Which type of patio surface heats up least in the sun?
A patio surface in a light colour heats up least in direct sunlight. Pale shades reflect a greater proportion of solar radiation, whereas dark colours absorb it and turn it into heat. This applies to timber surfaces as well as patio tiles made from polyurethane-bound rubber granules. Even a light-coloured surface can become too hot to walk on barefoot around midday after prolonged exposure to the sun.
Shade has a greater effect than colour. A patio shaded by trees, an awning or a shade sail during the most intense hours of sunlight absorbs far less radiation than one exposed to the sun throughout the day. No colour can compensate for that difference. An airy, open setting helps as well, because moving air carries heat away from the surface.
The construction of the covering affects surface temperature less than how warm it feels when walked on. Patio tiles made from polyurethane-bound rubber granules have an open-pored granular structure and a low bulk density. During brief contact, less heat therefore passes into the sole of the foot than it would from a dense covering. After sunset, a surface with low thermal mass also cools more quickly.