Ceramic tiles for indoor and outdoor use?
All about ceramic tiles
Another name for ceramic tiles is the collective term ceramics. Ceramic is a material made from clay or loam. The raw material is fired at a high temperature, making it rock-hard. Many ceramic materials are used in construction, including ceramic tiles. You can compare the material to a coffee cup, which is also made of ceramic material. So floor and wall tiles in the bathroom or kitchen are also ceramic. Because it is more or less a generic term, you have to be careful to buy the right quality.
What are ceramic tiles?
Ceramic tiles are available for both indoor and outdoor use. They are also available in different thicknesses, from 10 mm thick to up to 50 mm thick. So there are several differences between these two products. An indoor tile should never be laid outside because they are not resistant to weather conditions but also because it is super unsafe. Conversely, you can. You can read why this is so and what exactly the differences are below.
Ceramic tiles and their properties
- Ceramic tiles have a closed surface. Therefore, they can be cleaned very easily. Not for nothing does every bathroom or toilet have ceramic floor and wall tiles.
- Ceramic also lasts a very long time because it is hard. However, it is less able to withstand (point) load with high pressure. For example, a jar of peanut butter falling on a tile. Then a piece may break off.
- Ceramic tiles can be made in any design and size. This applies to indoors and outdoors.
- The surface can also be processed. For example, very smooth or textured. And this is also the biggest difference between indoor and outdoor tiles. Outdoor ceramic tiles should always have high slip resistance! Otherwise, it is very dangerous.
The difference between indoor and outdoor tiles
Difference in hardness and skid resistance
Per quality and supplier, there is always a difference in hardness. Tiles for outdoor use are usually baked double-hard. This makes the tiles harder but also denser in structure and thus less permeable to moisture. And because of this, these tiles are certainly always more expensive than for indoor use. Extra hardness can also be achieved by pressing the clay under extremely high pressure before firing. This is exactly where the difference in quality between the different brands lies. However, you cannot see this with the naked eye.
For indoor use, tiles are often coated with a glaze, which has a protective function. But these tiles shine and are slippery when wet. So never suitable for an outdoor floor! In this case, the underlayment may be of inferior quality. The glaze layer protects the tile. Ceramic tiles for outdoor use are therefore usually ‘gress porcellanato’. This is 100% porcelain earth fired under high pressure and high temperature.
Our range of ceramic garden tiles have very good skid resistance so they are suitable for outdoor use. Can you also lay these tiles indoors? Yes, you certainly can. But you should then bear in mind that cleaning (mopping) is a bit more difficult than with indoor ceramic tiles.
Outdoor ceramic tiles are thicker
As outdoor tiles have more to endure and are subjected to heavier loads, they are thicker. In the home, ceramic tiles are laid on a concrete floor. As a result, the tile itself has to absorb very little. Outside, the substructure is weaker. Therefore, the tile needs to be able to absorb more. The minimum thickness for outside is 2cm, rising to 5cm. If you want to know what installing an outdoor ceramic floor involves, see the processing instructions below.
Processing instructions for outdoor ceramic tiles
Refer to this handy reference book for processing ceramic tiles, from substrate construction to grouting and maintenance.
Verwerking Keramiek
ViewMBI specialises in ceramic tiles
Which tiles can you find in our range?
MBI supplies a wide range of ceramic tiles for outdoor use. From 2cm thick, of course. Revolutionary is GeoCeramica®. This is a concrete tile with a ceramic top layer of 1cm. The concrete base can vary from 3 to 7 cm. This makes this product multifunctional. The loose tile is also available for laying indoors if necessary. Moreover, GeoCeramica® includes no less than 150+ different colours to choose from. New is the size 100×100 cm, GeoCeramica® MAXXIMA, for an impressive garden.
Processing combination tile concrete and ceramic
Compared to traditional 2cm ceramics, GeoCeramica® is easy to work with. This is because the tiles can be laid directly in a sand bed and are therefore more suitable for all kinds of substrates. Moreover, they have built-in spacers, making it easy to position the tiles. This saves time and processing costs. Watch the instruction video below.
Advice on buying outdoor tiles
Buying ceramic tiles?
Go to the specialist!
Ceramic tiles come in many different qualities and the thickness you choose depends on the local situation. If you live in an area prone to settlement, we recommend not choosing a full ceramic tile but GeoCeramica®. The specialist in your area knows the situation and can also give perfect advice.
Contact us
MBI offers a very wide choice for the design of indoor and outdoor spaces. Leave your details and we will contact you a.s.a.p..
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