Usually not. Outdoor tile needs low water absorption, frost resistance and a textured face. An indoor polished tile fails on all three, whatever the climate.
What is the most slip resistant outdoor tile?+
Tumbled travertine and textured porcelain rated for exterior floors. If the area stays wet, look for a coarse, matte surface rather than a smooth one.
Do outdoor tiles need sealing?+
Natural stone does, with a breathable exterior sealer. Porcelain does not. In both cases sealing the grout helps keep the joints clean.
Can I lay outdoor tile over an existing concrete patio?+
Yes, if the slab is sound, clean and sloped for drainage. Cracks in the slab telegraph through tile, so repair them first or use an uncoupling membrane.
Outdoor Floor Tile
Tile rated to go underfoot outside: porcelain, travertine, marble, limestone and terracotta, in 16x24, 24x24 and 24x48, with tumbled, brushed, sandblasted and matte faces that keep grip when the surface is wet.
Outside, the surface matters more than the material. A polished face turns slick in rain, so everything here is textured to some degree. In cold regions, dense stone and 2cm porcelain handle freeze and thaw; soft, highly absorbent tile does not.
Drainage does half the work. Slope the field away from the building, keep joints open enough to shed water and, on a terrace or roof, set the tile on pedestals so water runs underneath.
