Porcelain Paving: Pros and Cons

If you decide to change your outdoor payment, considering all of the possible options might be daunting. You must consider certain factors like your budget, weather conditions in your area, maintenance level, and the most aesthetically-pleasing solution. 

Apart from natural materials used in an outdoor environment, you might want to think through some other options. For example, porcelain has many qualities raw materials might lack.

Porcelain is a ceramic made by heating raw materials, such as clay or feldspar. Its primary component is kaolin, a clay mineral heated in a kiln at very high temperatures, usually between 2200 and 2450 degrees Fahrenheit.

We can divide porcelain into two main categories:

• hard-paste porcelain or “true porcelain” 
• soft-paste porcelain 

If you are thinking about using porcelain for your home, check out the pros and cons of adding it to your outdoors.

Pros of Having Porcelain Paving

• It Is Long Lasting

Porcelain is a strong, hard-wearing, waterproof ceramic material, which guarantees that it will last for a long time. The material is dense due to vitrification, a process in which fine particles are heated at higher temperatures. As a result, the material is harder and less porous. 

The fact that it’s less porous means that it is more stain-proof, resistant to liquid penetration, and frost-proof, which further adds to its long-lasting nature.

• It’s easy to maintain

Unlike stone and decking, porcelain doesn’t require sealing. Besides its resistance to liquid and temperature changes, it is also mold and moss resistant. Even if mold does appear in porcelain pavers, it can be removed easily. Therefore, you will only need a mop or a brush to keep it clean.

• It adds to the aesthetic

Porcelain can imitate other flooring materials, such as marble, wood, or granite, and make the outdoors look more aesthetically pleasing. For example, you can add porcelain patio tiles to your walkway and make them look like wood to create a warmer ambiance.

The colors on the porcelain look much more vibrant and have much more variation in light and shades. Also, colors can contain mica flecks, giving porcelain more variety in its appearance.

• It’s More Lightweight than Other Materials

Even though porcelain pavers can be pretty heavy, they are much more lightweight than concrete or stone ones. Therefore, it’s much easier and cost-efficient to transport them. They can be transported by elevators which is especially useful for rooftop deck applications.

Cons of Having Porcelain Paving

• It Can Be Very Expensive

Compared to stone or concrete paving, porcelain paving can be quite expensive. However, this investment doesn’t seem so lavish when you consider how long porcelain can last and the variety of conditions it can endure.

• It Might Take a Long Time to Install It

Porcelain paving installation can be quite time-consuming. First, there aren’t many people who know how to install them properly, and finding the right installer might take some time. 

Second, because of the material’s density, it’s difficult to make precise cuts without proper equipment. Therefore, the porcelain can only be cut with diamond-encrusted blades.

• It Can Feel Unnatural

Some people still prefer natural materials like stone or wood for their flooring. So, if you can tell the difference between these raw materials and porcelain imitations of those materials, you might not like how it feels and move on.

Conclusion

Porcelain’s durability, low maintenance and aesthetics make it a great solution for outdoor pavement. If you don’t mind investing time and money in your outdoors, porcelain can also be an excellent substitute for raw materials.