Exterior wall tiles: All about outdoor, elevation wall cladding and designs

By Stonarts.D India’s Largest Tiles Store

More often than not, people focus on improving and decorating the interior of their homes to make it comfortable and aesthetic and give less preference to tiles for exterior wall. Sure, we have come a long way from using brick bonds for the exterior wall tiles of our house, still we don’t pay it the attention we ought to give external wall tiles, which is a little counter-productive to the effort we put towards designing the interiors.

The exterior is the first thing anybody sees when they come to visit your house. One of the best things that you can use for the exterior of your house, is exterior wall tiles. Exterior wall tiles are tiles (often made up of wood, rock, ceramic, etc.) that are fixed to the outside of a building to make them look more attractive. This is also called ‘exterior wall cladding’ and is gaining popularity. Irrespective of whether you have bought the house for residential or commercial purpose, exterior tiles are a safe exterior cladding option. 

While you might think that all tiles- interior and exterior tiles- are the same, this is not true. One of the more obvious differences between interior wall tiles and external wall tiles, lies in their strength and durability. Exterior wall tiles are more durable than indoor tiles and are built to withstand harsh weather conditions, such as sunlight, rain, humidity, etc. Outside wall tiles are resistant to acid rain and hence, can retain their appearance and strength longer. Another difference between tiles for exterior wall and interior wall lies in their texture. Exterior wall tiles, upon installation, have a rougher texture than interior wall tiles.

Tiles for outside walls also look harsher than indoor tiles in the sense that they have a rocky or stony appearance. Interior wall tiles, on the other hand, look very smooth and soft. They are usually made of limestone, ceramic, or marble.

What should you choose for your home?

Using exterior wall tiles for your house is a wise choice. Tiles for outside walls provide stability and structure to the outside of your home. Exterior wall tiles also protect your house against pest infestation and have anti-pollution properties since they are made of earthly elements. Tiles for exterior walls also can be used to determine the theme of your house – retro, naturalistic, realistic, European, etc.

There are several options to choose from for exterior wall tiles to layer up your house. Consider the following pointers before choosing what kind of exterior tiles you want for your home.

Value for money

Budget is the first thing you have to think about when you are furnishing your house. Various types of tiles for exterior walls are available (ceramic and vitrified being the most famous ones). With the numerous types of exterior wall tiles design, come a variety of prices. Vitrified front tiles design cost a whole lot more than ceramic wall tiles design for outdoor, even when their main components are the same. Outdoor parking tiles in themselves can range anywhere between Rs 100 per sq ft to Rs 200 per sq ft. When you are considering the cost of the exterior wall tiles, think of the space you want to lay down with exterior wall tiles. Coordinate that with the type of exterior tiles design that appeals to you the most and its price.

How strong do you want the tiles for porch wall to be?

Exterior wall tiles are much more resilient than indoor wall tiles. Nevertheless, there is a huge variety available, in terms of strength. Granite wall tiles outside house are supposed to be the hardest and would be ideal for the area near the gate. Slate exterior tiles design, are softer than marble or granite and so, it would be perfect for rebuilding your patio or other such spaces. If you want to tile your pool area, you can use porous tiles made of pumice as the external wall tiles. It just depends on what purpose you want the exterior wall tiles to fulfil. If you have a family with kids, getting exterior wall tiles that are more durable and yet have a smoother texture would be the perfect combination.

Is it weather friendly?

When exterior wall cladding your house, ensure that you choose your exterior wall tiles keeping the weather in mind. If you live in an area with a lot of rain, for example, you can choose external wall tiles that are non-slippery. If you live someplace where it snows a lot, get heat-insulating exterior wall tiles. If you live in someplace with a lot of sun, get heat-reflective exterior wall tiles. If you live someplace where acid rains are a frequent occurrence, do not get marble or limestone exterior tiles. They would be the first ones to succumb to abrasion. Try and choose the colour of your exterior wall tiles design while keeping the weather in mind. For instance, if you get a lot of sunlight, try and install darker colours wall tiles design outdoor.