Roof Tiles, Terrace Tiles and Balcony Tiles Design
18 designs Outside the house Updated 8 Oct 2026
Roof tiles in India do two jobs: they keep rain out and they keep the rooms below cooler. On a flat RCC terrace that means floor tiles for roof areas with a proper slope, and on a sloped roof it means clay or ceramic roof tiles.
This gallery shows 18 ideas for open terraces, cool roof tiles, sloped house roof tiles and balconies. We note the size and finish of every terrace look, plus one fitting point for your mason, because a terrace that leaks or bakes in May is worse than a plain one.
Planning the whole outside? Our parking tiles design and outdoor wall tiles pages cover the ground floor side.
Terrace Floor Tiles Design
An open terrace floor takes full sun, rain and foot traffic. Terrace tiles design should be matt or textured, light in colour and laid with a slope to the rain water outlet.
- Size
- 600 x 600 mm (2 x 2 ft)
- Finish
- Matt
- Best for
- Open terrace sit-out
Beige stays cooler than grey or brown and hides dust from the street. It suits a terrace used in the evenings for chairs and plants.
Fitter's tip: Lay over a sloped screed of about 1 in 100 towards the rain water outlet before any tiles go down.
- Size
- 600 x 1200 mm (2 x 4 ft)
- Finish
- Textured matt
- Best for
- Large flat terraces
A grey stone look gives a terrace a calm, modern feel and does not show footprints. The texture stays grippy after a sudden shower.
Fitter's tip: Large 600 x 1200 mm tiles on a terrace need a flat screed and levelling clips, or water pools in dips.
- Size
- 300 x 300 mm
- Finish
- Natural unglazed
- Best for
- Terrace gardens
Terracotta tiles feel warm and natural around a kitchen garden. They breathe, so they stay cooler than dark glazed tiles.
Fitter's tip: Seal terracotta after fitting and keep planters on stands so pot water does not leave white rings.
Cool Roof Tiles and Heat Reflective Tiles
Cool roof tiles are white or very light tiles with a glaze that reflects sunlight. On a top floor flat they can make the rooms below noticeably cooler in summer.
- Size
- 300 x 300 mm
- Finish
- Reflective glazed
- Best for
- Top floor flats
Plain white heat reflective tiles bounce back most of the sun. This is the simplest way to cut heat in a top floor bedroom.
Fitter's tip: Fill joints with white cement grout, then wash the roof each summer so dust does not dull the white.
- Size
- Broken pieces
- Finish
- Glazed mosaic
- Best for
- Old roofs, low budget
Broken white ceramic pieces set in cement are an old and proven way to keep roofs cool. They also give a good waterproof top layer.
Fitter's tip: Press the pieces into a fresh cement bed with waterproofing compound and keep gaps under 5 mm.
- Size
- 400 x 400 mm
- Finish
- Heat resistant matt
- Best for
- Terraces used daily
Some home owners find pure white too bright to walk on. Light grey cooling tiles still reflect much of the heat with less glare.
Fitter's tip: Keep a 3 mm joint outside so the tiles can expand in the heat without lifting.
- Size
- 300 x 300 mm + border
- Finish
- Glazed and matt
- Best for
- Roofs seen from above
A grey border along the parapet hides the dirt that gathers at the edges, while the white centre does the cooling.
Fitter's tip: Run a cove or skirting up the parapet by 150 mm so water cannot seep into the wall joint.
Clay and Ceramic Roof Tiles Design for Sloped Roofs
Sloped roofs are common in Kerala, coastal Karnataka, Goa and hill towns. Clay and ceramic roof tiles throw off heavy rain and keep the attic airy.
- Size
- Standard Mangalore
- Finish
- Natural clay
- Best for
- Heavy rain regions
Red clay roof tiles are the traditional choice for heavy rain areas. Clay keeps the house cool and lasts many decades if cracked pieces are swapped in time.
Fitter's tip: Fix clay tiles on battens with a good overlap and keep spare pieces for replacing cracked ones after storms.
- Size
- Interlocking roof tile
- Finish
- Glazed ceramic
- Best for
- Modern sloped roofs
Glazed ceramic roof tiles keep their colour longer than plain clay and do not grow moss easily. Grey suits a modern white villa.
Fitter's tip: Use the matching ridge and edge pieces from the same batch so the colour stays even across the roof.
- Size
- Interlocking roof tile
- Finish
- Matt clay
- Best for
- Farmhouses
A mix of terracotta and brown roof tile colours looks natural and hides the patchy fading that comes with years of sun.
Fitter's tip: Open boxes from different pallets and mix them while fixing, so no single patch looks darker.
- Size
- Roof tile + 600 x 600
- Finish
- Clay roof, matt floor
- Best for
- Stair cabins, canopies
Many new homes add a small sloped roof over the stair cabin or sit-out. Matching the canopy tiles to the floor gives a finished look.
Fitter's tip: Give the canopy a gutter so roof water does not drop straight onto the terrace tiles.
Balcony Tiles Design Ideas
A balcony is small, so balcony tiles design can be a bit more playful. Keep the floor anti-skid, and use balcony wall tiles to protect the wall from rain splash. For pattern ideas see Moroccan tiles.
- Size
- 200 x 1200 mm planks
- Finish
- Anti-skid wood grain
- Best for
- City flat balconies
Wood look tiles give a balcony the feel of a deck without the rot and termites of real wood. They pair well with cane chairs and plants.
