Elevation Tiles in Bengaluru: Front Wall Cladding for Homes

The front elevation is the first thing people see of your house. Elevation tiles let you clad part or all of the exterior wall in a stone, brick, wood or textured look that stays good for years, without repainting every few monsoons. They are popular on independent houses across Bengaluru, from small two-storey homes to larger villas.

What elevation tiles are

Elevation tiles are wall cladding tiles made for outdoor use. They are usually vitrified, porcelain or dense ceramic with low water absorption, often with a textured, carved or 3D surface. Common designs include:

• Natural stone and slate looks
• Exposed brick and thin brick strips
• Stacked stone and ledge stone
• Wood planks for soffits and accent sections
• Plain textured or fluted panels in grey, beige and charcoal

Where they work, and where they don't

Good fit:

• The front wall or a feature section of the facade
• Gate pillars and compound walls
• Balcony parapets and staircase towers
• Column cladding at entrances
• Shop fronts and commercial facades

Be careful with:

• Using indoor ceramic wall tiles outside. They absorb more water and can craze, stain or loosen
• High gloss tiles on exteriors, which show dust and water streaks
• Large, heavy tiles at height without proper fixing. Above a certain height and weight, a facade specialist may recommend mechanical clamps or anchors along with adhesive
• Walls with seepage or cracks. Fix the wall and plaster first

Sizes and finishes commonly available

Elevation tiles come in many formats. Strip tiles such as around 100x300 mm or 60x240 mm give a brick or stone strip look. Panels in 300x450 mm, 300x600 mm and 600x1200 mm are common for stone and plain textures. Finishes include rustic, carving, matt, 3D raised and fluted.

How to choose and fix them

1. Check water absorption. Lower is better outdoors. Vitrified or porcelain elevation tiles usually perform best.
2. Use exterior grade adhesive. A polymer modified tile adhesive rated for exterior use (often classed C2) bonds far better than plain cement mortar. Read our tile adhesive vs cement mortar guide.
3. Ensure full coverage. Back-buttering each tile avoids hollow spots where water can collect.
4. Leave proper joints. Outdoor tiles expand in the sun. Joints and movement gaps prevent cracking and popping.
5. Choose a dust-friendly colour. Greys, sandstone, brick red and mixed stone tones hide dust and rain streaks.
6. Mix materials. A tiled section with painted plaster around it often looks more balanced than tiling the whole front.

See front elevation ideas for layout thoughts.

Bring a photo of your house front

A photo of your building and rough wall measurements help a lot. Call the shop or visit us, and we will show you elevation tiles from current stock that suit your facade.