Outdoor Tiles in South Africa: Slip Ratings, Sizes and How to Choose the Right Ones

Outdoor tiles work harder than any other tile in the house. A patio in Johannesburg has to cope with summer thunderstorms, hail and the odd winter frost, while a pool deck in Durban or a stoep in the Cape faces salt air, strong sun and wet, bare feet. Choose well and an outdoor floor looks as good in ten years as it did the day it was grouted. Choose badly and you inherit cracked tiles, faded colour or, worse, a surface that turns slippery the moment it rains.

With spring here and braai season around the corner, this guide covers what separates a good outdoor tile from an indoor one: material, slip rating, size and finish, plus the practical details that keep a patio, pool surround or outdoor wall safe and good-looking for years.

What Makes Outdoor Tiles Different?

Not every tile belongs outside. Three properties matter more than anything else.

Low water absorption

Water that soaks into a tile expands when it freezes and can crack the tile from the inside. Highveld winters bring regular frost, so this is not a theoretical concern. It is why most outdoor tiles are porcelain. Porcelain tile is defined by a water absorption of less than 0.5 per cent, which makes it frost-resistant and far denser than standard ceramic. If you are weighing up the two materials, our guide to ceramic vs porcelain tiles explains the difference in more detail.

Slip resistance

An outdoor floor gets wet from rain, the pool, a garden hose or a spilt drink, so the surface needs enough texture to grip underfoot. The next section explains how slip ratings work.

Colour that lasts

South African sun is hard on any surface. Porcelain is fired at around 1,200°C and its colour is part of the tile, so it holds up far better in strong sun than painted or stained surfaces. Full-body porcelain goes a step further: the colour runs through the entire thickness of the tile, so a chipped step edge or a pot dragged across the floor does not reveal a different colour underneath.

Non-Slip Outdoor Tiles: Understanding Slip Ratings

Search for non-slip outdoor tiles and you will quickly come across R ratings. These come from a German ramp test, DIN 51130, in which an operator in safety boots walks on an oiled tile while the ramp is tilted, and the angle at which they slip sets the rating. As the UK Health and Safety Executive explains in its guide to assessing the slip resistance of flooring, the scale runs from R9 to R13, where R9 is slippery when wet and R13 is the least slippery.

For outdoor floors, the practical guidance is straightforward:

• R9: fine for dry indoor areas, but not a sensible choice outside. The HSE notes that R9 floors, and in some cases R10, will be slippery in wet or greasy conditions.
• R10: often used on covered patios and verandas that stay mostly dry, but check the finish carefully if the area will get regular splashes.
• R11 and above: the better choice for uncovered patios, steps, ramps, pool surrounds and anywhere that regularly gets wet.

Pool surrounds need extra thought because people walk on them barefoot. A separate barefoot test, DIN 51097, grades tiles A, B or C, with C the most slip-resistant. The HSE warns that A-rated floors, and many B-rated ones, will be slippery when wet, so ask for the barefoot rating wherever the manufacturer publishes one.

When you browse our outdoor tiles, look for "anti-slip", "A/S", "Grip" or an R rating in the product name. Several ranges come in two versions of the same colour: a smoother matt finish for inside and a textured anti-slip finish for outside. The Absolute range, for example, offers the same shade in an R10 matt and an R11 Grip finish, so you can carry one look from your lounge to your patio without compromising on safety where it matters.

Choosing the Right Size of Outdoor Tile

Size affects both the look and the practicality of an outdoor floor.

Large format tiles

Large tiles mean fewer grout lines, which gives a patio a clean, contemporary look. They also make a seamless indoor-outdoor transition easier when the same tile runs through a set of sliding doors. Our outdoor range includes 600 x 1200mm, 1200 x 1200mm and even 800 x 1600mm formats. The trade-off is that big tiles need a very flat, well-prepared base and an experienced tiler, because any unevenness shows.

