Outdoor tiles.

R11 vs R12, and when each applies. R11 is the standard slip rating for general outdoor paving, covering alfresco areas, courtyards, paths, garden steps. R12 is what you want around pool surrounds, outdoor showers, and any zone that sees standing water. Both ratings are tested wet, so neither is guesswork. All outdoor tiles in this collection carry their rating on the product page.

20mm vs 10mm thickness. 20mm pavers are structural, so they can be sand-set on a compacted base, dropped onto adjustable pedestals over a roof or membrane, or bedded in mortar. 10mm tiles must be adhesive-bonded to a prepared concrete slab. The 20mm format is what most Australian outdoor projects need because it gives you more installation options.

Frost resistance. In most of Australia, frost is a non-issue. But in the ACT, alpine NSW, and parts of regional Victoria and Tasmania, frost-rated porcelain matters. Every outdoor tile in this collection is vitrified to under 0.5% water absorption, the threshold for frost resistance.

Porcelain or natural stone.Porcelain is lower-maintenance, needs no sealing, and holds colour through Australian UV. Natural stone has a depth porcelain can't quite match but needs sealing and will weather. Most clients choose porcelain outdoors.

Run the same tile inside and out. The cleanest indoor-outdoor look is a 10mm tile inside, butted up to a matching 20mm version of the same tile outside, with a flush threshold across the door line. Most of our outdoor ranges are designed exactly this way, with the same colour and surface across two thicknesses. Specify both at order time.

Grout selection for outdoor.Standard cement grout cracks outdoors because tiles and substrate move with temperature. Use a flexible polymer-modified grout, or for pedestal-set 20mm pavers, no grout at all, since the gaps stay open for drainage. Get this wrong and you'll be re-grouting in two summers.

Do outdoor porcelain tiles need sealing? No. Vitrified porcelain has near-zero porosity, so water sits on the surface and runs off. The grout may need sealing depending on the product you use. Natural stone is a different story and does need periodic sealing.

Ordering 20mm pavers. A pallet of 20mm pavers is heavy, typically 800kg to 1.2 tonnes. Freight is by pallet, delivered to kerbside. Plan access for a tail-lift truck and have someone home to receive. Order 10% extra for cuts and breakages. Get a freight quote →