Fitter's tip: Lay planks along the long side of the balcony and stagger joints by a third, never half.
- Size
- 200 x 200 mm
- Finish
- Matt
- Best for
- Small balconies
A patterned floor turns a plain balcony into a cosy corner. Keep the walls plain so the floor stays the main feature.
Fitter's tip: Lay out the pattern dry first and fix from the doorway so whole tiles show where you step in.
- Size
- 150 x 600 mm strips
- Finish
- Rough stone
- Best for
- Balcony feature walls
Stone strip balcony wall tiles hide rain stains and look good with green plants. They make a feature of the one wall you see from the room.
Fitter's tip: Fix with exterior grade adhesive and seal the top edge so rain does not run behind the cladding.
- Size
- 300 x 300 mm
- Finish
- Anti-skid matt
- Best for
- Front balconies
A front balcony faces the street, so neat and simple looks best. Anti-skid grey on the floor and plain white walls keep it easy to clean.
Fitter's tip: Slope the balcony floor towards the spout and keep the door threshold 25 mm above the tile level.
Waterproof Tiles for Terrace and Anti Skid Floors
No tile is fully waterproof on its own. Waterproof tiles for terrace work only with a waterproof coating below, sealed joints and the right slope.
- Size
- 600 x 600 mm (2 x 2 ft)
- Finish
- Anti-skid matt
- Best for
- Leaking old roofs
Vitrified anti-skid tiles absorb almost no water, and epoxy joints stop seepage through the gaps. This is the safest top for an old leaking roof.
Fitter's tip: Apply the waterproof coating and a 48 hour pond test first, then tile with epoxy grout in every joint.
- Size
- 100 x 300 mm
- Finish
- Rustic matt
- Best for
- Sloped terrace floors
A brick pattern hides the cuts needed when the floor slopes in two directions. The red shade suits older homes and roof gardens.
Fitter's tip: Mark the slope lines on the screed and lay rows from the outlet outwards to keep the fall.
- Size
- 400 x 400 mm
- Finish
- Textured matt
- Best for
- Large roof terraces
A check pattern adds interest to a large open terrace used for get-togethers. Mixing tones also hides patchy wear.
Fitter's tip: Fix the first row along a string line from the centre so the checks run straight to the parapet.
How to Choose Terrace and Roof Tiles
- Flat RCC roof: use matt or anti-skid vitrified tiles, cool roof tiles or terracotta, over a waterproof coat and sloped screed.
- Sloped roof: use clay or glazed ceramic roof tiles on battens, with ridge and edge pieces.
- Balcony: anti-skid floor and outdoor grade balcony wall tiles that can take rain.
- Heat: light colours stay cooler. Dark grey and brown tiles get very hot underfoot in May.
- Cost: it rises with tile size, thickness, full body vitrified, glazed roof tiles and pattern labour.
For the right size and thickness, see our tile size guide.
Terrace Tile Types and Finishes
| Tile | Size | Finish | Heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool roof tile | 300 x 300 mm | Reflective glazed | Very cool |
| Outdoor vitrified | 600 x 600 mm | Matt or anti-skid | Medium |
| Terracotta | 300 x 300 mm | Unglazed | Cool |
| Clay roof tile | Mangalore pattern | Natural clay | Cool |
| Ceramic roof tile | Interlocking | Glazed | Medium |
Waterproofing, Fitting and Care
Most terrace leaks start at joints, outlets and the corner where floor meets parapet. Get these right and almost any outdoor tile will last.
- Clean the slab and apply a waterproof coating, taking it 150 mm up the parapet.
- Do a pond test for 48 hours and check the ceiling below.
- Lay a screed with a fall of about 1 in 100 to each outlet.
- Tile with 3 mm joints and fill them with epoxy or polymer grout.
- Before every monsoon, clear outlets of leaves and re-grout any cracked joints.
Hard water from tanks leaves white marks. Wipe them off with diluted vinegar, then rinse with plain water.
Tile questions people ask
Which tiles are best for a terrace floor?
Matt or anti-skid outdoor vitrified tiles, cool roof tiles and terracotta all suit a terrace. Pick a light colour so the floor and the room below stay cooler. Avoid glossy tiles, which turn slippery when wet.
Do cool roof tiles really reduce heat?
Yes. White heat reflective tiles bounce back much of the sunlight, so the slab absorbs less heat. Top floor rooms feel cooler in summer, though the effect drops if the tiles get dusty, so wash them once or twice a year.
Are there waterproof tiles for terrace leakage?
Vitrified tiles absorb very little water, but leaks happen through joints and cracks. Use a waterproof coating under the tiles, epoxy grout in the joints and a proper slope to the outlets. Tiles alone will not fix a leaking roof.
Clay or ceramic roof tiles: which is better?
Clay roof tiles are cooler and traditional, but they can grow moss and crack over time. Ceramic roof tiles have a glaze, so they keep their colour and shed dirt better. Both need a well built frame and good overlaps.
Which tiles are best for a balcony floor?
Use anti-skid matt tiles, as balconies get wet in the rain. Wood look planks, small patterned tiles and plain grey tiles all work. Make sure the floor slopes to the spout and the door threshold sits above the tile level.
Can I put floor tiles for roof on an old terrace?
Yes, if the slab is sound. Repair cracks, apply waterproofing and do a pond test before tiling. Remember the extra layer adds weight, so ask an engineer if the old roof already has a thick screed.
