How to get cobblestone look with wall tiles?

Amberley1

Hi, Can we use a standard tile to get a cobblestone look wall for an outdoor undercover wall?  (breaking each tile individually).

i can’t find a huge range of outdoor tiles on Bunnings webbie?? But heaps of super nice indoor travertine look ones - can I just seal it or something so I can use the nice ones? 

Was going to get interlocking cobblestone look panels but the pricing is wild and seem heavy anyway (for me to work with) 🥴

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Amberley1. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about tiling a wall.

You can absolutely create that look on your wall. The style in your photos reads much closer to crazy paving than cobblestone. Cobblestone usually comes from uniform square or rectangular pieces with consistent spacing. Crazy paving relies on irregular fragments, which is exactly what you get when you break tiles by hand and fit them together like a jigsaw.

There is no single tile that produces that effect straight out of the box, so the process is always a manually created one. Breaking the tiles, dry laying them, adjusting shapes with a tile hammer or nibbler, then bedding and grouting them is how you achieve that natural, organic look.

Using indoor tiles on a vertical outdoor, undercover wall is generally fine. Walls do not experience the wear or slip requirements that floors do, and as long as you choose a tile that is not porous or that can be sealed properly, you will not run into issues. Travertine look tiles are a good example because most of them are porcelain and very low maintenance. A penetrating sealer will protect against weathering and staining, which is really all you need for an undercover area.

If you want to feel confident tackling it, have a read through a step-by-step guide on How to lay crazy paving. Although crazy paving is typically done on the ground, you can use the same principles and apply it to a wall. Also, take a look at a few examples from other members who have created similar features. Seeing how others planned the layout, managed grout spacing, and blended pieces together really helps visualise the process.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell