The possibility of choice for outdoor flooring is ever wider, both in terms of types and in terms of materials. There are some fundamental requirements that an optimal flooring should satisfy: first of all, a good flooring should be resistant to atmospheric agents, whether we are talking about sudden changes in temperature or whether we are talking about extreme events such as violent hailstorms or heavy snow; secondly it should be resistant to mold and stains; finally, it should have characteristics that make it non-slip and impermeable to water. In addition to the qualities necessary to guarantee resistance and efficiency, the floors must also have aesthetic and ornamental characteristics that allow them to be perfectly integrated with the external environment.In the realization of this type of work there can be considerable differences in costs, which depend on the use of a specific material rather than actual outdoor tiles: high prices often depend on the type of materials used.

The use of tiles appears to be the most suitable method for paving outdoor areas. Very often, terracotta is used as a material, suitable for any type of exterior: balconies, pool edges, stairs, etc. In particular particularly suitable for rustic environments. For outdoor use, terracotta must be frost-proof, in order to eliminate the risk of breakage. You can find terracotta tiles of industrial or artisanal production. The handmade ones are usually cooked in furnaces and, consequently, they cannot all be identical, standard, but they are unique. If you choose terracotta tiles, the laying phase is particularly delicate: during this procedure the temperatures must be kept between 0 and 35 degrees centigrade. Particular attention should also be paid to sloping points, in order to prevent problems in the passage and in the water filter from creating stagnations that are harmful to the flooring. Handmade terracotta tiles can be waxed and, if necessary, can be treated with oil-repellent products (particularly suitable for outdoor kitchen flooring).

The alternatives to tiles are many and varied, depending on the needs and environments in which the flooring is to be inserted. The main of these, however, is concrete, a material also widely used in construction. It is a material that mixes cement with sand and gravel and, sometimes, additives that modify and improve its physical capacities. To improve the aesthetics, which is actually very austere, there are special molding processes that reproduce the appearance of natural stones, bricks and even wood: this operation makes it possible to make the aesthetics of concrete floors more pleasant. After the molding operation, the material can be treated with particular substances which contribute to making it non-slip. Its monolithic nature guarantees that there will be no dips, a typical problem of flooring with natural stones. This abrasion and scratch resistant material: often used for pool edges or paved areas within gardens.

Outdoor flooring can have very different prices depending, as mentioned, on the types and materials used. Porcelain stoneware coatings, for example, can reach prices of 100 euros per square meter. These are obviously particularly expensive options: there are others that are much cheaper. Among the cheapest options there are many varieties of handcrafted terracotta tiles, which are very popular and can be purchased at prices that are around 20-30 euros per square meter. Even monolithic concrete floors can have quite high prices, especially due to the molding processes with which they are made very similar to natural stones. In these cases, prices can reach 60 euros per square meter. The porcelain stoneware tiles are available in various shades and are particularly suitable for semi-covered environments. Obviously, there are no defined prices for each type of outdoor tile: particularly high prices may depend on the quality of the material.