Outdoor vs indoor porcelain tiles. What’s the difference? Porcelain is one of the few materials that can be used inside as well as outside the home. However, the design of outdoor porcelain tiles differ significantly from those produced for an indoor environment. Whether your project is a new kitchen, or patio (or both!), we will explore the six key differences between outdoor and indoor porcelain tiles and take a look at some of the latest tile collections.
Indoor porcelain tiles generally have a matt or polished finish although you will find a whole host of different names for the tile finishes of indoor tiles such as natural, soft, antislip soft. These finishes mean these tiles are easy-to-clean and low-maintenance. This makes them perfect for kitchens, bathroom, hallways and living rooms.
Outdoor porcelain tiles are designed with a grippier surface than indoor tiles to help prevent slipping. Unlike the smooth finishes of indoor tiles, outdoor tiles can become slippery when wet so it is essential they offer more traction in areas such as patios, pathways or around swimming pools. For outdoor porcelain tiles an additional layer of frit is added to the tile surface to create the extra grip.
The slip rating system can be a little confusing. There are a number of categorisations for slip ratings, we have focussed here on the R rating in which case all tiles are placed on a scale from R9 to R13. The higher the number, the higher the slip resistance. It is worth noting that there are tiles with no rating, for example, a polished tile.
Indoor porcelain tiles usually have an R9/R10 rating, making them suitable for dry areas or areas that are mostly dry. There are some innovative tiles in our collections with an R11 slip rating that are specifically designed for indoor and outdoor use – these tiles, called antislip soft are specifically designed to bring a tile that has a little more grip but is super easy to clean – making this finish ideal for kitchens and bathrooms especially. Clever stuff.
Outdoor porcelain tiles have a higher slip rating, typically R11 or R12, ensuring safe footing in wet conditions.
Indoor porcelain tiles are lighter, ranging from 8 to 10mm thickness, which is suitable for indoor use.
Outdoor porcelain tiles are usually 20mm thick, or more, making them able to withstand heavier loads, garden furniture and changing temperatures outdoors.
Both indoor and outdoor porcelain tiles are frost and fade resistant however, outdoor porcelain tiles as we have already seen are usually thicker with an antislip surface. You can use matt porcelain tiles ie indoor porcelain tiles for vertical applications externally because they are weather resistant.
Indoor porcelain tiles are installed using a suitable tile adhesive onto your current sub floor. Depending on your installation it may or may not be advisable to use other products such as levelling compounds or anti crack membranes – your tiler should be able to advise on this.
Outdoor porcelain tiles 2cm tiles are a little more complex when it comes to installation. Ideally and for longevity they are installed onto a fully cured concrete bed with the correct tile adhesive. They can be installed onto compacted hardcore with the correct tile adhesives aswell if you don’t have a concrete bed. You will need to consider things like drainage and falls to ensure water doesn’t pool on your tiles when it is wet. 2cm porcelain tiles can also be used as stepping stones, can be laid onto gravel or onto grass – see here for more info.
Ah! Now we have arrived at the most important bit: the look.
Both indoor and outdoor porcelain tiles have plenty of styles, sizes and finishes to choose from. Porcelain tiles are designed to look like other materials so you get all the brilliant benefits of porcelain with great design eg stone, marble, wood, concrete, cement, microcement, quartz, slate, metals and more. Inside, porcelain tiles are super hardwearing, easy to clean, highly scratch and stain resistant and highly resistant to water. Outside, porcelain tiles are frost and fade resistant as well as offering high scratch and stain resistance.
Even though there are some critical aesthetic differences, as we have seen, the really great part is you can have the best of both worlds – design and slip resistance – as many tiles we sell offer co-ordinating indoor and outdoor versions for a seamless transition from home to garden.
Take our Fusion collection. Fusion beautifully mimics real limestone with a gorgeous matt finish for the inside tile. For outside, Fusion 1200 x 600mm 2cm slabs feature an antislip finish, as you would expect. In this case, the tile finish reinterprets a natural rough-hewn stone look and feel so these outside tiles look and feel like real stone!
Alternatively, take our Tone collection that mimics a contemporary micro-cement – the surface finish of both inside and outside tiles is a refined surface finish in matt for inside and antislip outside but the two tiles really look virtually identical.
So there you have it. 6 key differences between outdoor vs indoor porcelain tiles.
Browse our 2cm outdoor porcelain tile collections for yourself. All these patio pavers feature an indoor co-ordinating tile.
Or if it just indoor tiles you are looking for check out our comprehensive wall and floor tile portfolio! Have fun!
Click the images 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!
If you would like to know more, please get in touch...
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.
