The Best Kind of Tile to Lay on an Outdoor Porch

Unglazed Ceramic

• A common choice for homeowners who are looking for a classic tile look and feel, unglazed ceramic tile is durable in any type of climate. Use unglazed ceramic for outdoor settings because the surface of glazed tiles can be slippery when wet, potentially causing injuries. Ceramic tiles come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, which means you can customize your outdoor porch entirely to your personal preference.

Saltillo Tile

• Saltillo tile is a type of terracotta, or baked clay tile. While it is similar to unglazed ceramic, it is known for its standard red, orange and yellow hues and for being created in the town from which the tile takes its name. While the tiles vary in color, shape and hue, it is an appealing look for homeowners who enjoy an adobe look. The surface can come unadorned, or you can purchase Saltillo tiles with hand-painted designs to customize your outdoor porch. Saltillo tiles are best used in warm climates as the freeze-thaw cycle can cause the clay to crack.

Slate Tile

• One of the standard outdoor natural stones used around the world is slate tile. Quarried in a wide range of shapes and sizes, the colors of slate can vary dramatically, depending on where in the world it was quarried, although standard colors are usually gray with streaks of browns, reds, blacks and other earthy colors. The normal type of slate is simply hewn into rough square tiles, while you can also purchase machined slate that has been smoothed down into a more uniform finish to resemble ceramic tile. It is very durable and can withstand all types of weather.

Travertine Tile

• Travertine is one of the toughest natural stones known to man and has been in use for thousands of years, ranging from the Byzantines to the Romans and the ancient Greeks. It continues to be one of the most sought-after natural stones for indoor and outdoor use and can be purchased in rough, tumbled form, or in a honed and polished format. While one of the more expensive options when looking at tile for your outdoor porch, its durability and natural beauty can make the extra money worth purchasing it in the long run.