Porcelain Tile Terrace?
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Anonymous
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We’re looking to upgrade the terrace off our rowhome and have been seriously considering porcelain tile pavers. The look is clean and modern, and from what I’ve read, they hold up well to the elements — supposedly durable, low-maintenance, and resistant to moisture, UV, and freeze-thaw cycles.
That said, I’m wondering if anyone in the DC area has actually done this and can speak to how it’s performed in real life. Did you install over concrete, use a pedestal system, or something else? How has it held up through DC winters and hot, humid summers? Any issues with cracking, shifting, drainage or slipperiness? Would you do it again? And if you used a contractor or supplier you’d recommend, feel free to name drop. Just trying to figure out if this is one of those upgrades that looks amazing but ends up being more trouble than it’s worth — or if it’s as solid and low-maintenance as it sounds. Thanks in advance for any wisdom! |
Anonymous
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Porcelain is fine, though be aware they are slightly more prone to cracking or chipping than regular ceramic tiles, and much more than stone tiles.
Stone tiles would look the most high end and not be as slippery, but will also get moss and lichens growing on them if not power washed regularly like once a year. |
Anonymous
| Not sure what options are out there, but I stayed in a vacation home with porcelain tiles once and everyone in the house had a fall or narrowly avoided one. Those mf'ers were slippery. Even when not wet from rain or kids running in from the pool. Even the humidity was enough to make them treacherous. |
Anonymous
| I have not done this, but porcelain tile has to be placed on a completely flat surface, otherwise it will certainly crack. I think you have to put it over concrete. Google “porcelain pavers” on Reddit to see what people have said. If you don’t get textured tile, someone will break a hip. |
Anonymous
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OP here.
Totally hear the concerns — what I was thinking is porcelain tile using 2cm thick outdoor-rated porcelain pavers (not indoor tile), installed over concrete or a pedestal systems with proper slope and drainage. Textured, slip-resistant tiles (R11 or high DCOF) to avoid slipperiness. Most issues seem to come from poor install or the wrong tile type. Brands i'm considering include Florim Outdoor, Daltile Xteriors, Emilceramica, and Porcelanosa — all have finishes that look high-end but hold up to weather. Curious if anyone local has used these and how they’ve held up over time. |
Anonymous
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I saw this on a Houzz forum and Reddit.
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5140926/florim-usa-2cm-porcelain-pavers-extremely-fragile-they-all-crack https://www.reddit.com/r/landscaping/comments/mz0808/experiences_with_porcelain_pavers_please_share/ Of course, online reviews are going to have a selection bias towards unhappy reviews. What is the warranty like on the tiles you mentioned? Does it cover just the tiles, or the labor and other materials as well? |
Anonymous
Usually it's the installer that covers labor warranty and the manufacturer that provides materials warranty (if installed correctly). |