All About Indoor and Outdoor Tiling

Tiling is a diverse technique that can be implemented to spruce up any area, indoors or outdoors. The indoors and outdoors are two drastically different environments with drastically different tiling requisites, though.

When it comes to indoor tiling versus outdoor tiling, do your research and ask the right questions so you get the job done the right way the first time.

One of the first questions to consider is, “In what environment am I wishing to install tile?” Different environmental conditions require different materials of tile, grout, adhesive, and coating as well as different installation and maintenance techniques.

Once you have determined the specific environment you wish to place your tiling, next you must ask, “What are the types of tiles proper for the specific environment in which I am desiring to install that tile?” If you wish to install tile outdoors, make sure you acquire tools and materials for fitted for exterior conditions.

Exterior tile installations have certain demands that interior tile installations do not have. Outdoor areas typically involving tile include patios, balconies, surface beds, and even garage floors. Because of the unconventional location for tile placement, over and above normal building movement will cause exterior tile installations to be exposed to thermal expansion and contraction and inclement weather conditions (including frost and snow in some regions), which requires a more flexible tiling and sealing material, less prone to cracking. As the tiling process proceeds, ask yourself about exterior tile product accessories like grouts, adhesives, waterproofing materials, and seals. Polymer modified adhesives and waterproof grouts are recommended, and a solid bed of adhesive must be achieved for each tile to prevent water collecting behind the tiles.

When it comes to interior tile installations waterproofing is required for indoor areas like bathroom floors and shower floors and walls. The waterproofing techniques and materials for indoor tiling are similar to those involved in the outdoor tiling process. On the other hand, though, there are pieces and procedures when it comes to indoor tiling that differ from outdoor tiling. For example, accessories like perimeter joints are required when tiling along walls and around obstacles. Like outdoor tiling environments, symptoms like expansions, contraction, and shifting can occur indoors, but a different degree and with a different reaction because of contrasting environmental factors. These perimeter joints allow slack and room for the tile to shift, expand, or contract without causing problems like cracking. When it comes to selecting a tile type regarding tiling an interior wall, a slew of tile types may be used from ceramic, to porcelain, to natural stone, to glass. When tiling an interior floor, all the same types may be used except for glass, as applying as much pressure as the full weight of a human being will be too much for glass tile to endure regardless of the seal or coating applied post-installment.

If you are still curious about the differences between indoor and outdoor tiling, EZEE Tile Adhesives has put together a collection of some of the most frequently asked questions about tiling and grouting, including choosing the right product for your needs and installation basics to help make your tiling project go that much smoother.