Looking to update your patio tiles this summer? Look no further. Taking on a project like this comes with a lot of considerations to make. Below we’ve listed five things you need to know before starting your patio project here in Texas.
Climate
For example, here in Texas you’ll probably want to go with a light- or cool-colored tile that won’t absorb a ton of heat. This keeps your patio a place to hang out (and your feet safe). Warm climates require higher Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) scores to deal with things like heat, sunlight, ultraviolet light and other considerations.
However, if your patio is covered and sits under shading, that could change the required SRI score, giving you different options. Consider all aspects of your patio before choosing the appropriate tile.
Scale
Are you re-tiling your patio and keeping the same dimensions? Are you expanding? Is your space small or larger? These are all important questions when deciding the size of your new tile. For example, small tiles go with small spaces and large tiles go with large spaces. However, larger tiles in a small space could make the space feel larger. The size of the tiles also affects their construction (larger tiles require additional planning and possibly cutting).
Traffic
Another factor to consider is what does traffic look like for your patio? Higher foot traffic requires more durable tiles to prevent wear-and-tear (such as scratches and cracking). There’s also placement to think about. A patio next to a pool will need to be resistant to standing water, for example.
Aesthetic
Let’s be honest, you want your patio to look great and match the design scheme of your whole house. Who wouldn’t? A rustic-style home aesthetic will probably benefit from a more rough-hewn material, while more modern designs could benefit from a monochromatic tile design.
Budget
This is probably the biggest consideration you’re going to have when re-tiling your patio. Large projects like this live and die by their budgets. So once you’ve decided on a budget, you’ve got to stick with it. The great news is that there’s design possibilities for every kind of budget. At Flohr we’ve seen all kinds of flooring projects, and budget helps keep everyone on-target.
Flohr—your patio partner
At Flohr, we have over 20 years of experience in supplying and installing flooring and other flooring products. We’ve seen all kinds of patio projects from inception to completion. Whatever project you’re looking to do, our team can help you hone in on the combination of scale, texture and aesthetic to best fit your patio and home. Give us a call to get started on turning your patio into your new favorite place in your home.
