Can Ceramic Tile Be Used Outside

In places like italy and mexico you can find exterior tile in good condition despite centuries of wear and tear.

Can ceramic tile be used outside.

These substrates must be structurally sound meet deflection requirements and meet on plane requirements. For this very reason when contemplating the use of tile for an outdoor area porcelain is the appropriate tile to consider. Not only does tile offer a range of colors and designs unmatched by any other material it s also amazingly tough. The idea of porcelain often conjures images of delicate ornate teacups and china that people only bring out on special occasions.

It has been used outside for thousands of years. Generally speaking though ceramic tile is best suited for light use patios since it will not be as strong as other choices. Suitable for outdoor use. There are large numbers of buildings that are clad in terracotta tile.

Check with the supplier or manufacturer if you are unsure and double check that they are suitable for extremes of weather if that is relevant to where you live. Terracotta stoneware and porcelain are all ceramics. However porcelain in tile form has many qualities that make it ideal for use outside. When you directly compare porcelain tile to ceramic tile you will find that the porcelain is more durable and indeed more water resistant as well making it an ideal choice for outdoor areas such as patios.

They can be laid out in a multitude of design styles. Porcelain may seem like the last material you would use for an outdoor patio or walkway. Porcelain tiles perform well under all weather conditions are easy to care for durable slip resistant and beautiful to boot. Firstly and very importantly porcelain tiles have different grades and you will need to check that your chosen tiles are grade 5 i e.

Just a note on terminology. Ceramic in this case means fired clay. For about 6 000 years builders have been using ceramic tile outdoors on buildings walkways even streets. Outside however where your tile can experience temperatures from over 100 º f to below freezing you need wide enough grout joints with flexible enough grout to give your tiles some wiggle room.

They can be used and have been used. Glaze or glazed it is still ceramic. We recommend at least 1 8 grout joints and higher quality colorfast cement based grout with a grout additive to protect it from stains. Generally ceramic porcelain or stone tile can be installed over suitable substrates in exterior locations including mortar beds over concrete slabs and directly onto concrete slabs.

When thinking about using porcelain tiles outdoors there are a number of important considerations to take into account.