What Is Vitrified Porcelain Paving?

What Is Vitrified Porcelain Paving?

Vitrified porcelain paving is a type of tile which is made from extremely pure kaolin clays and minerals such as quartz and feldspar, which is then fired at 1200 degrees Celsius, making it harder, extremely durable and giving it an extremely low water absorption rate of less than 0.5% - this makes vitrified paving slabs perfect for outdoor areas. Different manufacturers call this type of paving by a few different names, such as vitrified paving, porcelain paving, ceramic vitrified or vitrified porcelain, but these all mean the same thing.

 

What are the benefits of vitrified porcelain paving?

 

• Weatherproof
• Non-porous
• Resistant to frost and thermal shock
• High resistance to loads
• Resistant to high traffic
• Low moisture absorption
• High anti-slip resistance
• Resistant to the attack from acids and cleaning products
• Resistant to salts
• Resistant to attack from moss and mould
• Durable characteristics and colours over time
• Consistent thickness
• Easy to clean, low absorption
• Can be used indoors and outdoors

 

Vitrified porcelain pavers have anti-slip textured surfaces, making them safer for walking on, even when they’re wet - perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. Porcelain tiles come in a wide range of styles thanks to its tough surface, which means it can be polished to a high shine, given a matte or textured effect and can be digitally printed to create a look that will compete with any natural stone effect. You can find a selection of modern colours and patterns, such as these wood effect Bradstone Maderia Oak Porcelain Pavers  https://lsd.co.uk/bradstone-madera-antigua-porcelain-oak-900-x-150mm  

Vitrified porcelain tiles are easy to work with, as they are rectified which gives them crisp, cut edges that ensures each porcelain paving slab is a uniform size. This means that these tiles can be laid with slim joints of 3mm-5mm, which gives a patio a sleek and contemporary look. You can also get larger paver sizes which take less time to lay that are perfect for a modern and clean patio design. There’s also no need to use a sealant as the pavers are already stain and mildew resistant.

Porcelain Tiles vs Ceramic Tiles

Due to the use of the word ceramic appearing in some descriptions of vitrified porcelain paving, it can get confusing as to the difference between ceramic tiles and ceramic porcelain vitrified tiles.  

Ceramic tiles tend to have a glazed top level surface, which means they are not as hard wearing or stain resistant as porcelain, and they have a slightly lower water-resistance rating. Due to the highly refined clay within vitrified porcelain tiles, it is denser, tougher and more hardwearing than standard ceramic tiles, however, this does mean ceramic tiles do tend to be cheaper than vitrified porcelain tiles.

Porcelain Tiles vs Natural Stone Paving

Natural stone has been crafted by years of environmental processes, and they gain character as they age. Due to its natural material, it does mean the colour does tend to be affected over time by the weather, with the colour of the paving fading in the sun. Porcelain paving keeps its colour over time, so black porcelain paving will remain black years down the line.

 

Brands of Vitrified Porcelain Paving

• Bradstone

• Hardstone

• Global Stone 
  

• Stonemarket 
  

Where is best to lay porcelain paving?

As vitrified porcelain slabs are so hard wearing, it really lends itself to patio paving - it’s a great outdoor paving material due to its scratch, abrasion and slip resistance along with it being ultra-low maintenance. Due to its hard-wearing nature it makes great pathways or a unique feature patio area, and don’t forget that porcelain paving can be used indoors too - open up the whole area with flowing matching flooring from the outside to the indoor space such as the kitchen or conservatory.

How to lay vitrified porcelain paving

It is laid using traditional standard laying techniques, so specialists are not necessarily required. Porcelain paving slabs are consistently uniform due to their manufacturing process, so they can be laid with standard plastic tile spacers. Some tilers recommend getting extra deep spacers, as most vitrified porcelain paving is around 20mm thick. 

 

How do I clean vitrified porcelain paving?

Outdoor porcelain paving is low maintenance and does not require much effort in order to keep it in great condition, thanks to its weather resistance and strength. Cleaning your porcelain paving is easy and quick to do - liquids spills, including sugary drinks, sticky oils and chemicals can be simply wiped away, and for a full clean you can simply cover the whole paving area with warm soapy water, as it won’t be absorbed due to the vitrified paving being water resistant, then simply rinse with clean water. You can also use a rubber brush to remove any surface detritus and to drain the excess water from the area if required.

Find our Full Range of Porcelain Paving Slabs Here.