The Best Outdoor Surfaces for Phoenix Heat
- UV-stable porcelain: color fired all the way through, so it never fades in the sun; light shades stay cooler underfoot.
- Tumbled travertine: naturally cooler than concrete, textured for slip resistance around water, in desert-matching earth tones.
- Both handle Arizona's 100-plus-degree summers and monsoon swings far better than stained or bare concrete, which cracks and bleaches over time.
UV-stable porcelain tile on a Phoenix patio and outdoor kitchen, built for full desert sun.
What RDC Installs Outdoors, and What It Doesn't
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 bar with tiled surfaces beside a Phoenix pool, RDC installs the tile and stone.
Porcelain vs. Travertine for Your Deck
| Factor | Porcelain | Travertine |
|---|---|---|
| Color fade in UV | None, fired through | Minimal, natural earth tones |
| Underfoot temperature | Cool in light shades | Naturally cooler, textured |
| Slip resistance | Choose a textured finish | Naturally slip-resistant |
| 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 under two of Arizona's harshest forces at once: relentless UV and constant water. Intense sun bleaches stained concrete and lower-grade materials within a few seasons, while pool chemicals and splash-out attack unsealed surfaces. Porcelain shrugs off both because its color is fired through and it's non-porous. Travertine handles it beautifully when sealed properly, which RDC does at installation and recommends periodically after.
A poolside bar with a granite countertop, outdoor surfaces built to take Phoenix 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.