Retailers that offer tiles for exposed outdoor applications often sell a rather bewildering array of products, including some you may not have considered for outdoor use. Your determination of the right product depends a great deal on your climate and application. For example, an unsealed sandstone tile that is perfectly appropriate in the bone-dry climate of Arizona is not at all suitable for the damp climate of Maine, where freezing winter temperatures are routine.
Cost Considerations
Estimating the costs of a tile patio is difficult given the enormous range of materials available and the differences in labor costs from one region to another. Natural averages, however, show the following:
Clay tile (porcelain, ceramic, quarry): Materials can range from $2 to $30 per square foot; labor can range from $4 to $14 per square foot. Natural stone tile: Materials can range from $5 to $35 per square foot; labor ranges from $8 to $20 per square foot. Less expensive choices are sandstone, limestone, and travertine; more expensive options are soapstone, granite, and slate. Synthetic and wood tile: Costs for plastic, rubber, or carpet tiles average about $3 per square foot; most people install these materials themselves. Wood decking tiles average $8 to $12 per square foot, with composite decking tiles running about $4 to $8 per square foot.
Below, we’ll break down the ins and outs of each type of tile and the factors you should consider when choosing which is best for you and your patio. Slate is one of the better choices for natural stone in outdoor patio locations. Slate is a metamorphic rock formed under great heat and pressure. It is very hard and durable, and also very resistant to water. And unlike some other natural stones, you can select a product with a natural texture that prevents it from being as slippery as some other natural stone. Many people think of slate as a dark gray or black stone, but it is actually available in a variety of colors, including purple, green, and orange. Yet another natural stone sometimes used for patios, granite is an igneous mineral created as liquid volcanic magma cools. Its composition is usually dominated by quartz. Granite is a high-end, premium paving material, but it has certain drawbacks when used outdoors. Granite tile is usually highly polished, which can make it slippery when wet. And it is a relatively porous stone compared to other forms of tile; it will need to be sealed regularly to prevent staining and water penetration. Granite tile is not difficult to install over a previously paved surface, but cutting it (and other natural stone) is best done with a wet saw, available at rental centers. Limestone is a sedimentary rock consisting mostly of carbon-based remnants of marine life compressed over millions of years. It’s not uncommon to spot minuscule fossils in limestone—sometimes even in paving tiles. Limestone has been a favorite construction material for millennia, thanks to its relative abundance and ease of fabrication. Most limestone is found in various shades of tan, brown, red, or gray, and the lighter colors are especially good at reflecting heat. Limestone is a softer stone than slate or granite and thus can be rather easily scratched or chipped. And it needs to be regularly sealed to prevent stains. It is more appropriate for patios in dry climates and not well suited to regions with harsh winters. Sandstone is another sedimentary rock, even softer than limestone and subject to the same limitations. It forms from layers of sands compressed over time and has a beautiful texture. Sandstone is quite soft and vulnerable to scratching, and it needs to be regularly sealed to prevent staining and water penetration. This is another stone best suited for patios in dry climates without winter freeze-thaw cycles. But it is usually considerably cheaper than limestone and other natural stone tiles. Sandstone is another one of the natural stone products available in irregular slabs for outdoor paving in sand-set installations. Travertine is a form of natural sedimentary stone with beautiful texture and color. Considered a form of limestone, this stone is mined around natural mineral spring deposits. Although very attractive and hard, it has a slightly pitted surface that may collect dirt unless it is polished smooth. And highly polished travertine can be very slippery when wet. The quality of travertine varies considerably, depending on where it was quarried. For patio use, travertine from Turkey or Italy is regarded as a more water-resistant choice than stone from Mexico or China. Named for its smooth, silky texture, soapstone is a non-porous natural stone that is quite resistant to water and staining. It has high heat resistance, making it useful in very hot climates. It is an excellent stone to use around swimming pools and also performs well in wet, freezing climates. Soapstone is often thought to be a black or dark gray stone, but it also comes in shades of green and bluish-gray. Soapstone tiles can be harder to find than other forms of natural stone; ordering from specialty retailers or online sources may be necessary. These are not often stocked by chain tile shops. Despite the name, quarry tile is not mined from natural quarries but is instead a kind of hybrid artificial stone made from a very dense type of unglazed clay combined with pulverized natural minerals and fired to create a hard product—much the way that traditional bricks are formed. These are extremely strong tiles that function very well as a paving material for patios. In fact, this form of tile was created specifically for outdoor use in courtyards and patios. Unlike ceramic and porcelain tiles, quarry tiles are available in a limited range of colors, including red, brown, or gray. Quarry tiles provide a Mediterranean look that is much prized by many homeowners. Even though they are usually unglazed, quarry tiles have good resistance to water, and their texture prevents them from being slippery when wet. Quarry tile is not a great choice for climates where winters are dominated by freezing temperatures. It is also somewhat notorious for being easy to stain unless regularly sealed. In the right climate, though, this is one of the best patio choices. And it works very well as a flooring surface for sunporches in any climate. Traditional ceramic floor tiles can be an acceptable choice for outdoor patios, provided they carry a PEI rating indicating sufficient strength. They are made from clay fired at high temperatures and glazed to create a hard surface layer. Generally speaking, though, ceramic tile is best suited for light-use patios, since it will not be as strong as other choices. If you do choose ceramic tile, make sure it is a