QUESTION

What type of Tile should I use on my Patio? - I am a resident of South Florida and would like to tile my enclosed screened in patio. I have been reccommended to use porcelain tile but the choices are limited and have not found a suitable choice. I am re-considering using a texured ceramic tile and would like your recommendations. The patio at this time is not a high traffic area. How does a ceremic tile hold up to the high humidity and moisture?

ANSWER

ANSWER - Porcelain tile is considered one of the best tiles in terms of durability and resistance to moisture.  There are other types of ceramic tile that will perform well too, but you need to make sure that they are at least a vitreous body tile with a glazed tile surface that is at least rated as a 4 for wearability and that it has a slip resistant surface.

There are some types of stone that would work well too.

Once you determine you have the suitable tile in terms of wear, slip resistance and aesthetics, then it is critical that it is installed correctly to get the full performance and benefits from the tile installation.  There are lots of options to consider.  It it isn't practical to hire a consultant as CTaSC then go to our www.CTaSC.com website and listed under Expert Answers' Resources under installations there is a free document to help you understand the steps to ensure a successful installation. Good Luck,