The Best Outdoor Surfaces for Phoenix Heat
- Outdoor-rated porcelain: its color is fired into the glaze or body, and RDC uses tile its manufacturer rates for exterior use; light shades stay cooler underfoot.
- Tumbled travertine: naturally cooler than concrete, with a textured surface, in desert-matching earth tones.
- Both handle Arizona summers and monsoon swings better than stained or bare concrete.
Porcelain tile on a Scottsdale patio and outdoor kitchen, built for full desert sun.
What RDC Installs Outdoors, and What It Doesn't
RDC Renovation & Design Concepts is a tile and stone contractor in Phoenix, Arizona. RDC installs the finished tile and stone surfaces on pool decks, patios, walkways, and outdoor kitchens. That means it lays and sets the porcelain or travertine, waterproofs and preps the substrate, and grouts and seals the finished surface. It is not a pool builder, landscaper, or concrete contractor, so pool construction, equipment, and structural decking are handled by your pool company. Being clear about that scope up front is how RDC keeps projects honest and on budget.
An outdoor kitchen and BBQ bar with a black countertop beside a Paradise Valley pool, by RDC.
Porcelain vs. Travertine for Your Deck
| Factor | Porcelain | Travertine |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior use | Choose a tile rated for exterior use | Sealed at installation, resealed periodically |
| Underfoot temperature | Cool in light shades | Naturally cooler, textured |
| Slip resistance | Choose a textured finish | Textured surface; choose a textured finish for wet areas |
| Sealing | None needed | Sealed at install + periodically |
| Look | Modern, uniform, large-format | Organic, Southwest, classic |
Please note: outdoor pricing is set individually for each customer based on your specific project, materials, substrate condition, and scope, confirmed in your free written estimate.
Indoor-outdoor flow toward the pool, RDC also carries flooring right up to the patio threshold.
Why Sun and Water Change the Material Choice
A pool deck lives with strong sun and constant water, and pool chemicals and splash-out attack unsealed surfaces. Porcelain handles water well because it absorbs 0.5% water or less (ANSI A137.1), and its color is fired into the tile. Travertine handles it well when sealed properly, which RDC does at installation and recommends periodically after.
A poolside bar with a granite countertop in Scottsdale, outdoor surfaces built to take Arizona sun and splash.
Serving Pool Deck & Patio Tile Across the Valley
RDC installs outdoor tile and stone throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Sun City, Sun City West, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Buckeye, Anthem, New River, and Happy Valley. Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills backyards, where the pool is the centerpiece of outdoor living, most often request large-format porcelain and premium travertine for a resort-grade deck.
Compare materials in our travertine & natural stone guide and porcelain & ceramic tile guide, see all flooring services, browse the project gallery, or get a free estimate. Outdoor tile has to be judged for slip resistance and heat underfoot, so it's worth handling in person at our Phoenix flooring showroom on Bell Road, where the same team that sells the material installs it.