Mirage
As tile manufacturers explore new frontiers in ceramics, the industry is constantly creating novel solutions for flooring and covering. One of the most exciting developments is the arrival of 2cm thick porcelain tiles, which are starting to replace stone as the go-to solution for outdoor flooring.
The concept began to spark interest during Cersaie – the ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings show in Bologna, Italy – two years ago but has now spread like wildfire throughout the entire industry. Twice as thick as most tiles, they have the same benefits as regular porcelain – being frost-resistant, skid-resistant, durable and easy to clean – yet their incredibly high breakage loads (up to 2,000 pounds) creates the perfect solution for gardens, terraces and high traffic outdoor areas. The tiles can be dry laid onto grass, gravel, dirt and sand – or onto terraces and roofs using raised supports – without grout, adhesives or specialized workers, making installation incredibly easy. Moving beyond 24”x24” tiles that look like stone, companies are now offering these porcelain pavers in a variety of formats, designs, and trims, offering a complete system for designing outdoor spaces.
Mirage (shown above) was one of the first companies to introduce this super thick tile and now offers EVO_2/e with 10 of its collections including Norr (pictured), a new series of Nordic-inspired tiles featuring a minimal chromatic range and distinctively random pattern of pebbles.

Lastra
Lastra 20mm is available with five of Atlas Concorde’s collections inspired by natural materials such as stone, wood, and cement. The system includes a broad range of trims including swimming pool edges and grids, L-shaped elements and curbs, steps and parapets to meet any outdoor planning need. (Pictured: AXI)

Caesar
Caesar offers Aextra20 with seven of its collections ranging from tiles that look like saw cut wood to rough cut stone. The system consists of single-piece porcelain stoneware slabs, perfectly squared and rectified with an anti-slip surface, and four different installation systems to choose from.

Casa
Installing and maintaining a wooden deck becomes incredibly easy with Casa Dolce Casa’s Icon Outdoor series. The 2cm-thick rustic wood-look pavers come in two formats (24”x24” and 16”x48”), which can be dry-laid or installed onto fixed or adjustable supports with open joints allowing for rainwater drainage.