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What are the Best Tiles for Outdoor Use?

When selecting tiles for outdoor use, several safety factors need to be taken into consideration before you buy.

09/07/2022

 

 

 

 

While slip-sliding is great if you are on a water slide, when you are walking around the garden or entertaining outdoors, the last thing you want to happen is to have a nasty fall due to slippery tiles. This is an even more important factor with young children around and even more so if you have a swimming pool or the kids love to cool off under a sprinkler when the weather gets hot.

 

 

So many outdoor tiles do not have a non-slip surface and you have to be careful to select tiles that are recommended for outdoors and that also offer a non-slip finish.

 

 

 

 

Tiles are a popular and trendy option for outdoor entertaining or living areas and it is these that can add the most value to a home and that is why deciding on the right type of floor is an important consideration and you need to know what tiles you should be looking for.

 

 

 

 

 

Avoid Natural Stone Tiles

Bet you didn't realise that natural stone tiles are far more slippery than matt tiles when they are wet. Just because they are natural stone doesn't mean they are naturally non-slip. I know first-hand that slate and slasto tiles are incredibly slippery when wet and suffered a severe injury as a result of this in the past.

 

 

 

 

There are treatments on the market that can be applied to all types of tiles to provide a non-slip finish, but you need to regularly apply this to ensure the surface provides more grip when wet. If you are looking for a solution for existing natural stone tiles indoors or outdoors, go online to search for 'non-slip tile treatment' to find what you need. Builders also have a selection of products that can be applied to natural stone tiles to reduce slipperiness and increase grip.

 

 

If you like a particular natural stone tile, opt for tumbled or tiles that have built-in non-slip finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sealed or Polished Concrete can be a Hazard

Any process that coats the surface of cement will leave it slippery and dangerous. Polished concrete is not as hazardous as sealed concrete since the latter forms a surface over the concrete that makes it increasingly slippery when wet. When sealing a concrete finish, check that the product you use incorporates a non-slip element or choose a product that does.

 

 

 

 

If you have existing exterior concrete finishes, you can use a product that has grit additives to reduce slipping when wet, as the grit is added to the sealer when used on concrete surfaces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And while on the subject of polished or sealed concrete, let's not forget that painted concrete, particularly when painted with acrylic paint, is also just as slippery when wet.

 

 

 

 

Unpolished or Raw Concrete is Safe

Concrete that has not been treated in any way, such as concrete paving slabs and paving bricks, are generally safe as they are porous, and moisture will not remain on the surface for any length of time. If you have children that play in and around the home, this option is a safe way to keep them safe when running around the garden.

 

 

 

 

Clay or Terracotta Products are Safe

Any surface that is polished has a tendency to be slippery, but if clay or terracotta tiles are laid and left in their raw state, the surface will not be as slippery. The downside of this though is that clay or terracotta will absorb stains, which is not something you want, so perhaps it would be better to look at applying a non-slip treatment over the tiles.

 

 

 

 

Non-Slip Ceramic or Porcelain Floor Tiles

When shopping around at the various tile suppliers, make sure that the tiles you select are slip-resistant. Leading tile suppliers offer a wide selection of non-slip tiles, and it is better and safer for you and your family to invest in the right tiles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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