Choose an Outdoor Tile
Tip #1: Do not purchase glazed ceramic tile.
A retail salesperson will sell you anything your willing to buy, you have to pick what is best for you. Ceramic Tile simply will not last outdoors. Think of it as a donut with just a little frosting on the top. The top “Frosted” layer is all that separates the beautiful design from the underlying red clay. If the top layer cracks…….and it will…. you will see red spots where the glaze or “Frosting” used to be.
Tip # 2 Always buy through body porcelain tile for outdoors.
Porcelain tiles do not wear easily. They are extremely resistant to frost and high traffic which make them ideal for exterior projects. Some have semi abrasive coatings or very abrasive coatings on the top layer for extra traction. The choice is yours. Just make sure it is a through body tile. Through body means the tile will be one solid color from the top of the tile all the way to the bottom. You check this by turning it upside down to see if the color is the same on the bottom as it is on the top. Many salespeople will also try to sell you whats called a glazed porcelain tile. That simply means the color is not through body, it is only top layer. Although it is still better than ceramic, I would still recommend through body porcelain only.
Tip#3 Get a licensed contractor!
This is by far the most common mistake I see. Outdoor tile on average costs about $4.00sf. So when people spend a little more on a better grade tile……..well you know the rest. THEY CHEAP OUT ON THE LABOR! LOL Don’t do this mistake. Yes you can find a contractor who is willing to do a tile job for peanuts but that same contractor will cost you double when you have to rip everything out again and start from scratch. Spending a little more on a good contractor is money well spent in the long run. Also, avoid big box stores that are only interested in the bottom line and therefore sell very low grade products.
Tip#4 Consider the weight bearing factor:
If you are using your outdoor tile for a balcony, a typical 5/8 thick tile should be all you need. However, if you plan on putting the family vehicle on the tile….. Well, then you need Paving Stones. Paving stones tiles are about 1′ thick on average and will withstand many winters over if installed properly. They are basically a mixture of concrete and granite.
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