A terrace starts with its floor — and the floor begins with the right choice of slab.
It is obvious that one often forgets when designing an outer space. We think about furniture, lighting, plants, barbecue — and we treat the floor last, almost as a technical constraint. However, the terrace floor is what conditions everything else: it defines the general aesthetics of space, its practicality in everyday life, its resistance in time and the care that must be devoted to it. A well tiled terrace with well-selected slabs does not need almost anything else to be beautiful. A terrace with a poorly adapted coating will be a recurring problem — slippery when it rains, difficult to clean, prematurely degrades or disrepairs with the entire space. At Amberkiln, our selection of terrace slabs covers all the needs: clipsable composite wood slabs, natural stone slabs, large thickness ceramic stone slabs, slabs to be laid on plots, wood imitation PVC slabs — for all terrace configurations and all garden styles.
What material for your terrace slabs?
This is the first and most important decision. The material conditions aesthetics, resistance, maintenance and method of laying — all factors that have a direct impact on your long-term satisfaction.
The composite wood is one of the most popular materials for contemporary terrace slabs. It combines the visual advantages of natural wood — heat, texture, organic appearance — with a much higher resistance to UV, moisture, xylophagous insects and temperature variations. Unlike natural wood, composite wood does not crack, deform with frost/thaw cycles, require no annual oiling and does not bluen under the influence of moulds. Our composite wooden slabs are available in different shades — light oak, warm brown teak, aged anthracite grey — with striated or brushed finishes that faithfully imitate the appearance of natural wood. They are placed by clipping on a support structure, which allows installation without glue or special tools, and easy dismantling if necessary.
The Ceramic stoneware is the technical reference of tiled terrace slabs. Extremely resistant to abrasion, stains, gel and UV, it does not discolor, scratch and requires only water cleaning to regain its original appearance. The large-thick ceramic stoneware — usually 20 mm for the outside, as opposed to 10 mm for the inside — can be placed directly on sand, on plots or on adjustable pads without mortar. Our models imitate natural stone, patinated wood, waxed concrete or slate with a remarkable level of realism. The non-slip structured surface of our ceramic sandstone slabs is treated specifically for outdoor use — they pass even wet slip resistance tests.
The natural stone — slate, shale, quartzite, natural sandstone, travertine — brings a authenticity and nobility that no imitation can fully reproduce. Each slab is unique, with its veins, its variations of tone, its slight surface irregularities. The result is a terrace that has character, ages gracefully and takes skate over time rather than degrade. Natural stone requires more attention, however: regular water repellent treatment for certain porous stones, careful snow removal in winter to avoid frost/thaw cycles in cracks, cleaning adapted to porosity. It is a noble material that rewards maintenance with lasting longevity and beauty.
The PVC wood imitation and synthetic slabs occupy the most accessible segment. Lightweight, easy to install, resistant to moisture and insects, they are suitable for balconies, covered terraces or areas with little exposure to intense UV. Their appearance has improved significantly in recent years — the best models faithfully imitate wood from a distance — but remain below composite wood in terms of rendering and long-term durability in full sun.
Clip or glued slab: what method of laying?
The mode of installation is often determined by the configuration of your terrace and your level of DIY skill. Two large families oppose each other.
The clips to be placed on slats are the most accessible to the non-specialist DIYer. They are interlocked by a system of clips or ergots, without glue or mortar. They are placed directly on an existing terrace — concrete, tiled in good condition — or on a structure of adjustable plots. The installation is quick, clean, and reversible: if you move or change your mind, the slabs disassemble as easily as they have been. This type of slab is perfectly suitable for tenants, balconies or terraces on roof terraces where the load is limited and where a glued installation is impossible. The main point of vigilance: the spacing between slabs, which must allow the evacuation of the water without leaving too much play that could hinder the walk.
The slabs sealed on mortar or sand are the traditional and the most enduring pose. They require more serious preparation of the support — overfilling, water drainage slope, choice of an externally suitable mortar — and more technical implementation. But the result is more stable, more durable, and allows the use of heavier and nobler slabs (natural stone, ceramic sandstone, high thickness). This installation is recommended for final projects where the coating is not planned to be dismantled, and for important surfaces where stability is an issue of daily comfort.
The plates on adjustable plots combine certain advantages of both systems. Placed on platforms that adjust in height, they adapt to irregular or low-slope supports, allow access to networks under the slab (cables, piping), and can be lifted and rested individually without disassembly of the whole. This is the solution of choice for roof terraces, commercial spaces or all configurations where access under the slab must remain possible.
Choose the size and format of its terrace slabs
The format of slabs has a direct impact on the final appearance of the terrace. A general rule: the larger the slabs, the larger the terrace. A tile in small sizes — 30x30 cm — visually cuts the space and can give an impression of grazes on large surfaces. A large size — 60x60 cm or 60x90 cm — gives an impression of space, modernity and care.
For the small terraces and balconies — less than 15 m2 — slabs of 40x40 cm or 50x50 cm are well proportioned. For the medium terraces — 15 to 40 m2 — 60x60 cm or 60x90 cm are ideal. For the large terraces — Over 40 m2 — 80x80 cm or 100x100 cm formats create a very contemporary and monolithic look appreciated in modern architectures.
The staggered — staggered joints from one row to another, like bricks — gives a more dynamic appearance and better masks format irregularities. The right position — aligned joints — is more geometric and contemporary. The posing in a 45° bias is more complex to realize but visually enlarges the rectangular spaces by creating a diagonal that stretches the perspective.
Maintenance of terrace slabs: what to know
The maintenance of a terrace depends almost entirely on the material chosen.
The composite wood requires annual cleaning to the high pressure cleaner or brush with a dedicated product to remove foams and lichens that can develop on the surface in wetlands. No oiling, no treatment — just regular cleaning to maintain appearance.
The Ceramic stoneware is the easiest to maintain: a simple water rinse is enough for common dirt. For stubborn stains — barbecue oil, pine resin — a neutral household degreaser is usually enough. No acid product that could attack the joints.
The natural stone requires a more regular maintenance: water repellent treatment every 2 to 3 years for porous stones, cleaning adapted to the nature of the stone, manual or chemical removal if necessary. In return, it ages with a grace and a patina that synthetic materials cannot reproduce.
Explore Related Collections
Continue browsing Home Decor, Living Room, Bedroom, Dining Room.
