Porch tiles are an effective way to add beauty and durability to your relaxing outdoor space.
With so many porch tile design and texture options, you can easily transform your porch into a most attractive feature of your home.
Tiling outdoors has occurred for centuries, even in climates with dramatic weather changes.
Any outside area to include decks can be tiled given you gave a suitable substrate (or base).
Travertine Tile Installed On Screen Porch Floor - photo courtesy of The Porch Company
Between tile textures, finishes, and colors, choosing the right outdoor tiles for your home might be a little perplexing.
Mary and I want to make your decision easier by giving you ideas to consider whether you are hiring a contractor or doing it yourself.
Outdoor porch tiles need to withstand all kinds of weather conditions and need to have both density and durability
to handle foot traffic and furniture that will be moved across the tile's surface.
In addition, you don't want tile upon which you can slip when wet.
Above all else, your selected tile must be rated for outdoor use.
Outdoor Porch Tile Selection Criteria
Before starting your tile project, please consider the advice given to us by a trusted friend:
1) If on a slab on grade, and assuming you are using a non-porous tile like porcelain - tiles "sweat" when the ground is cooler than the air (which is every day in the summer).
2) If elevated - and if building on a wood frame - your frame must be very stiff to avoid as much movement as possible. Tile and grout do not like to move.
Although similar, not all porch tiles are equal in durability, texture, and density.
Therefore, it is important to understand your options.
Outdoor Tile Finishes
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Outdoor tile finishes range from natural, matte, glassed to polished.
Consider these finish characteristics:
Porch Tiles Enhance the Beauty of Your Home
Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles (referral link) have a glass layer that is easy to clean and is non-absorbent.
They come in matte, glossy and textured.
Gloss tiles obviously have a shiny coating and a reflective surface.
They are more ideal for kitchen or bathroom walls and back splashes.
Matte finish tiles are non-reflective and create a more traditional appeal.
They are slip resistant and are ideal as a porch tile.
Textured finished tiles have the best anti-slipping ability and are ideal as porch tiles.
Honed tiles may be glazed or unglazed and have satin surfaces. They are very scratch resistant.
Outdoor Porch Tile Materials
Porch tiles can be made from granite, concrete, stone, ceramic, porcelain, and marble.
It is to your advantage to choose a material that requires little maintenance, can be repaired or replaced easily without having to deconstruct your entire floor.
Small chips or cracks can usually be repaired using a sealant type caulk in most cases.
Natural stone tiles (like travertine), irregular textured tiles, and concrete tiles are better suited for outdoor applications as they have natural anti-slip surfaces.
Travertine can be on the expensive side but are very durable and have a sophisticated appeal.
They are very suitable for high traffic areas.
Concrete tiles are definitely durable and some in many different colors. You can also arrange them in a wide variety of designs.
Porcelain tiles are more dense than other tile types and also are ideal for outdoor use.
Both porcelain and ceramic tiles are made from clay; however, porcelain is made from refined clay and fired at a higher temp making it more dense and durable.
Best options may be terracotta style tiles like Saltillo Mexican tiles.
It is made from clay and comes in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.
Another good option are textured Manganese.
If you choose a tile that does not have a natural anti-slip component, you can coat your tiles with an anti-slip product (referral link) like Slip Guard.
Interlocking deck tiles are another option you might want to consider.
These can normally be laid over concrete or wood, are extremely easy to install, and come in a wide variety of colors and styles.
See our interlocking deck tile section.
If you are not completely confident in your skills, get help from someone in your area who is well versed in laying exterior tiles in your geographical area.
If you are actively wanting to hire a contractor to assist you, then
visit here to help you find a local professional.
Tiled Outdoor Patio in Black and White
As you can see, porch tiles offer many options and are fairly easy to install. See more porch flooring options and ideas below.
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches.
You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.
At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites.
See our disclosure policy.
We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information.
All content here is solely for presenting ideas.
We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project.
We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here.
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches.
You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.
At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites. See our disclosure policy. We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information.
All content here is solely for presenting ideas. We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project.
We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here.
