Guide to Outdoor Tiling
Applying outdoor tiling is often perceived as a hugely difficult job. However, it can be made simple. A successful tile installation is all about selecting the right materials, using quality external tiling products and being patient to allow full cures throughout the process.
Interested in installing your own external tiling or porcelain pavers? UltraTile has you covered. Discover our guide to outdoor tiling below.
Types of outdoor tiling jobs
Outdoor tiling is a broad remit that covers a number of different types of jobs and applications. Accordingly, the specific processes of preparation, the type of tile adhesive used and grout will vary.
Like interior tiling, exterior tiling can be applied on walls or floors.
Popular types of outdoor tiling projects include:
- Patios
- Pathways
- Driveways
- External walls
Best materials for outdoor tiling
The first step in thinking about your outdoor tiling installation is to consider your preferred material for your tiles or pavers.
A range of tile types are suitable for outdoor use – so think about your priorities and what your tiles will be used for. Will you need to accommodate heavy traffic? If exposed to rain, while your tiles need to be slip-safe?
Think carefully, as this choice will impact the installation process.
Porcelain tiling
You might associate it with the hardware in your bathroom, but porcelain paving is becoming increasingly popular as a material used for outdoor paving and tiling.
Porcelain looks great and has a number of characteristics that make it an ideal selection for outdoor tiling applications.
Porcelain is weather-resistant, durable, low maintenance and is also, in most instances, R11 slip-skid-rated, meaning it’s good for accessibility and safe in both wet and dry conditions.
Natural stone
Natural stone is an umbrella term that covers a range of popular outdoor tiling materials, including slate, granite and travertine, each of which has its own associated list of benefits.
Choose carefully for best results!
Concrete pavers
Affordable, customisable and slip-resistant, concrete pavers are a sturdy choice for modern patios, driveways or walkways. If you’re looking for a non-nonsense solution that does the job quietly and effectively, concrete tiling or paving could be your perfect choice.
How to lay outdoor porcelain tiles
When laying porcelain tiles – or any form of tiles for that matter – sticking to a tried and tested process is vital.
Base options for outdoor tiling
When you’re laying outdoor tiling, particularly in flooring applications, your choice of base or substrate is just as important as your choice of tiles. You’ll need a stable base that offers good drainage and resists frost or moisture damage.
Your options include:
Concrete slab
Durable, stable and long-lasting for permanent patios or walkways.
Cement backer board
Applied over a waterproof membrane and plywood base, cement backer board is suitable for installing tile over wood-framed structures – but not ground-level applications.
Compacted gravel and sand
Offers good drainage and flexibility, but should not be used in frost-prone areas.
Mortar or screed
Provides a strong bond for porcelain tiles and allows for slope adjustments.
Prepping your base for a porcelain patio
Step one of laying your outdoor tiling is the preparation of your subfloor. No matter which of the above bases you’re laying on top of, you’ll still need to take the time to remove any debris to ensure your base is ready to install.
Use a spirit level to check for flatness – use one of our dedicated self-levelling compounds if required. You’ll also want to leave a fall of 1:80 to 1:60 (1.25% to 1.7%) to drain water away from structures.
If your surface is flat and debris-free, you’re ready to apply primer before laying your tiles.
Finally, use a primer, like our dedicated ProPrimer, to prepare your base to accommodate tiles. ProPave primer is another great solution for outdoor tiling requirements.
Laying outdoor tiles
Once your base has been prepped, it’s time to apply your chosen tile adhesive using a notched trowel.
At UltraTile, we have an extensive range of indoor tile adhesives and dedicated outdoor tile adhesives, so choose wisely.
Choose ProRapid RS for rapid curing, ProFlex S2 for maximum flexibility or ProFlex SPES for workability.
Apply your adhesive to the back of your tiles at a 45° angle, creating even grooves. Apply in small sections of one to two square metres at a time to prevent your adhesive from drying out, and press each tile firmly into place, wiggling slightly to maximise contact and adhesion.
Use spacers between your tiles to create a uniform, professional look and accommodate grout after your tiles have been applied. This is a vital step. The size of spacer required will vary depending on your chosen tile material and size.
You’ll then need to leave your tile install to fully cure before accommodating any foot traffic or before grout is applied.
Grouting outdoor tiles
Once your tiling has cured according to the specific adhesive’s packaging, it’s time to apply grout. We offer a range of grouts and silicones available in a range of different styles and colours, for your preferred look and feel.
Our dedicated porcelpoint grout is a rapid-set, flowable grout intended to elevate your porcelain pavers – available in stone grey or limestone!
Remove your spacers and use a grout float to push your grout into the gaps you’ve already spaced out. Compact and top-up as required until all joints are fully filled.
Applying the finishing touches to a porcelain patio
Your grout should be allowed to cure fully over the course of 28 days before full use – although it can accommodate light foot traffic sooner, depending on the grout you’ve selected.
To finish off your outdoor tiling install, clean your patio using the dedicated ProClean range of tile and stone cleaners and effortlessly remove grout haze and residue to get your patio looking perfect.
Outdoor tiling FAQs
Yes, there are a number of outdoor tiling options available to you for your tiling installation. While porcelain is the most popular – and arguably the best option performance-wise – both slate and granite make solid options and might be better for specific applications.
Concrete pavers are another possible choice.
Some types of outdoor tiles can be dry-laid – that is, placed without any adhesive or mortar, held in place by their own weight and proper edge restraint.
If you wish to dry lay your tiles, you’ll need thick, heavy tiles, like porcelain pavers (usually thicker than 20mm), concrete pavers or natural stone slabs.
You’ll also need to choose a suitable base – compacted sand and gravel is most-recommended for patios, garden paths or driveways.
Yes – provided your existing patio is completely flat, all you’ll need to do is seal your old patio with primer and apply adhesive before laying your new tiles.
If your existing patio is not flat, you’ll need to use a levelling compound to ensure your installation is level before applying your new choice of tiles.
