What are the Best Flooring Ideas for Terrace?

Many patios, decks, and outdoor areas are built with masonries, such as poured concrete or brick or stone pavers. But it is also possible to tile a patio, an option that offers many more design options. In fact, laying tiles can be a good way to dress concrete as it ages. Tiles are an excellent surface for outdoor areas as they are durable, easy to maintain, and more stable and permanent than pavers. Again, there are many options for laying tiles and giving a personal and cozy touch to a patio or outdoor area. 

What to Consider when Choosing Terrace Tiles

When choosing a floor for outdoor use, it is important to consider variables other than those of the interior flooring. You should evaluate these variables primarily based on functional and aesthetic criteria. 

The exterior floor is subject to inclement weather. Therefore, beyond aesthetic issues, we must choose a durable material and resistant to the passage of time under the sun, rain, hail, or frost. In addition, we must take into account other basic issues such as maintenance or essential properties that the material must-have, especially if the terrace has a pool, such as the non-slip one. 

With this in mind, there are some issues to consider when choosing outdoor tiles. They are as follows:  

• Endurance. Outdoor tiles must be resistant, capable of withstanding large changes in temperature and various climatic conditions. 
• Price. The price of the outdoor tiles is offered per square meter. You have to be very clear about how much surface you want to cover and consider the available budget when choosing.
• Style. It is important to choose the tiles according to the outdoor furniture style and/or the environment you want to create. 
• Texture. This is especially important in terms of its gliding ability, especially in places with a lot of humidity. 
• Exposure to light. As an orientation, it should be considered that bright and sunny spaces require darker tiles, while dark and shady areas are better covered with a brighter material that illuminates the space.

Most Interesting Types of Terrace Tiles

Many types of outdoor tiles can be used for a patio or other environments. The most interesting is the following.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are suitable for the patio as long as they are prepared for this function, especially if the patio or outdoor area will be used a lot or is very exposed.

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tile is a dense and strong form of ceramic. Keep in mind that polished porcelain tiles can be slippery, especially when wet. The best options for exteriors are textured matte tiles without a high-gloss surface so they won’t slip when wet.  

Interlocking Plastic Tiles

Interlocking edge plastic tiles are a relatively new way of paving exterior floors whose main advantage is that they have a texture that can protect against slips and falls. In addition, they are quite easy to place. Although this is probably not the most elegant option for a patio, it is a very functional option.  

Quarry Tiles

Despite the name, quarry tiles are not extracted from natural quarries but are made from very dense, unglazed clay. They are very resistant and work very well as a paving material for patios.

Granite Tiles

Granite tiles are the hardest natural stone tiles. These high-end tiles can be exquisite, worse than they can be problematic when used outdoors, since, if they are highly polished (necessary to make them look shiny), they are very slippery when wet.  

Slate Tiles

Slate is an excellent choice for a patio or outdoor area for luxurious natural stone flooring. Unlike other natural stone tiles, no two slate tiles are identical. Instead, their colors and textures vary, so using slate tiles can create an eye-catching visual interest. Natural slate tiles have earthy tones like gray, green, brown, tan, and orange.

Travertine Tiles

Travertine is a beautiful and hard natural stone. The problem is that travertine has a slightly pitted surface that can collect dirt unless buffed. But highly polished travertine can be very slippery when wet. That is why it is essential to select this type of tile well.