From the Floors Up

The Right Tile for Home Exteriors and Patios

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Tile is a timeless and beautiful floor and wall covering. It has been being used in homes for centuries and continues to stay a staple in home improvement. Plus, there are hundreds of options available when it comes to shopping for tile. Different constructs of tiles will work best in different environments. However, no atmosphere is more demanding than your home’s exterior. In fact, the outside your home will experience extreme temperature changes and water exposure. These factors can make choosing the right tile a little more challenging. That being said, have no fear. This versatile flooring option can work in almost any environment! If you are looking to tile a patio, walkway, driveway, or anywhere else outside your home, here is what you should know:

Best Tile Option

When it comes to choosing tile for outside, you need a more durable option. While ceramic is excellent, it is not as durable as porcelain. For instance, when you install it over concrete outside, moisture is a considerable concern. Moisture can travel up through the concrete and underneath your tiles; therefore, you need to invest in a polymer-modified mortar to waterproof your concrete. This factor will give you porcelain tiles much longer longevity.

Slip-Proof

When looking for slip-resistant tiles, natural stone is your best bet. This factor makes sense because natural stone already endures nature daily. However, porcelain is still another great option yet, quarried marble, granite, or limestone are all excellent options. Do remember that some of these options will need to be sealed to protect their natural-looking finish. There is no completely slip-proof tile option, though. Remember, just because a type of flooring may be extremely slip-resistant to your bare feet, does not mean it will react the same if you are wearing heels or nonslip resistant shoes!

Grout Reminders

When choosing your outdoor grout, it is best to go with a sanded grout! Your grout lines will be traditionally larger visually with this option. It would help if you also looked into getting a grout sealer to help protect your grout from the harsh outdoor conditions.

Picking tile for outside comes down to its longevity and durability. Natural stone and porcelain are excellent options to explore. Just make sure you do not neglect your grout when preparing to invest in your patio tile or outside tile projects. For more insight on flooring, make sure to subscribe!

How to Choose Tiles for Outdoor Spaces

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Are you considering tiling your outdoor space? Whether it is a patio or another area, if you are thinking about upgrading your outdoor space by installing tiles, it is important to know that at all tiles are not created equally. So, what does that mean? According to the experts, the types of tiles that you would traditionally install in your home’s interior is not ideal for outdoors. When tiling outdoor spaces, it is essential to purchase tiles that are manufactured with materials that can stand up to outside elements.

How can you find the right tile that fits your needs? First, it is essential to conduct a detailed inspection of the area you are planning on installing the tile. Consider factors such as: 

  • Temperature
  • What Type of Grounding (Your Base)
  • Moisture Level 

Choosing the Right Type of Tile

If you enjoy the look of hardwood and want to extend it to the outside area, you should opt for wood-like tiles made from porcelain. As you may know, other flooring options other than tiles are not an ideal flooring solution for outdoor environments.

Light or Dark Tiles

Deciding what type of tile design you are going to install in an outdoor space can be challenging. If you are stuck trying to decide whether to opt for light or dark toned tiles, you should observe the area at different times throughout the day. If the area is well lit during nighttime hours and the sunny during the daytime than dark, earthy tone tiles can look great in the area. On the other hand, lighter-hued tiles, like white or cream-colored tiles, will brighten up a space making it ideal for outdoor spaces that are not well light during the day or night.

Consider Installing Natural Stone

Natural stone such as slate, limestone, and quartzite are ideal flooring choices for outdoor environments. Such flooring is made up of natural materials that easily complement the area. You can use natural stone to create a pathway to the garden, or front door, and it can really bring the design of the patio together. Authenticate the look by choosing a natural stone with colors that harmonize with your landscaping features or elements in your home’s exterior.

We hope you found these three tricks helpful. Be sure to visit us weekly for more expert advice. Thanks for reading!

Tile Adds Style

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This is a beautiful stairway that perfectly suits the home’s style. Many elements make this area of the home special: the wrought iron railings, the dramatic curve of the stairway itself, and the plants that balance that curve.

One of the more dramatic and effective elements of this stair is the warm-toned decorative tiles along the risers. The decision to add color through the tiles, using two different tile choices that coordinate while having enough style connections to complement each other, helps create a strong design impact. This would be a beautiful stairway without the tile, but adding it defines each step and increases the power and appeal of the room.

Do you have stairs in your home that could benefit from applying tile vertically on the risers? Because of tile’s weather-resistant nature, this is also an option as part of your outdoor landscaping.

If you have plain concrete steps to your front door, consider tile or stone covering the steps and decorative tile risers that coordinate with your home. You could turn an uneventful entrance into something that captures attention and makes a statement before people even enter your home.

Do you have steps, built in benches or planters on your backyard patio? Adding decorative tile along the edges that coordinate well with each other could integrate your outdoor areas while adding color and an additional design element.

Tile comes in virtually any color and style. You can choose a more neutral tile that adds a subtle touch or go wild with something that shows a strong personality. Visit our showroom to see all the possibilities.

Outdoor Tile – Reader Question

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Question:

I found a tile that I absolutely love for my kitchen and living area. How do I know if I can use that same tile outside for my outdoor kitchen? What should I consider when shopping for outdoor tile?

Answer:

Great question! Not all tiles are suitable for outdoor use, but there are many tiles that are acceptable for outdoor use.  Typically, you want to use a porcelain tile or natural stone product outside. The key is the water absorption rate. You want to make sure the absorption rate is 0.5% or less. Most tiles will let you know either on the label or the box if they can be used outside.

Another consideration is how much traffic the tile will receive. For this you want to look for the tile’s PEI rating.

The rating system is as follows:

  • PEI Class 1 Rating (No foot traffic) – Recommended for wall use in residential and commercial applications only.
  • PEI Class 2 Rating (Light traffic) – Recommended for both wall use and bathroom floor applications only.
  • PEI Class 3 Rating (Light to moderate traffic) – Recommended for countertops,  walls and floors where normal foot traffic is expected.
  • PEI Class 4 Rating (Moderate to heavy traffic) – Recommended for all residential applications as well as medium commercial and light institutional.
  • PEI Class 5 Rating (Heavy to extra heavy traffic) – Recommended for all residential as well as heavy commercial and institutional applications.

When installing tile outside, you will also want to consider the finish on the tile. The more texture a tile has the more slip resistant it will be.

Lastly, keep maintenance in mind. Tiles with more modeling and color range will do a better job of hiding dirt that can accumulate on outdoor tiles.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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