It’s that time of year again! Time to work in our yards and gardens and freshen up our outdoor spaces. Whether you’re building a palatial patio, outdoor kitchen, or a gathering spot around a firepit, the right tile will help turn your backyard into an outdoor oasis.
 
Maybe you never thought about using tile outdoors; it can add beautiful, eye catching features to your home. Opting for slip-resistant tile around your pool area instead of concrete really adds polish to a design. The tile surrounding your pool can carry over into an outdoor fireplace or kitchen and patio area. If you really want to get fancy, you can use tile to surround your outdoor fireplace or as an accent wall in your outdoor grilling space.
 
Whatever space you design, the type of tile you choose is important. Natural stone tiles like slate are often used outdoors, but natural stone does require more maintenance and can be susceptible to discoloration overtime. Porcelain tiles are one of the most durable and well-suited tiles for outdoor use. If you’re set on a natural stone look but don’t want to deal with the upkeep, you can find porcelain tiles that emulate natural stones like slate and travertine.
 
Outdoor tile tips:

• Think outside the box. Tile can be used almost anywhere outside.
• Porcelain and slate tiles are best suited for outdoor use (porcelain is the ideal choice for its durability and longevity).
• Every tile has a rated grade. Make sure the tile you select is rated for outdoor use.

Slate is a natural stone made by the compression of certain minerals and has been making its way into home for centuries. Slates has been used for roof tiles, fireplaces, walls, showers and floors. Let's look at were slate comes from and some of its qualities as flooring.
 
Like mentioned above, slate is a natural stone made from the crust of the earth. As is the case with most natural products, not all slate is created equal; the deeper the slate is in the ground, the better the quality. This is due to how our earth makes slate. The earth’s natural elements compact and compress the minerals that make slate, so the deeper the slate, the denser and more compact the slate will be. Higher quality slate is more expensive than slate mined closer to the surface because of the cost to harvest it. Slate in general is a high-quality stone with good durability.
 
Since slate is a natural product, its colors will vary, and no tile will be exactly the same. Slate does not come in as wide of variety as manmade products like porcelain and ceramic tile. Cleaning and maintenance for slate is pretty easy. It requires general sweeping and mopping (*note do not use harsh cleaners or vinegar to clean natural stone) and periodic sealing with a stone sealer.