From the Floors Up
  • Hard Flooring
  • Carpet
  • Tile & Stone
  • Hints & Tips
  • Design & Decorating
  • Maintenance
  • News
  • About

Outdoor Tile – Reader Question

July 6, 2009 By creatingyourspace 2 Comments

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.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Ceramic/Porcelain, Q & A, Tile & Stone Tagged With: outdoor tile, outside tile, porcelain tile

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive new post notifications via email.

Categories

  • Carpet (58)
    • Area Rugs (18)
  • Design & Decorating (457)
    • Color of The Year (4)
    • Do It Yourself (DIY) Projects (11)
    • Featured Designer (8)
    • Holidays (6)
    • Inspiration (119)
    • Interior Finishes (74)
    • Outdoor Living (23)
    • Seasonal & Holiday (29)
    • Small Spaces (7)
    • Style Quizzes (1)
    • Walls (13)
  • Hard Flooring (89)
    • Hardwood / Laminate (38)
    • Linoleum (2)
    • Specialty Flooring (5)
    • Vinyl / Resilient (4)
  • Hints & Tips (227)
  • Kitchen & Bath (132)
    • Backsplashes (7)
    • Countertops (14)
    • Lighting (17)
  • Maintenance (40)
  • News (135)
    • Featured (38)
    • Guest Post (18)
    • Monthly Recaps (5)
    • Promotions (2)
    • Q & A (26)
  • Seasonal (4)
  • Tile & Stone (64)
    • Ceramic/Porcelain (35)
    • Grout & Setting Materials (1)
  • Uncategorized (62)

Recent Comments

  • creatingyourspace on How to Remove Stains from a Concrete Driveway
  • Micheal on How to Remove Stains from a Concrete Driveway
  • Josh on Pro’s and Con’s of Hardwood Floors | Part One
  • Christian Myers on Why We Love Laminate Flooring For The Kitchen
  • Iowa City Concrete on How to Remove Stains from a Concrete Driveway

Recent Posts

  • Three Bathroom Problems Solved
  • Tips for Clearing Clutter
  • 5 Remodeling Projects To Take On Before the Holiday
  • Bathroom Remodel Advice
  • Choosing the Perfect Bathroom Tile

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!

Recent Comments

  • creatingyourspace on How to Remove Stains from a Concrete Driveway
  • Micheal on How to Remove Stains from a Concrete Driveway
  • Josh on Pro’s and Con’s of Hardwood Floors | Part One
  • Christian Myers on Why We Love Laminate Flooring For The Kitchen
  • Iowa City Concrete on How to Remove Stains from a Concrete Driveway

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive new post notifications via email.

Copyright © 2023 From the Floors Up · Log in