Outdoor Tile
How to Choose an Outdoor Tile
By Peter Val - Ezinearticles
When buying an outdoor tile you have to be very selective........
Tip #1: Do not purchase glazed ceramic tile.
A retail salesperson will sell you anything your willing to buy, you have to pick what makes the most sense for you. Ceramic Tile is weak and simply will not last outdoors. Think of ceramic tile as a donut with just a little frosting on the top. The top "Frosted" layer is all that separates the beautiful design from the underlying red clay. If the top layer cracks.......and it will.... you will see red spots where the glaze or "Frosting" used to be.
By Peter Val - Ezinearticles
When buying an outdoor tile you have to be very selective........
Tip #1: Do not purchase glazed ceramic tile.
A retail salesperson will sell you anything your willing to buy, you have to pick what makes the most sense for you. Ceramic Tile is weak and simply will not last outdoors. Think of ceramic tile as a donut with just a little frosting on the top. The top "Frosted" layer is all that separates the beautiful design from the underlying red clay. If the top layer cracks.......and it will.... you will see red spots where the glaze or "Frosting" used to be.
Tip # 2 Through body porcelain tile is great for outdoors.
Porcelain tiles are dense and do not scratch easily. They are extremely resistant to cold climates, which make them ideal for exterior projects. Porcelain tiles can have semi abrasive top coatings or very abrasive top coatings for extra traction. The choice is yours. Just make sure it is a through body porcelain tile. Through body means the tile will be one solid color from the top of the tile all the way to the bottom. You can check this by turning it upside down to see if the color is the same on the bottom as it is on the top. Many salespeople will also try to sell you a "glazed porcelain tile". That simply means its porcelain but the color is not through body, it is only top layer. Although it is still better than ceramic, I would still recommend through body porcelain only.
Porcelain tiles are dense and do not scratch easily. They are extremely resistant to cold climates, which make them ideal for exterior projects. Porcelain tiles can have semi abrasive top coatings or very abrasive top coatings for extra traction. The choice is yours. Just make sure it is a through body porcelain tile. Through body means the tile will be one solid color from the top of the tile all the way to the bottom. You can check this by turning it upside down to see if the color is the same on the bottom as it is on the top. Many salespeople will also try to sell you a "glazed porcelain tile". That simply means its porcelain but the color is not through body, it is only top layer. Although it is still better than ceramic, I would still recommend through body porcelain only.
Tip#3 Get a licensed contractor!
This is by far the most common mistake I see on any project. Outdoor tile can be a bit expensive.On average it costs about $4.00sf. So when people spend a little more on a better grade tile........well you know the rest. THEY CHEAP OUT ON THE LABOR! LOL. Don't do this mistake. Yes you can find a contractor who is willing to do a tile job for peanuts but that same contractor will cost you double when you have to rip everything out again and start from scratch. Spending a little more on a good contractor is money well spent in the long run. Also, avoid big box stores that are only interested in the bottom line, and therefore sell very low grade products.
This is by far the most common mistake I see on any project. Outdoor tile can be a bit expensive.On average it costs about $4.00sf. So when people spend a little more on a better grade tile........well you know the rest. THEY CHEAP OUT ON THE LABOR! LOL. Don't do this mistake. Yes you can find a contractor who is willing to do a tile job for peanuts but that same contractor will cost you double when you have to rip everything out again and start from scratch. Spending a little more on a good contractor is money well spent in the long run. Also, avoid big box stores that are only interested in the bottom line, and therefore sell very low grade products.
Tip#4 Consider the weight bearing factor:
If you are using your outdoor tile for a balcony, a typical 5/8 thick tile should be all you need. However, if you plan on putting tile in the driveway with a car on top of them..... Then you might wand to consider Paving Stones. Paving stones tiles are about 1' thick on average and will withstand many winters over if installed properly. They are basically a concrete block with some fancy patterns. I would avoid the pure concrete paving stones sold in Home Depot and Lowes. What you should look for is a paving stone with concrete mixed with granite. Again, it may cost you a few hundred dollars more, but when considering that the tile will be outside for the life of the home.... it is money well spent. You can find paving stones mixed with concrete or through body porcelain tile at
If you are using your outdoor tile for a balcony, a typical 5/8 thick tile should be all you need. However, if you plan on putting tile in the driveway with a car on top of them..... Then you might wand to consider Paving Stones. Paving stones tiles are about 1' thick on average and will withstand many winters over if installed properly. They are basically a concrete block with some fancy patterns. I would avoid the pure concrete paving stones sold in Home Depot and Lowes. What you should look for is a paving stone with concrete mixed with granite. Again, it may cost you a few hundred dollars more, but when considering that the tile will be outside for the life of the home.... it is money well spent. You can find paving stones mixed with concrete or through body porcelain tile at
Outdoor Tile
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