floor tile sturdy enough for patio use; ceramic tiles marketed as wall tile are never strong enough for floor or patio use. Like porcelain tile, material costs vary widely for ceramic tile, though they tend to be somewhat cheaper than porcelain and a lot less expensive than natural stone. Make sure to select porcelain tile with a textured, matte surface; shiny, smooth tiles can be extremely slippery when wet. Porcelain tile is a particularly dense and strong form of ceramic, made from finer clays fired at higher temperatures than standard ceramic tiles, so most porcelain tiles rated for flooring use can also work in many patio applications. The best choices will be textured, matt tiles without a high gloss surface that will be slippery when wet. Most porcelain tiles are thick and sturdy enough to use on floors, but make sure your product is rated for such use. Prices vary quite widely for porcelain tile, but they are usually more expensive than standard ceramic tiles but more affordable than natural stone. Porcelain tiles can be fabricated to mimic the look of marble, granite, and other materials—even wood or metal—thus, they offer great design flexibility. For the look of natural stone at a fraction of the cost, consider concrete tiles, which are molded from poured concrete and given textures and colors to resemble natural stone or high-end ceramic tile. Most concrete tiles for patio use are textured products that are easily stained unless they are regularly sealed. These are large squares of wood or composite planking attached to backing strips, usually with interlocking edges. Usually made of weather-resistant wood such as cedar or redwood, the effect of decking tiles is that of a ground-level deck but without the need for an under-structure. These are quite easy for DIYers to install onto a concrete patio already in place, but there can be considerable preparation in leveling and flattening if you want to install them on a new site. A relatively new form of tile is represented by plastic tiles with interlocking edges. The advantage of these tiles is that the texture can guard against slips and falls, and they are easy for DIYers to install. Simply lay them out on a flat surface and interlock the edges. This is not the most elegant of patio solutions, but it can be a good—and extremely easy—way to cover an existing concrete slab patio that is in need of a touch-up. They are extremely durable and easy to remove when you need to. The tiles are perforated to allow water to drain through. Often used for sports courts and other play areas, rubber tiles are similar to plastic interlocking tiles, featuring interlocking edges that join together to form a uniform, resilient surface. Very soft rubber tiles are available for covering areas where children play. Rubber tiles can also be a good choice around pools. Installing rubber tiles is an extremely easy DIY project. For something completely different, consider carpet tiles made from indoor-outdoor carpeting. Depending on the type, the tiles may be peel-and-stick, adhered with adhesive tape, or have interlocking edges. They can be easily installed over concrete slabs, and are easy to remove should a tile need to be replaced due to staining or damage. Your best bet is to make your purchase at a store that specializes in outdoor patio tile, perhaps one that also offers installation services. Such a retailer will have a strong interest in seeing to it that your installation will hold up over time, and should steer you away from products not suitable for your application. An initial consultation with a landscape contractor who builds outdoor patios can also be helpful. Discussions with the contractor will make it clear what types of tile are most appropriate for your situation. Whether or not you choose to buy services from the contractor, you will come away with a good understanding of your options. While many of the same considerations used for indoor tiles also affect your choice of outdoor patios tiles, there are some issues that need to be kept foremost in mind:
Strength: Unlike the tiles used for indoor walls and floors, outdoor tiles need to be particularly strong and able to withstand a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. And just how strong they need to be is dependent on the level of use you anticipate. A patio for a sedate retired couple calls for different materials than for a family with active children throwing play equipment around. Budget: A patio can be quite an expansive space, and covering it with luxury tile can cost far more than tiling a smaller indoor space, such as a bathroom. For this reason, the cost is a very important factor when choosing a patio tile. The range in price can be enormous, from as low as $1 per square foot for a material such as carpet tiles or basic ceramic tile to $50 per square foot to have a high-end slate or soapstone patio installed. Style: Outdoor patios must blend in with the overall looks of the landscape and the architectural features and materials of the house. Choose materials with colors and textures that are consistent with the overall look of your property. Texture and slip resistance: The texture and “slipperiness” of a tile are far more important in outdoor applications than for indoor tiles. Moisture is often inherent on an outdoor patio, and the tile texture must provide some “tooth” that keeps users from slipping. Non-slip surfaces are critical for outdoor tiles, and some material choices are eliminated for this reason. The texture of the patio surface can also affect your choice of patio furniture. Weather conditions: If you live in an area exposed to the cycle of freezing and thawing, you will need an outdoor patio tile that can withstand extreme changes in temperature. Porcelain, for example, has a very low water absorption rate, while sandstone is fairly porous. If water is absorbed by a piece of tile and that water then freezes, the process can crack your tile or break the joints between the tile. Light exposure: Although it’s not often recognized, the amount of sunlight a patio gets has an impact on the best tile to choose. Bright, sunny spaces call for darker tiles, while dim, shady areas should be tiled with a brighter material that lightens up the space. DIY-friendliness: While any of these tiles can be installed by DIYers with moderate skills and some energetic ambition, some are more amenable than others. Natural stone, for example, is quite heavy and difficult to cut, while other options such as deck tiles, rubber, or interlocking plastic are a breeze to install. In general, any DIYer familiar with indoor tile installation can also install a tile patio, though the methods and materials may be slightly different.
