How to choose between natural stone & porcelain outdoor tiles

The Mandarin Stone story began over 30 years ago, due to our founder’s passion for natural stone, so it’s safe to say that we know a thing or two about the benefits. Not only will natural stone tiles add character and value to your home or garden, they’re also incredibly durable and able to withstand heavy foot traffic. If installed properly, they can last a lifetime; you can choose whether to seal and maintain them to protect them against weathering, or embrace their natural aging process and allow them to evolve with time and use. Pleasingly textural underfoot, natural stone tiles come in a range of styles and shades, from pale, warm-toned limestone to the darkest charcoal-coloured slate.

If you’re searching for an affordable and maintenance-free alternative to natural stone, then porcelain outdoor tiles are a fantastic option. Advances in technology allow us to replicate many of the appealing characteristics of stone tiles, as well as develop inventive new designs that blend natural and man-made elements. For example, you could choose porcelain tiles with a terrazzo motif, or concrete-effect options for a contemporary, industrial feel. Porcelain outdoor tiles can be produced in impressively large sizes, as well as in two different thicknesses, allowing you to use the same design inside and out. They’re also non-porous — so no need to seal, treat or maintain — resistant to changes in temperature, and come with slip-resistance ratings that help you to choose the right tile to suit the space and application.

For those still struggling to decide between porcelain and natural stone tiles, we’ve compiled a few of our favourite outdoor flooring ideas below, which showcase the beauty and versatility of both collections.

Due to the popularity of our Dijon Limestone tiles, we decided to introduce these Dijon Blend Outdoor Limestone Cobbles as a cost-effective yet equally attractive alternative. Shown here in a slender brick format, these warm-toned outdoor tiles look beautiful laid in a herringbone formation, adding texture and interest with their tonal variation, subtle veining and deliberate surface imperfections. Use to enhance a traditional garden, or add character to contemporary outdoor spaces. If your home features herringbone tiles or parquet flooring indoors, these tiles are a clever way to create a visual link between indoors and out.

Our Vita stone-effect collection bridges the gap between terrazzo and natural stone with it’s intriguing mottled surface design. Shown here in Ivory, these durable porcelain tiles are inspired by traditional Sicilian sandstone as well as timeless terrazzo tiles. The result is an elegant and natural-looking outdoor tile that conjures up the feel or warmer climes. Also available in Sand & Ochre, our Vita range comes in a large surface format, with options for both indoor and outdoor use. This means you can use tiles in a corresponding colourway to create a seamless flow between your home and garden.

A natural stone outdoor tile in shades of rich, dark grey, our Ballanstone Tumbled Limestone makes an instant impact with it’s unique, snakeskin-like markings and characterful distressed edges. This tile is a perfect choice if you like the idea of slate outdoor tiles, but want something slightly lighter in colour, and with more variation in tone and texture. Choose from cobbles in two different sizes, or a larger flagstone option; use alone in a singular design, or mix and match different formats from the rage to break up larger outdoor spaces and add definition to pathways and entrances.

If you’re on the hunt for a porcelain outdoor tile that’s a convincing alternative to natural limestone, our Loxley Grey Matt Stone Effect Porcelain design could be an ideal fit. Combining the benefits of porcelain with the beauty of natural stone, these soft-grey tiles mimic the look of ancient English limestone flags, complete with highly realistic surface texture and patina. Hardwearing, practical and maintenance free, these outdoor tiles are perfectly suited to high-traffic areas, work well in both modern and traditional spaces, and will endure whatever conditions the British weather brings.

We love the reddish-brown hues of our Fossil Brown Riven Outdoor Flags: a striking addition to any outdoor space, which brings to mind the colour of dark terracotta. In fact, their burgundy tones are aligned with many traditional English stones, making them a fitting choice for a quintessential country garden. The riven surface of the sandstone will weather beautifully over time, and has the added bonus of creating excellent slip resistance in the rain. Other colours in this collection include dramatic Black, sandy-hued Buff and warm-toned Grey.

Our popular Berlin Matt Concrete Effect Porcelain range is affordable and highly versatile, and the outdoor variants are no exception. Featuring a design that combines the appearance of concrete with that of natural stone, Berlin has a fuss-free feel that works just as well in outdoor spaces as it does elsewhere in the home. For a modern, minimalistic take on a chequerboard floor, combine the Anthracite colourway with Ivory or Sand (as shown here). Lay inside and out, or use outdoors only to define a terrace within a larger garden, or make a statement in a smaller courtyard space.

Not only do our pale-hued Tumbled Limestone Outdoor tiles offer the appeal of English or French limestone at a fraction of the cost, they also come in a format that features a semi-circular ‘bullnose’ edge, which will add an elegant finishing touch to stone steps, pool edging and more. These timeless limestone tiles have subtly worn finish, are suitable for high-traffic areas and can be left to age naturally, making them even more characterful. Alternatively, protect the tiles with an appropriate sealant to avoid staining and delay the effects of weathering.

If you’re looking for a way to enliven a tricky or lacklustre outdoor space, then patterned tiles can be a budget-friendly and highly effective solution. One effortless way to elevate your outdoor floor is by choosing a design from our Casa Grande range, which includes intricate Mediterranean-inspired motifs, as well as the linear and graphic Décor 3, pictured here. Use alone or pair with complementary plain tiles in soft-hued Light Grey or Ivory, all of which are made from durable porcelain and are available in a large format, which minimises grout lines and contributes to a streamlined, modern look.

Explore our range of outdoor tiles here