Can You Use Porcelain Tiles Outside? The Best Outdoor Tiles for Irish Gardens

Introduction

Traditionally, we don’t tend to consider porcelain tiles as a suitable material for the outdoors. Whilst we might use it extensively for the tiles in our homes, we often prefer natural sandstone, limestone, or granite paving when renovating our Irish gardens.

When we think about using porcelain tiles outside, we might be tempted to wonder:

• Are porcelain tiles good for outdoors?
• Can porcelain tiles be used outside?
• Do outdoor porcelain tiles crack easily?
• Are porcelain tiles good for patios?

The list goes on. It seems like for many Irish homeowners, professional tilers, landscapers, and exterior designers, there is an uncertainty about the durability of porcelain for outdoor use.

Thankfully, we're here to dispel the myths surrounding outdoor porcelain 20mm tiles. We're here to tell you that porcelain tiles offer style, safety, and durability, making them ideal for Irish outdoor weather conditions.

Outdoor Porcelain Tiles in Exterior Design and Landscaping

In recent years 20mm-thick porcelain tiles have become a more and more popular choice for patios, driveways, porches, garden paths and more.

Homeowners across Ireland – from Dublin city centre and Brú na Bóinne to Castlebar, Limerick and Cork – have been raving about the benefits of using Tile Merchant’s outdoor non-slip tiles. But why?

In this article, we want to take a look at the many natural benefits of porcelain, and more specifically, the benefits of our R11 anti-slip rated 20mm porcelain tiles.

You see, we’ve been in the tile business for a long time. As such, we've helped thousands of people turn their houses into homes and gardens into lush retreats from the stresses of daily life. 

We know a good thing when we see it, and we see 20mm outdoor porcelain tiles as the future.

Exploring the Benefits of 20mm Porcelain Anti-Slip Tiles

Don't just take our word for it. Let's dive into the 6 key benefits of installing R11 and R12 porcelain tiles outdoors!

Anti-Slip Properties for Wet Climates

Ireland’s climate is unique, which means outdoor renovations here must be able to withstand many months of rain, hail, sleet and snow - as well as infrequent intense sunshine. Here at Tile Merchant, we get asked all the time: “Which outdoor tiles are slip resistant?” and “Are porcelain tiles are suitable for outdoor use?”

The materials traditionally used for decking – natural wood (rather than composite, which is also anti-slip) and plastic – become perilous under foot when wet, sometimes leading to serious injuries and falls. 

That’s why the single most important characteristic of Tile Merchant 20mm porcelain paving slabs is that they are anti-slip. By design, all of our 20mm porcelain outdoor tiles come with the guaranteed safety of an R11 anti-slip rating. 

What is anti-slip rating?

Anti-slip properties in materials such as porcelain are rated from R9-R13, with R13 being the most resistant to slip. In residential settings, you’ll typically have no need to splash out on industrial-grade R13 tiles. These anti-slip grades are reserved instead for use in public showers and indoor pool areas. 

Our R11 anti-slip rated tiles were chosen specifically because they're perfect for Irish homes and gardens. Anti-slip outdoor porcelain tiles offer moderate-to-high protection from slipping. This makes outdoor porcelain ideally suited to areas which get a lot of damp and rain. 

You can rely on our 20mm R11 outdoor tiles in just about any garden scenario, including (but not limited to) building patios, garden paths, flowerbeds, steps and driveways. 

Bringing the Indoors, Outdoors with the Variety of Outdoor Porcelain Styles, Colours and Finishes

Gardens can sometimes feel a little disconnected from the rest of the home. This is especially the case following extensive home redecoration. As such, it becomes hard to keep up with one of Ireland's hottest exterior design trends: bringing your indoor style, outdoors.  

Perhaps surprisingly, porcelain non-slip outdoor paving slabs can overcome these issues by marrying your interior aesthetics to the exterior.

You can easily extend your indoor space into your garden with 20mm porcelain paving slabs which compliment the design of your interior. 

By bringing the indoors outdoors, you not only enhance the comfort and style of your home, but also create a fantastic flowing feeling between house and garden. There’s no denying that uniformity of style between inside and outside makes a space feel bigger, whether you’re into the concept of feng shui or not.

We stock a wide selection of indoor and outdoor porcelain tiles to help you merge the designs of your home with those of your garden.

See this fantastic garden transformation in Dublin and featured in gardening magazine The Irish Garden.

Outdoor Porcelain Tiles are Available in a Wide Variety of Designs and Styles

Porcelain is a much easier raw material for designers and engineers to work with. This means that it’s possible to create ethically sourced outdoor patio slabs from porcelain in a huge range of colours, patterns, shapes and sizes. 

