Can Ceramic Tile Be Used Outside

They can be used and have been used.

Can ceramic tile be used outside.

Not only does tile offer a range of colors and designs unmatched by any other material it s also amazingly tough. Ceramic in this case means fired clay. When thinking about using porcelain tiles outdoors there are a number of important considerations to take into account. 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.

Concrete tiles are durable and colorful and can stand up to high porch traffic. They can be laid out in a multitude of design styles. In places like italy and mexico you can find exterior tile in good condition despite centuries of wear and tear. 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.

These substrates must be structurally sound meet deflection requirements and meet on plane requirements. We recommend at least 1 8 grout joints and higher quality colorfast cement based grout with a grout additive to protect it from stains. Porcelain tiles are considerably denser than many other types. The idea of porcelain often conjures images of delicate ornate teacups and china that people only bring out on special occasions.

For this very reason when contemplating the use of tile for an outdoor area porcelain is the appropriate tile to consider. Suitable for outdoor use. Terracotta stoneware and porcelain are all ceramics. It has been used outside for thousands of years.

Glaze or glazed it is still ceramic. However porcelain in tile form has many qualities that make it ideal for use outside. Just a note on terminology. 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.

There are large numbers of buildings that are clad in terracotta tile. Generally speaking though ceramic tile is best suited for light use patios since it will not be as strong as other choices. Firstly and very importantly porcelain tiles have different grades and you will need to check that your chosen tiles are grade 5 i e. 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.

For about 6 000 years builders have been using ceramic tile outdoors on buildings walkways even streets.