The demand for outdoor living spaces in both residential and commercial projects has grown tremendously in recent years. This market trend has also seen growth in the use of pavers for outdoor spaces.

Modern outdoor pavers can create as much style outside as your inside décor (and even transition inside to outside) with a consistent style.

What Are Porcelain Pavers?

Pavers are flat construction materials typically used as outdoor paving. While there are numerous types of pavers to choose from, gauged porcelain pavers have been growing in popularity because of their added durability and style options.

Gauged porcelain tile is  porcelain tile produced to a specific thickness.  Traditional porcelain tile is usually in the 8–10 mm range of thickness while gauged porcelain tile can be as thin as 3.5 mm. Gauged porcelain pavers can reach 2 cm and thicker. This added thickness, combined with the durability and low maintenance of porcelain, makes gauged porcelain pavers well-suited for a variety of outdoor applications.

As part of the ceramic tile family, gauged porcelain pavers carry all the benefits of ceramic tile, which include water-, scratch-, stain-, fade-, fire-, and bacteria resistance.

Large porcelain pavers such as these create a minimalist design for this lovely pool surround and outdoor kitchen.

Easy to Install, Replace, and Remove

Thanks to their size and density, it’s  possible to loose-lay, or install pavers on-ground or on-grade without the use of adhesives and unbonded. With proper preparation in accordance with manufacturer instructions, this outdoor paving material can be installed in a variety of landscapes.

Unbonded installations enable you to replace, reposition, and remove them individually if needed. Maybe your style has changed, or you’re changing the layout of your outdoor space. Either way, you’ll appreciate being able to move them!

Pro tip: It’s also possible to install them with adhesives as you would with traditional tiles. Bonded installation is  recommended in any area subject to high static or dynamic loads. Keep reading to learn more about your options when installing gauged porcelain.

Weather Resistance

Outdoor porcelain pavers stand up to the elements with the following features:

  • Moisture resistance: Porcelain pavers are impervious to moisture, which gives them resistance to staining and cracking without special maintenance or treatments.
  • Thermal shock resistance: Because gauged porcelain is fired at extremely high temperatures, they are incredibly dense and inert. This enables them to withstand sudden and extreme temperature changes.
  • Frost resistance: The density and their impervious nature allows them to withstand freeze-thaw cycles.
  • Fade resistance: Porcelain’s baked-in color ensures your outdoor tile pavers won’t fade from the sun, no matter how sunny your climate. They also won’t fade from pool chemicals.

Porcelain pavers can be installed on raised pedestals, known as a floating installation.

Low Maintenance

One of the biggest benefits of porcelain outdoor pavers compared to other outdoor materials is low-maintenance care:

  • No sealers: Unlike concrete, there’s no need for sealers or protective coatings.
  • No staining: You won’t have to paint or stain your pavers, as you would with a wood deck.
  • Stain resistance: This building material is resistant to stains caused by leaves, dirt, grass, outdoor cooking, or food and beverage spills.
  • Scratch resistance: The density helps them withstand outdoor debris from scratches.
  • Mold and mildew resistance: Porcelain is completely inhospitable to bacteria, so you won’t have to worry about the growth of mold or mildew.
  • Chemical resistance: The ingredients that make up pavers are inert and thus won’t react with chemicals or acids, including common household cleaning products and pool additives.
  • Easy cleaning: Have peace of mind knowing that you can use a pressure washer (up to 1500 PSI) and mild detergents to clean your porcelain pavers without fear of damage.

Safety

Exterior pavers are a smart option when you’re making choices for the safety of your family and guests:

  • Slip resistance: Slippery conditions are a crucial consideration for outdoor areas exposed to rain or if you plan on using pavers in a moisture-prone area, such as around your pool. Porcelain pavers are available in slip-resistant options, and the texture you choose can also help contribute to slip resistance.
  • High solar reflectance: We’ve all had to scamper across concrete in bare feet on a scorching day — it’s not pleasant. Thankfully, porcelain pavers are available in a variety of colors and finishes that can have a higher solar reflectance index than available with a brick or concrete paver. This means that they don’t absorb heat as much as some other outdoor surfaces and thus won’t become as hot to the touch.
  • Flame resistance: Porcelain pavers are noncombustible and won’t burn, melt, or give off toxic fumes when exposed to flames. They can even help maintain a safe exit path in the event of a fire.

Durability

We’ve already mentioned that outdoor porcelain tile is scratch-resistant, but that doesn’t even “scratch the surface” of their overall durability.

Porcelain pavers are engineered for extreme strength and reduced breakage. Their high load-bearing capacity makes them a good option for areas that see high foot traffic and even vehicular applications.

Considering the durability and longevity of porcelain, gauged porcelain tile is a good investment.

Design Versatility

An additional benefit is that you can use them to get all of the above advantages with just about any design you can imagine.

Love wood or concrete, but worried about water damage? Porcelain comes in both wood and concrete looks.

Or maybe you want to use natural stone throughout your outdoor living area but worry about the cost or sustainability of sourcing it. Porcelain pavers have natural stone looks, too.

And natural looks aren’t your only option. Porcelain pavers are available in practically any color, pattern, and texture.

With so many porcelain paver colors and styles to choose from, you can create a look that works with your home, personal aesthetic, and budget.

Porcelain Pavers’ Cost

When considering the cost of any material choice, take into account any maintenance costs, including routine care, repairs, and the frequency of replacement (how long it will last).

The cost typically ranges from $7 to $15 per square foot, depending on the specific design.

When you factor in longevity and low-maintenance, quarry tile and ceramic tile (both also popular for outdoor applications), along with porcelain tile, have the lowest life cycle cost of any flooring material.

Outdoor Applications for Porcelain Pavers

Porcelain pavers’ outdoor applications are nearly as diverse as their design options.

Walkways and Pathways

They are an ideal choice for creating walkways because they can be installed directly on top of sand, gravel, dirt, and grass.

Patios, Porches and Decks

Porcelain pavers are also commonly used in patios, porches, decks, and other outdoor spaces.

Patio tile pavers are an easy option to create defined areas in your front yard or backyard.

Steps and Staircases

You can even use this kind of paver for steps. Using porcelain pavers as steps enables you to keep designs consistent across upper and lower levels in your outdoor space.

Driveways

Thanks to porcelain’s extreme durability and pavers’ increased thickness, you can use these kinds of pavers for driveways.

With porcelain driveway pavers, you can create a variety of looks and patterns for your driveway instead of a bland solid surface.

Rooftop Terraces

Porcelain pavers aren’t only destined for around your home or business — you can also use them on top of it!

Installing porcelain pavers with grass in between is an increasingly popular look.

Pools With Pavers

Porcelain pool pavers allow you to create a stunning pool surround without concerns about water damage or fading from the sun. Likewise, you can choose pavers with a product use classification for the outdoor wet conditions you expect around your pool to ensure you have the appropriate slip resistance. With pool deck pavers, you can even create a zero-edge design such as the one above.

Indoor-Outdoor Porcelain Pavers

You can use the same look both inside and outside your home with pavers in the same style as interior porcelain tile, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor transition.

We hope you’re just as taken with porcelain pavers as we are and are ready to create your very own paved paradise.

Text: whytile.com