If you've clicked on this blog, it’s possible you’ve been looking at split face mosaic and you're thinking of introducing these individual tiles to your outdoor spaces.
So thought we’d lend a helping hand and give you some inspirational ideas, whilst also answering some key questions (that we get asked quite a bit) to hopefully help you on your way to creating a fantastic outdoor space...
One of the hottest exterior trends is to add contrasting finishes to areas of your home or garden and using split face mosaic tiles can help you do exactly that. As each tile has its own unique surface and undulating texture, it’s possible to create something on trend, and still definitely distinctive. Take a look through this blog to get all the info you need about using split face tiles outdoors.
What are split face tiles?
Split face tiles are undulating 3D natural stone mosaic tiles. They are hand made from strips of natural stone that are cut into linear strips and then arranged into a staggered 3D wall tile that you simply interlock together to create a designer feature wall.
Where can split face tiles be used?
There are many outdoor areas where you can fit split face tiles, however let’s start with the must-have for most gardens or terraces in 2021- ‘The Outdoor Bar’ you don't need a massive area to create a outside entertaining place (for when we can eventually have our friends round to enjoy a drink and a burger) you can erect a simple wall to create a zone in your garden and clad with split face mosaic tiles.
For those of you who have the space to create an outdoor kitchen, this is another outdoor area that is bang-on trend. Split face mosaic tiles are perfect for cladding your kitchen areas and making it a distinctive space in your garden.
Cladding a garden wall with split face mosaic rather than painting it brings textures and contrasts to your scheme whilst also very little on-going maintenance - winner! Just ensure your wall is dry and if backfilled with soil, you need to have a waterproof membrane between the wall and any planting.
How about cladding your home? You can use split face tiles to decorate the side of your garage, outbuilding, facade or porch. These stunning mosaics can dramatically change the appearance of your outdoor spaces and help modernise any area.
We’ve previously covered the joy of adding tiling to exterior spaces, and split face tiles are a superb option on this front.
Can split face tiles really be used outdoors?
Absolutely! Adding a split face tile wall beside a patio is a great way to accentuate light and create a space that similarly crosses that indoor/outdoor border.
Equally, patios are perfect for relaxing on when the sun is shining, and a split face tiled wall here can add a touch of character and class to these spaces.
Split face tiles might also serve a purpose in the outdoors when it comes to reworking the front of your home. Say you’re creating a new driveway or wanting to update the facade. Using split face tiles as a feature wall can turn an outdoor area into a great-looking exterior space.
Adding tiles to these areas also offers exceptional low maintenance once the installation is complete.
Are split face tiles waterproof?
The stone itself is waterproof, however as they are manufactured with strips of stone and bonded together with a special glue you will still find small holes where water could pass through to your substrate if subject to intense water. Simply tile onto blockwork, brick, stone or fix waterproof backer-board to your wall to ensure your substrate is waterproof.
So we hear you saying “are split face tiles okay in the rain then?” Yes they are, it’s natural stone which comes from the ground so it's perfect for use outside, you just need to fit them to a waterproof substrate and seal them to protect the surface from any surface stains.
There are steps that can take to allow you to use split face tiles both indoors and outdoors. You can read more in this blog.
How easy is it to clean split face tiles?
Split face tiles are easy to maintain and can be given a once over using a liquid soap, warm water and a dishcloth once a year. Stronger cleans can be done if algae has built up however. You can read more about cleaning split face tiles here.
Our popular collection of split face mosaic wall tiles are available in a stunning range of colours which can be used to create depth and texture to almost every space. So be sure to familiarise yourself with our range of split face tiles, and get your ideas flowing!
