What are the disadvantages of rubber patio tiles?

The disadvantages of rubber patio tiles are inherent in the material and should be understood before purchase; they relate to colour, movement in the material, rubber smell and what the tiles are meant for. In coloured patio tiles made from recycled tyre rubber granules (ELT), the pigments are carried in a coating of binder. The tiles you receive may not match a colour sample exactly, and some variation in colour between deliveries is within the colour tolerance. Newly laid tiles may darken at different rates depending on how much sun they get. Over time, foot traffic can wear the coating away and expose the black rubber granules beneath. With an EPDM Wearing layer, the colour runs right through each granule.

Rubber is porous, so it can expand and contract slightly with heat and moisture. Tiles that have not been precision-cut can have a dimensional tolerance of up to 2%. A rubber smell may be noticeable in the first few days after delivery, but outdoors it soon fades considerably. In normal use, furniture should not leave visible marks: in compressive strength testing to BS 7188, indentation is under 1 mm. That said, point loads from individual furniture feet and chair legs still need to be allowed for.

Patio slabs with interlocking connectors need fixed edging or localised bonding. Patio tiles are not designed for cars to drive on; for areas with car traffic, rubber pavers are the product to use.