Tips for Installing Outdoor Porcelain Tile

SAN JOSE — Porcelain tile has long been used for home interior design, but it has only recently been applied to the outdoors. Outdoor porcelain tile differs from its indoor counterparts with attributes like increased thickness (2 centimeters) and nonslip engineering for safety underfoot. This product is extremely durable and eye-catchingly beautiful. It can be finished to simulate different types of wood and natural stone, and manufacturers have even developed a screen printing technique that makes it look absolutely stunning in outdoor environments.

Installation is a crucial consideration when it comes to outdoor porcelain tile. One option is to inlay the tiles on an existing concrete slab. Just make sure the slab is free of any major cracks—otherwise, if the concrete shifts, the existing cracks can cause the inlaid tiles to crack as well.

Porcelain tile can also be laid on sand. In this case, we strongly recommend using an underlayment called Gator Base. This product goes directly beneath the tiles and helps prevent them from shifting and moving. You can also purchase spacers that go between the tiles and provide perfect spacing between each one.

When it comes to filling the tile joints, we recommend using a polymeric sand that’s rated for porcelain tile, which is a bit stickier than the polymeric sand that’s used with paving stones. After application, the sand hardens in place, which keeps it from migrating out of the joints and prevents weed growth between the tiles.

It’s important to note that porcelain tile isn’t a good choice for uneven areas that contain lots of grade changes. Due to the nature of the product and drainage concerns, it’s better applied in areas that have one smooth grade going in one direction.