According to a patio design company, patio tiles are a good choice in areas that are exposed to heat, water and other environmental elements. The cool thing with patio tiles is that they are easy to install and able to withstand temperature changes. You can also install the units in different ways. When buying the units you need to consider a number of factors such as:

Durability of the patio tiles

For your patio to look good for long you need tiles that will be able to stand the weather elements. While ceramic and slates look good, some of them are too soft thus they don’t do very good outdoors. Patio contractors recommend that you go with porcelain and solid stone tiles such as granite. These are not only beautiful, they also resist weather elements thus they are able to resist damage.

Ability of the tiles to slip

Most tiles get slippery when they get wet. Most of the tiles used in patios are large thus have less grout lines and this makes them more prone to slipperiness. To avoid accidents go for units that are slightly abrasive.

Ability of the tiles to absorb water

While most homeowners will want a material that absorbs water so that it doesn’t flood, this isn’t good. Remember that when a patio material absorbs water and the water freezes in the tile, the tile is likely to crack and pop your patio floor. This will require you to install another floor which can be expensive. To be safe, go for floor tiles that don’t absorb plenty of water.  One of the best materials in the market that you can go for is porcelain.

Guide to installing patio tiles

You need to install the tiles properly for them to last for long. As mentioned above, patio tiles give you the benefit of installing them in different patterns. Before you start installing them you need to sit down with your patio technician and agree on a pattern that not only looks good on your patio, but one that also lasts for long.

When undertaking the installation remember that patios move; therefore, give them room to move. You can easily do this by having expansion joints that are filled with caulk. For peace of mind that the work is done professionally, ensure that the brick patio contractor you hire is certified and experienced enough.