The 600 x 600mm square

The 600 x 600mm tile remains the workhorse of South African patios. It is forgiving to lay, easy to cut around steps and drains, and available in the widest choice of colours and finishes.

Small formats

Smaller tiles such as hexagons, 150 x 150mm squares and slim 48 x 450mm fingers bring texture and pattern. The extra grout lines also add grip underfoot, which makes small formats useful for outdoor shower areas, pool steps and pathways. They work equally well on outdoor walls.

Popular Outdoor Tile Styles

Stone-look porcelain

Natural stone looks wonderful outside, but many stones are porous, need regular sealing and vary from slab to slab. Stone-look porcelain gives you the texture and colour variation of slate, limestone or sandstone without the upkeep. Most of our stone tiles are also part of our outdoor range, which makes them a natural fit for patios and pool decks.

Concrete-look tiles

Concrete-effect tiles suit modern, architectural homes and pair well with steel, glass and timber. They give you the raw, minimal look of a screeded floor without the hairline cracks and stains that real concrete is prone to. Browse our concrete tiles for outdoor-suitable options in grey, beige and graphite.

Wood-look tiles

Timber decking is beautiful but needs regular oiling and weathers over time. Wood-look porcelain gives you the warmth of a deck with none of the maintenance. Several of our wood-look tiles are suitable for outdoor use, so check the product details before you order.

Terrazzo and decorative tiles

For more personality, terrazzo-look porcelain and decorative patterned tiles work beautifully on covered verandas and in courtyards. Our guide to terrazzo tiles has more ideas on using this speckled finish.

Outdoor Wall Tiles for Braai Areas and Feature Walls

Outdoor wall tiles do not take foot traffic, so slip resistance matters less and you can be more adventurous. A tiled braai surround or feature wall is one of the easiest ways to lift an entertainment area. Glossy 50 x 150mm rectangles in terracotta, sage or black, slim finger tiles and decorative 200 x 200mm designs all add character, while large stone-look tiles create a calmer backdrop.

Porcelain is the sensible choice here too. It is dense and easy to wipe clean, which helps with the smoke and grease that come with regular braais. Keep tiles clear of the fire itself unless the manufacturer rates them for direct heat.

Outdoor Tiles for Pool Surrounds

A pool surround brings every challenge together: constant water, bare feet, pool chemicals and full sun. Choose a textured anti-slip porcelain, and consider lighter colours, which stay cooler underfoot on a hot summer afternoon than dark tiles do. Plan how the pool edge and steps will be finished before you order.

If you are planning the whole area, an outdoor shower gives swimmers somewhere to rinse off before and after a swim, and tiling around it in the same anti-slip finish ties the space together.

Laying and Caring for Outdoor Tiles

• Use exterior-grade products. Outdoor tiles need a flexible, exterior-rated adhesive and grout that can cope with big temperature swings between hot days and cold nights.
• Allow for movement. Large outdoor areas expand and contract, so your tiler should build in movement joints rather than tiling edge to edge in one unbroken sheet.
• Get the fall right. The base should slope gently away from the house so rainwater drains off instead of pooling against your walls.
• Order enough, in one go. Add around 10 per cent for waste on a simple layout and more for diagonal patterns or areas with lots of cuts. Buy the full quantity at once so every box comes from the same batch and the shade matches.
• Keep it clean. Porcelain needs little more than a sweep and a wash with a neutral cleaner, plus an occasional scrub with a stiff brush on textured anti-slip finishes, which hold dirt more readily.

Find the Right Outdoor Tiles for Your Home

The best outdoor tiles combine low water absorption, the right slip rating for the space and a style that suits your home. Get those three right and your patio, pool deck or braai area will look good and stay safe for years.

Browse our range of close to 150 outdoor tiles online, or visit our Kramerville showroom to see and feel the textures in person. Our team has over 30 years of experience specifying tiles for homes across South Africa, and we can help you choose the right finish for each area and calculate exactly how much you need. Get in touch to start planning.