We stock porcelain tiles which mimic natural stone, limestone, sandstone, and cement, as well as wood-effect outdoor porcelain tiles. You can also find our 20mm anti-slip porcelain in an attractive range of colours to compliment any taste or style. 

Where natural stone quarry tiles are restricted to the grains and colours of the rock they’re cut from, porcelain is not. Therefore when we’re asked what are the best patio slabs, we almost always answer 'Porcelain.'

Porcelain Paving Slabs Require Minimal Maintenance

It’s all very well talking about anti-slip ratings and the like, but what about maintenance? Surely, you must be thinking, they’ll require a lot of upkeep.

Thankfully, they don’t. In fact, porcelain tiles are arguably the easiest outdoor paving material to keep clean, sealed and safe throughout their long lifespan.

In addition to the R11 non-slip rating of our outdoor tiles, porcelain is also resistant to frost, staining, and high temperatures. The lustre of your panels won't fade over time, and shouldn't accrue mould or black lichen, either. You can rest assured that your gorgeous, peaceful outdoor space will stay well-kept come rain or shine.

Unlike traditional concrete and stone paving, 20mm outdoor porcelain tiles never require sealing, either. Maintenance is minimal, and cleaning can be carried out using a standard hose or power washer from time to time. (We'll talk more about how to care for your outdoor porcelain tiles later in the article.)

Porcelain is Surprisingly Strong

Porcelain isn’t known for its strength. Indeed, most people think of porcelain and immediately conjure images of precious vases shattering into a million pieces on the ground. 

Outdoor porcelain, however, is different. The thickness of porcelain tile is key to its durability and strength. At two centimetres thick, our outdoor porcelain is actually incredibly strong. So strong that we ran over it… on a joist… in a fully-loaded van… and it came out the other side as good as new!

So, how durable are outdoor porcelain tiles? Pretty durable!

Whilst traditional porcelain (7mm-12mm thick) tends to require adherence to a robust base or foundation surface, such as screed, Tile Merchant 20mm porcelain tiles are strong enough to withstand any amount of pressure all on their own.

Outdoor Porcelain Tiles are Super Easy to Install

The shining feature of our outdoor porcelain 20mm tiles is that they are also super easy to install.

You can choose to install porcelain tiles outside by yourself, DIY, or find a tried-and-trusted contractor local to your area through our website.

Either way, the cost of installing porcelain tiles is minimal. They can also be freely repositioned for maximum design flexibility, and fitted into awkward, tight, or unusual spaces.

How to Clean and Care For Outdoor Porcelain Tiles

Some outdoor paving materials like natural stone, concrete and asphalt require fairly constant and intensive maintenance to stay looking fresh-out-the-box. But not porcelain!

Porcelain tiles are designed to be watertight, frost and mould resistant, and easy to clean. Most outdoor porcelain installations can be kept looking brand-new with little more than a gentle sweep and yearly wash with warm water and pH-neutral soap.

For tougher stains and spots - though these should rarely take hold of outdoor porcelain - you can use a power-washer on a low-power setting.

Conclusion: Are Porcelain Tiles Good for Patios? And Can Porcelain Tiles Be Used Outside?

We pride ourselves on providing tradesfolk and homeowners all across Ireland with some of the best, most impartial and well-researched advice available. We love our products, certainly, but we love them precisely because they're the best indoor and outdoor renovation materials on the Irish market! 

It’s our job to help you find the right design solution for your home and garden, whilst also providing you the tools and expertise you need to make your dreams come true.

So, should you install 20mm porcelain tiles in your garden? Yes. They’re safe, durable, strong, easy to install, and even available in a stonking range of colours, sizes, and patterns. 

If you like the sound of Tile Merchant porcelain tiles, then you can view the full range on our website. There, you can order free cut samples to your home, wherever you are in Ireland, to test them out before you order more. 

Alternatively, if you prefer to shop in person, then why not pop into one of our showrooms? We have two fully customer-optimised showrooms in Dublin – Coolock and Ballymount – and a new one recently opened in Ashbourne, Co. Meath.

FAQs

knesses, from the more traditional 7mm-12mm thickness of indoor tiles, to the newer 20mm thickness discussed in this article. For the outdoors, we would almost always recommend that you choose a 20mm thick tile. 

Why Tile Merchant?

We offer extremely competitive pricing on our entire range of tiles and likewise. We stock a huge range of wall and floor tiles and our prices are competitive for retail and trade. Our stock is widely available in our showrooms in Dublin  and Ashbourne (Co. Meath) which are open 7 days a week

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to shop our tiles online, we can supply you with samples delivered for free.