Porcelain: The ultimate outdoor

PORCELAIN: THE ULTIMATE OUTDOOR FLOOR COVERING

Katy Harris, Marketing Director at Verona discusses the benefits of using porcelain outdoors, and explores inspirational ways to use the material in your next project.

Outdoor spaces are incredibly versatile, and can be creatively transformed in so many different ways. No matter the size or space of a garden, homeowners are investing time and money into creating something functional and style-led. Whether it’s an entertaining space with a fire pit, beautiful blooms to establish corners and borders or an outdoor living space with furniture around a focal point, the possibilities are endless. The use of 20mm thick outdoor porcelain is growing in popularity and features a wide range of features and benefits that tackle many issues associated with natural stone paving and timber decking. Versatile and functional, 20mm porcelain tiles deliver a hard-wearing floor covering. Fade resistant even in strong sunlight, the porcelain will retain its good looks for years to come, with no special maintenance needed. Simply clean with a brush and warm soapy water or porcelain cleaner on a regular basis.

Natural stone has the ability to absorb water, expand and crack, so to prevent this regular sealing is required. When it comes to 20mm porcelain, the material is frostproof and doesn’t require the extra maintenance of sealing. Natural stone paving can also feature a riven or textured surface and each paving slab can vary in thickness. This adds character to floors, but with this comes an uneven surface, which can be unsafe in busy family areas. Porcelain is created to be even and perfectly flat, providing a safe and durable surface covering. Each tile is manufactured to tight tolerances ensuring an even thickness and level surface for a secure surface underfoot.

Porcelain can withstand extreme weather conditions, and most tiles offer an excellent slip rating of R11 for added safety outdoors whereas natural stone and timber are prone to algae and moss which can cause discolouring and a slippery surface. Stone also features naturally occurring chemicals within the material, which creates the paving colour and natural shading, making it very difficult to get an exact match each time. Porcelain is printed using the latest HD technology, which eliminates extreme shading issues. The material can deliver a range of finishes from classic travertine to contemporary concrete and wood. Detailed veining and stunning tonal variation create a look that’s difficult to distinguish from real stone and timber, making it a stylish alternative that’s easy to clean and maintain. Concrete stone effects in steely grey shades are proving to be popular with consumers, alongside the weathered, distressed looks of heavy wood grain designs.

Many people believe porcelain is difficult to install, but actually the opposite is true. Porcelain can be installed in the same way as a traditional patio, the only difference is that a priming slurry must be applied to the back of the tile.

Fewer grout lines are needed when using large format tiles which creates an illusion of space in small areas. As porcelain tiles are extremely robust and durable, they must be cut with a water-fed diamond blade, creating a precise and premium look every time.

Pattern has always been a massive trend within interior design, and this can be applied to porcelain tiles. Loose lay tiles in a variety of patterns and formats to make a space stand out from the crowd with minimal effort or create an interesting twist to a fixed patio with eye-catching diagonal layouts, herringbone and modular patterns, all of which deliver a more modern aesthetic.

You can also create paths and zoned areas with individual tiles that lead further into an outside space for an attractive, stable floor covering that connects the exterior of the house with the lower part of the garden or covered gazebo area. A stone effect porcelain tile in light beige on the patio, next to a much darker stone walkway clearly defines the space but connects the two together at the same time. For more eclectic projects, experiment with different sizes and textures by laying wood and stone effects side by side for a visually stunning combination.