TSJ asked two well-known suppliers, Topps Tiles and Tile Mountain their thoughts on exterior grade tiles and the ongoing trends customers are taking into consideration when selecting their choices
Topps Tiles
How has demand for exterior grade tiles changed over the past 12–18 months, and what factors are driving that growth?
We saw a dramatic incline in outdoor tile sales during the pandemic as people wanted a useful occupation out of doors and often had excess money. However, since that spike, we’ve only seen a slight decline in demand at a sustained level across the year implying that customers are now regarding their garden as a general update to their home as they would any interior room.
Which exterior tile styles and formats are proving most popular with customers right now?
Our specialist outdoors tiles are 2cm slip resistant porcelain and we provide a large range of aesthetics within that range (stone effect, wood effect, concrete effect etc.) We don’t see a demand for any one style, like interior styles, which shows people aren’t being motivated by availability or price but aesthetic and it’s based on their style preference.
How closely are customers looking to align exterior tiles with interior flooring to create seamless indoor-outdoor transitions?
Although an option, we’ve only a few ranges that are suitable for indoor and match exactly to the specialist outdoor range (rather than a 1cm porcelain tile suitable for indoor and out), we don’t see a huge customer demand for this however I think it depends on what style home and how they enter the space. If you’ve got a huge glazed bi-fold door, a matching tile is more aesthetically pleasing and will visually increase the size of the room and/or garden.
What key technical performance features are customers and specifiers prioritising when selecting exterior tiles?
As standard, any outdoor tile needs to be frost resistant otherwise it will crack in extreme temperatures. Thickness in a porcelain tile offers durability and slip resistance should be a priority to make it safe in all weathers.
How well informed are customers about the specific requirements of exterior installations, and where do you see the biggest knowledge gaps?
DIYers tend to do their research when making such a large investment but most people rely on their tradesperson to get the technical aspects right for the job and they’re choosing from aesthetics. We try and provide as much information in-store and online to educate those on the difference between specialist outdoor tiles, slabs and thinner porcelain tiles so they can make an informed decision, this covers their ease of installation, maintenance and longevity so they can make the best investment.
What role do installers play in influencing product choice for outdoor tiling projects, and has this increased in recent years?
Convenience of shopping at their local builder’s merchants will always play a large role in what a tradesperson suggests to their customer, but it also depends on the time they must install the tiles and their customer’s budget. Trends also play a role as they will tell their customers what they’re doing for other customers which can influence their decision. We believe there’s an increase in customer choosing based on aesthetics though, with them choosing from the specialist outdoor range themselves based on the variety of product sold.
Is sustainability becoming a more important factor when customers choose exterior tiles, or does performance still take priority?
We haven’t seen a demand for sustainable tiles in general, so we currently believe performance takes priority. We focus on longevity and timeless style to help customers keep their hard landscaping for longer which in the long run is better for the environment.
Looking ahead, what trends do you expect to shape the exterior tile market over the next 12–24 months?
We’d expect warm neutrals to dominate the colour palette, over grey, and like interior tiles they’re starting to come in larger sizes. The technology and as a result, the realism of effect tiles, will only continue to improve as time goes on.
www.toppstiles.co.uk
Harriet Goodacre is brand communications manager, Topps Tiles
