4 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE USING OUTDOOR PORCELAIN PAVERS
Outdoor porcelain pavers offer a number of benefits. They’re typically very easy to clean and maintain; they’re highly durable; they’re frost resistant; and, not to mention, come in a wide variety of looks and finishes. But is this product really the best choice for your particular project? We’ve outlined the top four things you should consider prior to going porcelain.
1. Appearance
What kind of look and style are you going for in your outdoor paver project? Natural and rustic? Or sleek and modern? Since porcelain pavers are man-made in a factory, they won’t lend the genuinely earthy look that natural stone will. While some products may come close, many porcelain options appear very uniform with limited variation. Instead of a rugged rocky look, porcelain pavers are cut straight lines which essentially give a more modern feel. Obviously this works for some projects … but not for all. Assess your surrounding landscape and architecture and then determine if porcelain would make a nice pair.
2. Layout
What does your desired design and layout look like? When working with porcelain, square layouts are generally the easiest to install. With a square or rectangular layout, you’ll minimize cuts and waste. Curved cuts are a bit more complex to make on porcelain. If your layout winds, bends, or features any circular patterns, using porcelain may present some challenges when it comes time to make the cuts!
3. Slope
Will you be installing your pavers on a surface that has multiple slopes? If so, you need to keep two things in mind about porcelain pavers: 1. They are typically large in size and, 2. They do not bend or contour. So the moral of this story...it’s best to install porcelain on a flat surface or one that only has a single slope.
4. Heat
If you’re having cold feet about using porcelain, here’s another factor to think about. Porcelain tile generally gets hotter than concrete pavers or natural stone. So if your surface is in an area that gets a lot of direct sunlight, choose a lighter color tile to avoid burnt feet! A cream, beige, or light gray porcelain will be less prone to absorbing heat.
Want to take it to the next level? Learn all the secrets to a successful outdoor porcelain tile installation by downloading a copy of your free Gator Tile System Installation Guide today.
