Paving is an excellent way to take your outdoor space to the next level! Whether you’re upgrading your patio, adding a sleek new driveway, or refreshing your garden path, paving is an extremely popular choice. When it comes to outdoor tiling there’s such a diverse range of options available; whatever your style is, you’re sure to find a tile that’s suited to your unique taste.
When faced with the task of selecting the right tiles, not only do you have to consider the aesthetic implications of the shape, size, and colour, but you also have to decide what type of paving tile is best in a practical sense.
To help you get this process started, we’ve put together this blog outlining the various outdoor paving tile options that are available to you, along with a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each type to help you decide!
Different Types of Outdoor Tiles
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are made from clay and are a somewhat popular tiling option since they often have more intricate and complex designs compared to other tiles.
While ceramic tiles can be beautiful, they are much better suited for inside use rather than outside; ceramic tiles are just not as hard-wearing as other tiling options. They are prone to cracking in cold weather, absorb more water than some other alternatives (such a porcelain), and they aren’t as durable.
Natural stone
If you’re looking for a more traditional aesthetic for your outdoor space, it may be tempting to opt for natural stone paving. There are a vast number of natural stone tiles available on the market, with some of the most popular including granite, slate, and sandstone.
Whilst natural stone paving will definitely get you the more traditional aesthetic, there are also some drawbacks of having natural stone paving that you need to consider. For instance, ‘rock solid’ is a common expression referring to something being solid and immovable, but natural stone isn’t actually the most durable outdoor tiling option available.
The durability of your outdoor tile depends on the stone you use. Natural stone paving is more durable that ceramic tiles, but less durable than porcelain. Many natural stone tiles can be brittle and prone to cracking and fading over time, especially after sun exposure and inclement weather.
Natural stone paving tiles also require maintenance – specifically sealing – to protect your stone paving from water absorption and staining.
All in all, natural stone outdoor tiles can have a charming aesthetic, but they are typically more work and less durable than other paving alternatives, such as porcelain.
Porcelain
One of the biggest advantages of porcelain paving is that it’s well suited to both indoor and outdoor use! If you’re looking for outdoor paving tiles, the profile thickness and all-round durability of porcelain paving makes them a strong contender in comparison to other materials.
A further advantage of porcelain outdoor paving is that they are available is such a vast array of styles. For example, if you’re looking for a paving solution that looks similar to traditional stone but doesn’t require the maintenance, you can achieve it with porcelain! On the flip side, if you’re looking for a more ‘wacky’ or less traditional tile, porcelain tiles are also available in a wood effect.
Unlike natural stone, porcelain paving tiles do not require sealing as they naturally have incredibly low porosity (0.05%) and won’t absorb water. The cherry on top of the proverbial cake? Porcelain paving is stain resistant, scratch resistant, fade resistant, slip resistant, and frost proof!
What Outdoor Paving Tile is Best?
As far as we’re concerned, porcelain paving is the MVP every time, no matter your project! Porcelain outdoor paving tiles outperform all other outdoor tiles in every aspect. This just goes to show that there’s no better option for your next outdoor paving project.
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We hope this blog has been informative, and you’re now feeling suitably prepared to select the right outdoor paving tile for your outdoor space. Here at PrimaPorcelain we supply a wide range of premium quality indoor and outdoor porcelain tiles in all manner of shapes, colours, sizes, and designs! If you’re interested in browsing the range of porcelain tiles we offer, head on over to our website today!
If you’re considering using porcelain paving to tile your outside space but want to see the quality of our tiles for yourself first, order your FREE samples today!
If you have any further questions about porcelain paving and its suitability for your outdoor space, feel free to reach out and contact us today; one of our professional team members will answer any questions you may have, and help you find the perfect outdoor tiles for you!
