Advice For Choosing Outdoor Tiles

There are many different types of tile available and the options can be a bit bewildering, so this tiling advice should help anyone looking to buy some outdoor tiles. Not all tiles have the same properties and therefore the right type of tile should be chosen to suit your needs. Outdoor tiles need to be able to resist weather so will be different for those you might use in a bathroom or kitchen . For colder climates, they also need to be able to resist frost, and this is achieved by choosing a product that doesn’t absorb too much water (because the water freezes and expands, causing damage). The type of weather resistant tile you will need is either vitreous or impervious. A vitreous tile should absorb less than three percent of its weight in water. An impervious tile should absorb less than half a percent. Good products of these types are porcelain or natural stone (such as slate). Another attribute the tile will need (if they are being used for floor tiles) is that it should be non-slip. A smooth floor can be slippery, especially when they are wet, and therefore presents a danger. A non-slip floor will have a rougher texture such as dimples and less polished finish. The problem can also be overcome by using small tiles such as mosaic where the grouting and joins between them give grip. The amount of wear the floor will receive must also be considered. A tough glaze will be needed for extra durability on non-porcelain ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles are hard wearing and great for high traffic areas. Consider using a dark grout outdoors because muddy shoes will easily discolour white grout. The grout colour may affect your choice of tile colour to create something visually pleasing. Also, ensure your tile colours blend well with the surrounding area such as brickwork and planting. The cheapest tiles are the standard sized ceramic floor tile (30cm x 30cm). Increasing in price are the porcelain tiles and larger formats. Mosaics are also fairly expensive but you can make your own but using a tile cutter to break up larger tiles. Luxury natural stone is usually at the top end of the price scale and can also cost more to install due to the extra work involved in fixing and sealing. Note that bigger tiles will be more difficult to lay on uneven surfaces (which are found in most outdoor situations). Smaller tiles will be much easier to use.

Look for a tile supplier near you by using a geographical phrase in a search engine such as ‘tiles Bournemouth’ or ‘tiles Dorset’. You can also use Google Maps to see what companies are within travelling distance. A supplier near you will be easier to visit to see what the product actually looks like and this will help you determine whether the tiles are right for you. Don’t forget to take your outdoor tile sample outside to see what the colour looks like in natural light. The indoor lighting will give the tiles a colour cast. Outdoor tiles can create a really interesting and colourful outdoor space but they need to be the right sort of tiles if you want them to keep looking good for years to come.