In this blog we explore the question, what are indoor outdoor porcelain tiles? More than a trend, indoor outdoor living is here to stay as more of us than ever before look to create outside spaces that are an extension of our home and in which we can dine, relax and entertain.
One vital element that connects these inside and outside spaces is the flooring we choose and this is especially important if we want to create a feeling of flow from inside our home to our outside space.
Running the same flooring from lounge to lawn gives a feeling of continuity and this is enhanced by the advances in bifold and sliding door systems where thresholds are flush and super slim helping to bring a near uninterrupted run from in to out.
If you have decided to connect your inside and outside spaces then the flooring you choose will hugely impact the overall look and feel of your finished project. Unlike carpet, LVT or wood planks, Porcelain tiles are one of the only materials that can be used both inside and outside the home for floors with ease and won’t warp, or bend when exposed to the elements.
Hardwearing – porcelain is such a robust material. Manufactured from a mix of clays and minerals it is fired at very high temperatures and it is this mix of material and heat that make this material dense and gives it such hardwearing properties. Porcelain tiles won’t warp when exposed to the elements and with top notch installation are not prone to cracking either.
Frost resistant – porcelain tiles have less than 0.5% porosity. That means they are frost resistant and can therefore be used outside.
Fade resistant – porcelain tiles are fade resistant so perfect for even the sunniest of spots.
Scratch resistant – porcelain tiles are highly scratch resistant making them ideal for busy areas of the home.
Stain resistant – whilst it is always advisable to clean up any spillages promptly, and for outside areas sweep away any dead leaves from the tile surface, porcelain tiles are also highly stain resistant so a great option for busy internal kitchens and outside kitchen spaces as they can cope with the everyday thrills and spills.
Inhibit the growth of mould and moss – with the exception of a very dark, dank corner of the garden, porcelain tiles naturally inhibit the growth of mould and moss on the tile surface.
Easy to clean – porcelain tiles are very easy to clean. For inside areas a mop and warm water will usually do the trick. For outside spaces brush down with a stiff brush to clear the area of loose debris and use some water if necessary. There are specialist patio cleaners formulated for porcelain tiles available if needed.
Different finishes – one of the brilliant advantages of porcelain tiles is the same tile can be available in different finishes with natural finishes typically for internal areas and antislip finishes for outside spaces where you need more grip. With inside outside tiles the two tiles ie inside and outside are designed to work together.
All our inside tiles tend to be in a natural or matt finish and in 9mm thickness making them ideal for use across ground floors, open plan spaces, kitchens, the lounge, bathrooms and downstairs WC areas. This means you can run the same tile across the entire ground floor area if you wish, seamlessly connecting rooms.
The co-ordinating outside tiles have the same look, however, they are in a 2cm thickness and feature an antislip surface. This textured surface gives more grip for outside spaces where water is more likely to be present and have a minimum rating of R11 A+B+C.
So both tiles look the same however, they perform very differently.
It is worth noting that different tile designs have different finishes particularly for the external tiles. For instance a contemporary micro-cement look porcelain tile is likely to have a very fine finish whereas a tile that is mimicking more of a stone effect may have a more rugged appearance.
Using an external porcelain tile is a very different look and feel to a typical slate or sandstone tile. The latter tend to have a more rugged and rustic appearance whereas porcelain tiles have a more architectural look and feel with clean, pristine lines and a flush surface finish. This means with porcelain tiles you are effectively creating an inside room outside with the same flush look and feel as your inside space making it an ideal material for beautiful patio “rooms” ie a lounge outside or kitchen or perhaps a dining area.
Unified appearance – inside outside porcelain tiles bring a beautifully streamlined look and feel to spaces and bring the outside in and allow you to take the inside out to seamlessly connect ground floors with patios.
Enhanced sense of space – particularly for smaller homes outside rooms are an extension of internal areas adding to the useable footprint of your property and potentially adding value to your home.
Connected to nature – linking lounge to lawn encourages more time in the great outdoors which can be great for boosting our mood with lots of natural light and fresh air part of every day life!
Blurs the boundaries between home and garden – for a modern, visually cohesive, luxurious look and feel.
Porcelain tiles are available in a whole heap of different styles and are designed to mimic everything from marble to stone, wood to cement, concrete to slate and more. This makes it easy to create exactly the look you are seeking for your space meaning you have all the beauty of your chosen material and all the advantages only porcelain can bring. Add to that the fact that most porcelain tile collections come in a variety of colours and you can pick a tone to work for your space.
Tile size is also a key consideration and for continuity it is definitely worth picking tiles in the same size and format. However, you can mix tile sizes with some collections eg 1200 x 1200mm internally and 1200 x 600m externally. Just note that because the indoor and outdoor tiles are made in different batches and sizes are nominal there can be a slight size difference between tiles.
So, in answer to the question, what are indoor outdoor porcelain tiles, we hope we have covered all the key aspects of this contemporary solution to co-ordinated flooring for inside and outside the home. Our extensive selection of internal and external flooring features so many tile options in a range of designs and tile sizes. Start exploring our 2cm pavers all with co-ordinating 9mm internal tiles by clicking here.
Nest concrete effect porcelain tile – Sand
Minima concrete effect porcelain outdoor tiles – Sand
Click the images with a description underneath to head straight to these tiles on our website. Working on a project? We’d love to help! Get in touch and let us start searching for beautiful tiles with you!
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The TilePortfolio specialise in Italian and Spanish Porcelain and Ceramic tiles, in particular large format Porcelains and Porcelain tiles for inside and outside. Our carefully curated, stunning tile portfolios are beautifully presented online and supported by our fuss-free ‘go-the-extra-tile’ service. In addition, you can view our entire tile collection at our Northamptonshire Showroom. Visit our website for unmissable interiors inspiration. The TilePortfolio team are always available to chat, we’d be delighted to help with your project so please do get in touch.
Please note: We strongly recommend using a professional tiler for your project. Installation requirements may vary depending on the tiles you choose, the fixing products used and the specific conditions. Always check with your tiler regards the suitability of the tiles. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.
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