Outdoor Porcelain Tiles — Anti-Slip, Frost Resistant, 20 mm
An external floor has to survive things an internal one never meets: standing water, thermal movement, ultraviolet light, grit under foot and, in colder markets, freeze-thaw cycling. These are the bodies and surfaces we produce for that job.
- R11 wet slip rating on textured finishes
- 20 mm structural pavers for driveways and pedestal systems
- Frost resistant — water absorption below 0.5%
Outdoor specification
Thickness
- 9-10 mm bonded to screed
- 12 mm heavy pedestrian
- 20 mm structural paver
- 20 mm on pedestals or gravel
Surfaces
- Textured anti-skid (R11)
- Grip / structured (R12)
- Matt natural (R10)
- Grooved step nosing
- Riven stone effect
Sizes
- 600x600 mm
- 600x1200 mm
- 300x1200 mm step
- 400x800 mm paver
- 200x1200 mm plank
Performance
- Water absorption < 0.5%
- Frost resistant
- UV stable — colour does not fade
- Chemical and salt resistant
The three things that decide an outdoor tile
Slip resistance comes first, and it is measured wet, not dry. Almost any tile is safe dry. The R rating covers a ramp test with a lubricated surface: R10 is the minimum for a covered balcony, R11 is what belongs on an open terrace, an external step or a poolside, and R12 is for slopes and areas that stay wet. Specifying a polished tile outdoors because it looked good in a showroom is the single most common and most dangerous error in external tiling.
Frost resistance is the second, and it is really about water absorption. Water that soaks into a porous tile expands by roughly nine per cent when it freezes, and that expansion splits the tile from the inside. A body below 0.5 per cent absorption cannot take up enough water for this to happen, which is why porcelain survives European and North African winters where a ceramic tile would be destroyed in a season. In consistently warm markets this matters less — but the same density also keeps out staining and salt.
Thickness is the third, and it depends entirely on how the tile is supported. A tile bedded in adhesive on a sound concrete screed can be 9 or 10 mm, because the screed carries the load. A tile laid on pedestals over a roof deck, dry-laid on gravel or sand, or driven over by a car, has to carry the load itself — and that means 20 mm. A 20 mm porcelain paver will take a domestic vehicle, and has the useful property of being liftable later for access to whatever is underneath.
Outdoor and patio applications · Step & riser tiles for external stairs
Slip rating by location
| Location | Minimum R rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Covered balcony | R10 | Sheltered from direct rain |
| Open terrace or patio | R11 | Standing water after rain |
| External steps | R11 grooved | Grooved nosing, not bullnose |
| Poolside and wet deck | R11-R12 | Barefoot traffic, permanently wet |
| Ramp or slope | R12 | Gradient increases the requirement |
| Driveway | R11, 20 mm | Thickness governs, not just grip |
| Commercial entrance | R11 | Grit and water walked in from outside |
Laying an outdoor floor that lasts
- Build in a fall — at least 1 in 80 away from the building. Water that cannot run off will find a way under the tile.
- Use an external-grade adhesive — C2 class, and butter both the tile and the bed so there are no voids for water to sit in.
- Leave movement joints — external slabs expand and contract far more than internal ones. A joint every 4 to 5 metres, and always at the perimeter.
- Grout with a flexible grout — a rigid cementitious grout will crack as the slab moves through the day.
- Do not lay over an untanked deck — tiles are not a waterproofing layer. Any roof terrace needs its own membrane underneath.
- Match the step tiles to the field — external steps should be ordered with the terrace so the shades match.
Frequently asked questions
What slip rating do I need for an outdoor tile?
R11 for an open terrace, external steps or a poolside; R10 is acceptable only on a covered balcony; R12 for ramps and permanently wet slopes. The rating is measured on a wet ramp, which is why a tile that feels secure dry in a showroom can still be wrong outdoors.
What is a 20 mm porcelain paver for?
For situations where the tile carries the load instead of a screed: dry-laid on gravel or sand, raised on pedestals over a roof deck, or in a driveway taking vehicle weight. At 20 mm the paver is strong enough to span between supports and can be lifted later for access.
Will outdoor porcelain tiles fade in strong sun?
No. The colour in a porcelain tile is fired into the body or under the glaze at over 1200 degrees, so ultraviolet light has nothing to bleach. This is a genuine advantage over composite decking and painted surfaces in high-sun markets.
Can I lay outdoor tiles directly onto sand?
Only 20 mm pavers, and only on a properly compacted and levelled sub-base with a sharp sand or grit bed. A 10 mm tile laid this way will crack under the first point load.
Do outdoor tiles need sealing?
Unpolished porcelain does not — the body is too dense to absorb. The grout is the part worth sealing, particularly in a light colour where algae and dirt show.
Request outdoor tile and paver pricing
Tell us the area, the substrate and whether vehicles will run on it. We will recommend a thickness and slip rating and quote a container.
Browse the full range
Buying Guides
- Tile Buying Guide
- Full Body vs GVT Tiles
- Step & Riser Tiles Guide
- GVT vs PGVT
- Tile Size Guide
- Laminate Guide
- Porcelain vs Ceramic Tiles
- What Are Vitrified Tiles
- Types of Tiles
- Tile Thickness Guide
- Glossy vs Matte Tiles
- How to Clean Tile Floors
- How to Remove Tile Stains
- How to Fix Cracked Tiles
- How to Clean Marble Floors
- Bathroom Size Guide
- Powder Room Guide