An elevation tile is a wall tile designed for the outside face of a building, such as a front wall, a boundary wall or a column. In Indian catalogues it usually means smaller formats in brick, stone, slate or wood looks, often with a textured surface.
Whether it can be used outside depends on the climate and the tile body. In a warm climate without frost, many elevation tiles work outdoors. In a frost climate, you need a low-absorption tile with a passed frost test.
What makes a tile suitable outside
Outdoor walls face rain, sun, heat and in some places frost. Four properties decide whether a tile copes:
- Water absorption: the lower it is, the less water enters the body and the less risk of frost damage.
- Frost resistance: tested to ISO 10545-12, and needed wherever the wall can freeze while wet.
- Crazing resistance: tested to ISO 10545-11 for glazed tiles, since sun and rain cycles stress the glaze.
- Colour stability: printed ceramic inks are fired into the glaze, but check samples that have been outside for some time.
Many elevation tiles from Morbi are made on ceramic wall lines with a porous body, while others are made on vitrified lines with low absorption. The product name does not tell you which. Ask for the ISO 10545-3 water absorption figure. The difference is explained in what water absorption ceramic wall tiles have.
For frost climates, ask for an ISO 10545-12 report on the exact product. Our article on whether Morbi outdoor tiles are frost-resistant explains how to read it.
Fixing matters as much as the tile
Most failures of exterior wall tiles are fixing failures, not tile failures. Heat makes the wall and the tile move, and a weak adhesive lets tiles come away.
Exterior walls normally need an improved cementitious adhesive with some deformability, often classed C2 S1 under EN 12004. Full coverage on the back of the tile is important, so water cannot collect behind it. The classes are explained in which adhesive to use for ceramic wall tiles.
On taller buildings, many countries require mechanical fixing or a ventilated facade system rather than adhesive alone. Check the building rules in your market before you sell elevation tiles for high walls.
What to ask the factory
- Whether the tile is made on a ceramic wall line or a vitrified line.
- The water absorption figure and group from a recent test report.
- A frost-resistance report if you sell into cold climates.
- The work size, thickness and back pattern, since a deep back pattern helps adhesion.
- Whether the factory recommends the product for exterior use, in writing.
Next step
We confirm the body, collect the test reports that match your climate and check the product before loading. To discuss an exterior range, book a free sourcing review.