MBI for Garden

Ceramic outdoor tiles thickness

30mm ceramics for outside; what tile thickness is necessary?

Choice of ceramic outdoor tile thickness

The thickness of a ceramic outdoor tile is an important aspect for the construction and durability (lifespan) of your terrace. You can choose from ceramic tiles of 20mm thick, 30mm thick or the best choice: a combination tile of 10mm thick ceramic toplayer which is inextricably linked to a strong Stabikorn® base. We have listed the various advantages and disadvantages for you.

The importance of tile thickness

  • Required substrate
  • Risk of breakage under load
  • Stability of the terrace
  • Processing ease

The subsoil for ceramic in the garden

Installing ceramic outdoor tiles

When you choose for ceramic paving, you have the following options in terms of construction in the garden:

Fully stabilised and hard foundation

Suitable for installing 20mm thick ceramics. The ceramic tile is connected to the substrate to form a whole. Because the ceramic is connected to the substrate, it is stable and the tile is evenly loaded, making breakage virtually impossible. The construction costs of 20mm ceramic tiles are relatively high and must be executed by experienced installers. There is no limit in the format you can choose from. If the foundation is properly laid, the chance of breakage is minimal, even for large tile sizes such as 90x90cm and 60x120cm. There are even tiles of 120x120cm available! MBI has an extensive range of 20mm thick ceramic tiles.

Stabilised sand / cement substrate

Suitable for processing loose ceramic tiles with a minimum tile thickness of 30mm. Given the small thickness and (relatively) light weight, this entails a risk of breakage, especially with large formats. The subsoil must be stable and have no chance of subsidence. We do not recommend grouting 30mm thick ceramic tiles with a hard, weed-free polymer joint, provided it is laid on a fully stabilised and hard foundation. Loose tiles with a low weight will always keep moving slightly and “pry” the joint. With 30mm ceramic tiles extra care is required during the processing when it comes to sawing. It is difficult to cut to size because the material is very hard. MBI advises to use the proper saw and blades that are especially meant for ceramics. As MBI works with top suppliers from Italy, we offer since 2021 a product line of 3cm ceramics under the name ‘Triagress’.

Stabilised surface of sand / cement or sand bed

Suitable for processing loose tiles GeoCeramica® with a minimum thickness of 40mm. The top layer of 10mm ceramics is inextricably linked to the draining base layer of Stabikorn® concrete. This load-bearing layer absorbs differences in tension so that the ceramic tile can never break, not even in the event of unwanted subsidence of the terrace. The weight is perfect for sufficient stability. Can be used on all types of surfaces and with all types of grouts.

GeoCeramica® is available with a Stabikorn® base layer of 30mm, 50mm and even 70mm thick. This gives you ceramic outdoor tiles of 40mm, 60mm and 80mm thick. So for the patio and driveway, there is always a suitable variant available.

Photo: a stable tile for patio and driveway. With a tile thickness of 60mm an indestructible choice!

The advantages and disadvantages per tile thickness

Advantages / disadvantages 20mm ceramic tiles

  • Special (stabilised) foundation required and not suitable for areas sensitive to subsidence.
  • Sets higher demands on drainage and joint types.
  • If properly installed, a very sleek terrace for years.
  • Choose from many sizes and designs.
  • A lot of experience required for expert processing.
  • Note: Many different qualities available in the market.
  • Average CO2 footprint: long production time of the ceramics (curing process in industrial ovens), average consumption of non-renewable raw materials, average number of square meters per transport movement (also pay attention to country of production).

Advantages / disadvantages 30mm ceramic tiles

  • Ideally placed directly on a sand bed. In most cases, however, a stabilised sand / cement foundation is recommended.
  • Limited choice in sizes and designs.
  • Extra care is required when cutting to size for instalment.
  • Always a specific grout is necessary.
  • High CO2 footprint: long production time of the ceramics (curing process in industrial ovens), use of large quantities of non-renewable raw materials, few square meters per transport movement (also pay attention to the country of production).

Advantages / disadvantages GeoCeramica® with 10mm ceramic top layer with 30mm Stabikorn® base

  • Suitable for any soil type and does not require any special (stabilised) foundation.
  • Suitable for use with any type of grout.
  • Choose from many sizes and many designs.
  • Lay from the inside out. In addition to the 40mm or 60mm thick outdoor tile, it is also available as a 10mm tile for indoor use.
  • Specifically designed for challenging climate; alternation of moisture and dryness as well as rapidly consecutive temperature fluctuations.
  • High-quality Italian ceramics (A-quality).
  • No product risk: Dutch product and quality guaranteed by MBI De Steenmeesters

ceramic outdoor tile thickness

More quality aspects of ceramic paving

Other quality aspects of ceramic tiles that you can pay attention to

  • Rectified: The term “rectified” refers to the dimensional stability of the tile. A rectified tile is always perfectly straight in size. Non-rectified tiles can deviate in size and as a result you get a less tightly laid terrace.
  • Gres Porcellanato: ‘Gres Porcellanato’, are tiles that are hard through and through and a bottom layer of the same colour composition as the design, so no thin top layer but ‘full body ceramics’. In the extreme case that a splinter jumps off a tile, or the edge is “chipped”, the Gres Porcellenato tile still offers the same colour image.

View our Paving Brochure

Take a look at our paving brochure. Here you will find the entire garden collection.
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