Outdoor tiling is a little different from indoor tiling. Once you are done with selecting the perfect tiles (outdoor ones, not indoor ones, a mistake that is easily made) for your outdoor, you need to consider a few more factors. The weather is one because if it’s raining or going to rain on the day that you’re planning to tile, you should give up before you even think about starting. Even if there’s the smallest chance of rain that day, don’t tile. Rain will ruin the products that you use and will make your tiling job look extremely lacklustre. 

Before you begin

Tiling outdoor necessities more attention than interior tiling. Give yourself time to complete your task with the proper materials at hand and ready to go. During this project, the last thing you want to think of is running out of grout or find out one of your tiles has cracked, and you don’t have any spares. 

Make sure that surface you are applying the tiles is even and crack-free. You won’t be able to use grout or filler to cover up every mistake, so it’s great to start when you have everything in place. 

What to remember

Remember that the tiles you’re using could react to the climate that you’re in. Hopefully, you did your research before you purchased, but if you haven’t, then now is the time because you can still exchange the tiles in-store before you use them. Some tile materials don’t work well in direct sunlight, and others are water-resistant but not great for harsh winters. 

Prepare the area that you’re tiling before you get started. Give yourself measurements and outlines to work with so that everything remains neat and uniform. The last thing you want is wonky outdoor tiling. 

Screeds

Some professionals advise laying a screed before starting your tiling project. There are definitely benefits. A screed is a thin concrete layer that can provide a smooth floor to begin tiling on. It also assures you of a strong foundation to build your tiles on, offering better durability for your outdoor tiles. This is perfect for small tiling areas like patios because there isn’t too much work involved in the process. 

After tiling

Your tiles will be exposed to the elements every day once they’ve been placed and sealed. They’ll get more stress than your indoor tiles. Once you’ve grouted your outdoor tiles in place, you will need to give them enough time to set appropriately without outside interference.

According to Tiling Sunshine Coast, the best way to allow your tiles time to set is to add a coat of sealant to both your tiles and the grout that you’ve used. Once you’ve sealed everything, try to protect the area from any bad weather if you can – just until the grout has completely hardened. 

As much as you may be willing to use your newly tiled area within a few hours of completing your project, putting pressure on the tiles before they’ve set will cause more harm than good. Give them time, preferably at least 24 hours, if possible. 

 

Outdoor tiling, a subject that’s not as confusing as you may believe. When it comes to putting down tiles on your patio, there are a few things that you would benefit from knowing before you get started. The tips and advice available here will prevent you from making any mistakes or having any issues during your newest tiling venture. 

Your patio

Patios can add a lot of worth to your home, whether you know it or not. Any extension or extra feature added to a home can easily boost its value, which is great if you’re viewing to sell your home a few years down the line. But for your home to retain that value, your patio will need to be looked after and be in amazing condition, even if it’s several years old. 

Tiling can help with that. How do you ask? Well, let us tell you!

The difference between indoor and outdoor tiling

Let’s start with the basics: The contrast between indoor tiles and outdoor tiles. 

Unfortunately, you can’t just put down any old tile in the room, extension, or garden of your home. There are specific types of tiles that work better, depending on where you’re planning on laying those tiles down. 

The two most obvious ways that indoor and outdoor tiles are different are the design of the tiles, and how durable the tiles are. 

Outdoor tiles will be more textured and will generally take on the appearance of a more natural-looking design. Whereas indoor tiles come in a larger range of shapes, sizes, and colors, etc. As mentioned, an outdoor tile will also be more durable; this means that they will be able to last longer even if there’s a lot of harsh weather. 

Before putting your patio together, you should double-check that you’ve purchased outdoor tiles and not indoor ones. 

Choosing the right tiles

You’ve found the outdoor tiling, but you’re having a hard time deciding which ones would be better for you. 

First, think about your budget. This will limit which designs and how many tiles you can afford to buy to kit out your patio area. Don’t get pulled in by special offers and cheap pricing, make sure that the number of tiles you buy meets the square footage that you need to cover at home. Going by the price, you may end up with smaller tiles that don’t cover enough of the space you’ve set out for your patio. 

Second, think about the location of your patio. Not all outdoor tiles are made to be the same and some can withstand a lot more than others. In addition, consider where the tiles will be – are you installing them on your walls or the ground? All of these factors are important. 

Third, think about the climate in your area. If you get a lot of rain, you’ll want to purchase hardier outdoor tiles that are extremely durable. Also, if it’s not very sunny where you live, you may consider buying brighter tiles to add a little light to your garden. 

Fourth, think about the style and colors you already use in your home. There should be a sense of harmony throughout your home, you don’t want your patio tiles to have clashing colors. 

Types of tile

There are plenty of different types of outdoor tiles available, too. Not just textures and colors, but the material used to make them. 

Ceramic tiles are fine for milder climates and light use. They aren’t very strong, so it’s better to lay them in a covered patio area. 

Porcelain tiles are very strong, but homeowners often accidentally purchase indoor porcelain tiles which are more abundant in tile sections of stores. 

Quarry tiles are water-resistant but don’t work well in areas where winter is harsh. 

Slate tiles are very popular because they’re a natural choice that comes in a range of colors. They’re also quite strong. 

Whatever you choose, make an informed decision!