerous designs, colours, and finishes, ceramic tiles allow homeowners to personalise their outside space to match their unique style. Whether you prefer a sleek, modern look or a classic, rustic feel, ceramic tiles can help you achieve your desired aesthetic.
Moreover, ceramic tiles often come with slip-resistant finishes, which is crucial for safety, especially in wet conditions. This feature makes them an excellent choice for outdoor spaces where water exposure is a concern, such as around pools or on terraces. Their elegant finish not only enhances the visual appeal but also adds a layer of practicality to your outside areas.
Stone tiles
Natural stone tiles, such as granite and travertine, are renowned for their unique, rustic appearance and exceptional durability. These tiles can withstand the test of time, providing a robust and attractive surface for outdoor areas. Their natural beauty adds a touch of elegance to any garden or patio, making them a popular choice for homeowners looking to create a timeless outside space.
The rustic charm of real stone tiles makes them ideal for vintage or cottage-style homes, enhancing the garden’s natural beauty and adding to its overall charm. However, it’s essential to seal these porous tiles to protect them from moisture and staining, thereby enhancing their longevity. This maintenance step ensures that your stone tiles remain beautiful and durable for years to come.
Different types of stone tiles require specific cleaning methods to preserve their finish. For instance, using gentle, stone-safe cleaners is vital to avoid damaging the surface. If you follow proper maintenance routines, you can keep your real stone tiles looking as stunning as the day they were installed.
Choosing the right design for your garden tiles
Our Kelmscott Coleton Porcelain range is suitable for use indoors and out. Showcased here as a decorative swimming pool surround, this design could be followed through to the kitchen for a cohesive finish
Selecting the right design for your garden tiles is important to create a cohesive and visually appealing outside space. Your choice should reflect your style preferences and the desired ambiance, allowing for various visual effects that can significantly enhance your garden’s overall look. Whether you prefer a modern, sleek design or a more rustic and traditional look, the right tiles can help you achieve your vision.
It’s essential to choose tiles that match the style of your home and garden. This harmony between indoor and outside spaces creates a seamless transition, making your outdoors feel like a natural extension of your living space. For example, using similar tiles for both your indoor and outdoor areas can foster continuity and enhance the overall aesthetic appeal.
When selecting garden tiles, consider practical aspects like suitability for outdoor use and ability to withstand your region’s weather conditions. Balancing aesthetic and functional considerations helps create a beautiful and durable outdoor space for years to come.
Colour options to enhance your outdoor space
Our Brompton Porcelain Clarence tiles suit a terrace well, especially if you want to add the wow factor to a compact space. Here, in this high walled garden, this beautiful, patterned design adds a pop of colour
The colour of your outdoor tiles plays a significant role in enhancing the overall aesthetic of your garden. With a wide range of colour options available, from bold blacks to soft whites, you can choose hues that complement your design style. Neutral tones like silver grey and beige are popular choices for creating a calming and sophisticated atmosphere in your garden or patio.
Bright colours can also be an excellent choice for outdoor tiles, especially if you want to create a vibrant and lively ambiance. These colours can add a pop of excitement to your outdoors, making them more inviting and enjoyable. The right colour can transform your outside space, making it a true reflection of your personality and style.
The right colours for outdoor tiles enhance aesthetics and create the desired ambiance. Lighter colours can make a small space feel larger and more open, while darker shades add depth and sophistication. Exploring various colour options helps you find the perfect hue to enhance your outdoor space and suit your preferences.
Creative ideas for outdoor tiling projects
Our Alabone Indigo tiles are made from iridescent glass for a statement aesthetic in a pool, spa or shower area. The mosaics offer a captivating blue sheen with a super smooth finish
When it comes to outdoor tiling projects, the possibilities are endless. One creative idea is to use tiles that mimic natural materials such as stone and wood, offering aesthetic versatility while maintaining the durability needed for outdoor environments. These tiles can enhance the connection between your garden and the natural surroundings, creating a harmonious and inviting atmosphere.
Incorporating patterned tiles is another way to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your outdoors. Patterned tiles can add a touch of elegance and personality to terraces and balconies, making them stand out. You can also combine different tile sizes and shapes to create unique and personalised designs for your patios and decking, ensuring that your outside space reflects your unique style.
For a more robust and industrial look, consider using concrete effect tiles. These tiles are perfect for enhancing garden areas like patios and terraces, providing a strong and stylish surface. Additionally, using lighter tiles for outdoor walls can create an airy and open feel, particularly appealing during the summer months.
By experimenting with different textures, patterns, and colours, you can bring your outdoor spaces into stunning and functional areas of any size that you can enjoy year-round, giving you the opportunity to appreciate nature’s beauty and find inspiration in love and life outdoors under the sun.
Essential tips for outdoor tile installation
Only available now while stocks last, our Deckchair Porcelain Rainbow tiles will be sure to make a strong statement on a patio. Bang on-trend featuring stripes, which create a pretty colourful pattern, these tiles have a matt finish and an R10 slip rating
Installing outdoor tiles requires careful planning and the right materials to ensure a durable and long-lasting result. Using special materials like outdoor tile adhesive and grout is essential for a secure installation. These materials are designed to withstand outdoor conditions, ensuring that your tiles remain firmly in place despite exposure to the elements.
One of the most important aspects of outdoor tile installation is choosing the correct sub-base. A solid base, such as a concrete screed or hardcore base, is crucial as it affects the type of adhesive and materials required for installation. Planning your tile layout in advance by dry laying the tiles can also prevent costly mistakes and ensure a smooth installation process.
Safety is another critical consideration during installation. Many outdoor tiles are designed with anti-slip properties to enhance safety, especially in wet conditions. For example, porcelain tiles have a slip resistance rating of R11, making them suitable for wet outdoor conditions. Additionally, having assistance when installing heavy outdoor tiles can reduce strain and ensure proper placement.
Following these tips ensures a beautiful and durable outdoor tile installation.
Maintaining your outdoor tiles
Our Sardinia Porcelain Tarricone tiles offer you a slice of the Mediterranean in the comfort of your outdoor space. This is simply another colour-way from the Srdinia collection, which offers a nod back to 'Maiolica' tiles, which tend to feature elaborate hand-painted effects
Maintaining outdoor tiles is relatively simple due to their low maintenance requirements. Regular cleaning prevents dirt and organic growth from damaging the tiles’ surface. Sweeping the tiles regularly minimises dirt accumulation and reduces the need for deep cleaning, keeping your outside space looking pristine.
For heavily soiled tiles, using a pressure washer on a low setting can effectively clean the surface without causing damage. It’s also important to use appropriate cleaning solutions, especially for porous materials like natural stone, to avoid harmful effects. Immediate attention to spills can prevent long-lasting damage and maintain the appearance of your tiles.
Natural stone tiles require regular maintenance to preserve their finish, including sealing to protect them from moisture and staining. By following these maintenance tips, you can ensure that your outdoor tiles remain attractive and durable, providing a beautiful and functional surface for your outdoor spaces for years to come.
The best way to enhance your garden
Outdoor tiles offer an excellent way to enhance your patios and gardens, providing both style and durability. From the benefits of different materials like porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone tiles to choosing the right design and colour options, we’ve covered everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
By following the creative ideas for outdoor tiling projects and essential tips for installation and maintenance, you can create a stunning and long-lasting outside space that you’ll love. So go ahead, explore the world of outdoor tiles, and transform your outdoors into beautiful and inviting extensions of your home.
Don't forget to spruce up outside paths now that the weather's warmer. Our Dorchester Black and Dover White ceramic tiles are proving extremely popular if you want to add a classic touch to a period or contemporary property
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