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

Introduction

Traditionally, natural sandstone, limestone, or granite have been the go-to choices for Irish garden paving. While standard indoor porcelain is a staple inside the home, many homeowners, tilers, and landscapers question whether porcelain can handle external spaces. The main concerns usually come down to safety and durability: can you use porcelain tiles outside, do they crack under frost, and are they slippery when wet?

The short answer is yes, provided you use purpose-built 20mm outdoor porcelain tiles. Standard 10mm indoor tiles will fail outdoors, but 20mm external porcelain slabs offer the weather resistance, load capacity, and slip safety required for the Irish climate.

Outdoor Porcelain Tiles in Exterior Design and Landscaping

In recent years, 20mm porcelain slabs have replaced traditional concrete and natural stone across Irish patios, porches, garden paths, and driveways. In Ireland the shift toward outdoor tiles, comes down to long-term performance.

Unlike porous stone or timber decking, 20mm porcelain does not rot, absorb rainwater, or require annual sealing. It holds up against freeze-thaw cycles without cracking, making it a permanent finish for residential outdoor spaces.

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!

1. Anti-Slip Performance in Wet Weather

Ireland averages between 150 and 225 rainy days a year. Timber decks turn slick with algae, and smooth stone becomes a hazard when wet. A common concern for homeowners is: are outdoor porcelain tiles slippery when wet?

Indoor tiles are indeed slippery outdoors, but 20mm outdoor porcelain is engineered with a textured surface that achieves an R11 anti-slip rating. Slip ratings run from R9 to R13. R11 provides the necessary traction for wet boots, bare feet, and pets on rain-soaked patios, garden steps, and pool surrounds without feeling overly abrasive underfoot.

2. Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Flow

One of the strongest design choices in modern Irish extensions is extending the main living or kitchen floor directly onto the patio. By matching your interior tile design with an equivalent 20mm exterior porcelain slab, you eliminate visual breaks between the house and the garden. This continuity makes small ground-floor spaces feel considerably larger.

3. Versatile Finishes and Aesthetics

Because porcelain is manufactured under high heat and pressure, it can replicate the look of natural materials with exact consistency. Options include natural stone, slate, concrete, limestone, and wood-effect planks. Unlike real stone, which varies in quality and density across a single quarry batch, porcelain slabs offer uniform strength, thickness, and color matching.

4. Zero Sealing and Minimal Maintenance

Natural stone paving requires regular chemical sealers to block water penetration, oil stains, and organic growth. Porcelain is non-porous (water absorption rate below 0.5%). Moisture, mud, spilled grease, and red wine cannot penetrate the surface. You do not need to apply sealers, and routine cleaning requires only a quick sweep and occasional wash down with a hose or low-pressure washer.

5. Structural Strength and Load Capacity

Standard indoor tiles measure 7mm to 10mm thick. Outdoors, thin tiles crack under heavy furniture, frost movement, or vehicle weight. At 20mm (2cm) thick, external porcelain slabs handle heavy patio tables, steel fire pits, and heavy foot traffic. When bedded correctly on a solid concrete base, 20mm porcelain is even strong enough for residential driveways.

6. Flexible Installation Options

Because 20mm slabs are self-supporting, you are not limited to a traditional wet mortar bed. They can be laid loose over grass or gravel, dry-bedded on sand, or elevated using adjustable pedestal systems on flat roofs and balconies. For a permanent patio, installing them over a permeable gravel-and-mortar base yields a level, permanent stone-look floor.

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. 

Comparing Outdoor Paving Materials

How to Lay 20mm Outdoor Porcelain Tiles

Correct groundwork is essential when installing 20mm outdoor porcelain slabs to ensure long-term stability and proper water drainage. For detailed step-by-step guidance, view our guide on how to install outdoor porcelain tiles.

• Sub-Base Preparation: Excavate the area to roughly 150mm–200mm. Lay down a compacted MoT Type 1 hardcore sub-base (at least 100mm thick) to prevent future sagging or ground movement.
• Sloping for Drainage: Ensure a fall ratio of at least 1:60 (1cm drop for every 60cm of paving) so rainwater runs away from the house walls.
• Full Bed of Mortar: Lay the slabs on a continuous wet bed of sand and cement mortar (typically a 4:1 or 5:1 mix). Never use the "spot dabbing" dot-and-dab method, as hollow pockets underneath will trap water, freeze, and shatter the slab.
• Slurry Primer Application: Apply a polymer-modified SBR slurry primer to the back of each porcelain slab right before laying it onto the wet mortar. Because porcelain is non-porous, it will not adhere to standard mortar without this bonding slurry.
• Grouting: Use an exterior-grade brush-in jointing compound or specialized outdoor porcelain grout to seal the joints.

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 natural 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 trusted contractor local to your area.

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!

Maintaining porcelain paving is straightforward compared to natural stone. For complete advice on surface maintenance, check our article on how to clean outdoor tiles.

• Routine Cleaning: Sweep away leaves, dirt, and organic debris with a stiff brush to prevent wet leaf pile-up. Wash down with warm water and a neutral cleaner.
• Removing Algae or Moss: Moss and algae sit on top of porcelain rather than rooting into it. A mild outdoor tile cleaner or a quick scrub with a broom easily lifts organic growth.
• Pressure Washing: You can use a power washer on porcelain, but keep it on a low-to-medium pressure setting using a fan nozzle. Keep the nozzle at least 30cm away from the joints to avoid dislodging the grout.

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?

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 Ireland 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.

Article written by Calum

Cal Bannerman is a freelance writer, editor, podcaster and voice actor from the Scottish Borders. He runs the storytelling podcast "Stories from the Hearth" and lives in a wee Glasgow Flat with his partner and their cat".