Inside Out

Stepping Up

A great exterior tile job starts with proper installation.

According to Jim Dougherty, Florim USA executive vice president of sales and marketing, “Many people are hesitant to use tile outside. But most porcelain tiles are suitable for exterior applications if they are installed properly.”

According to the Tile Council of North America, exterior installations must drain water from the system before it is absorbed into either the tile or the layers below the tile. Because most tiles are water-impermeable, the only water that can get in goes through the grout joints or the substrate itself.

“The edges of the tile need to be fully covered in the adhesive” to prevent water seepage, Dougherty suggests. “And the change of planes need to be caulked, not grouted, so that they don’t crack.”

Designed to mimic the trendy look of stained concrete, Veranda color-body porcelain tile from Daltile comes in 15 colors such as zinc (shown). The tile is frost- and slip-resistant and has a low moisture absorption rate of .5 percent. Vancouver-based tile consultant Patti Fasan advises the use of a dual-purpose waterproofing and anti-fracture membrane from the likes of Schluter Systems or Protecto Wrap. Crucial for large-format tiles, this separates the tile and substrate to prevent damage from such movement as shrinkage and cracking of concrete or the expansion and contraction of wood.

Additionally, the council cautions that fresh concrete should cure for at least 14 to 28 days before tiling. When it comes to exterior work, says Fasan, “We have to be far more technical in terms of materials and methods” than for anything interior.