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Installing porcelain pavers is an excellent way to enhance and bring a touch of sophistication to your outdoor space. However, you might be concerned about whether they can function, look stylish, and stay in place for a long time. We've done our research on the durability of porcelain pavers to get the answer for you.
Porcelain pavers are extremely durable, making them suitable for indoor and outdoor applications. Established as one of the toughest paving options on the market, they're exposed to high heat during their manufacturing process and become incredibly strong as a result.
Besides their durability, porcelain pavers offer plenty of benefits that make them ideal for outdoor areas. If you're not sure whether to have porcelain pavers installed in your home, keep reading! We'll talk about their other advantages and discuss their disadvantages as well. We'll also answer more questions about this type of paving, so stay tuned!
Benefits of Porcelain Pavers
Over the past years, porcelain pavers have risen in popularity and climbed to the top of homeowners' choices for outdoor hardscapes. Particularly lauded for their ability to mimic the utterly captivating look and feel of natural stone pavers without their expensive price and susceptibility to damage, these pavers have gained a reputation for their stylish appeal and unparalleled toughness.
Here are a few of the most important benefits that porcelain pavers offer:
1. Extremely durable
Made from dense clay fired in the kiln at thousands of degrees Fahrenheit, porcelain pavers are simply unmatched in their durability. They hold up impressively well to years of use, heavy foot and vehicle traffic, extreme temperatures, and weights up to 2,000 pounds per slab.
Because they're denser than other paving materials including natural stone, they won't chip or erode easily. Porcelain pavers with a thickness of at least 20 millimeters won't get scratched even when you drag heavy equipment or furniture across the surface.
They also won't crack or rot, so they can last decades. Their lasting strength makes them a wise investment since you won't have to spend thousands of dollars on repairs and maintenance over the years when you have them installed.
2. Weather-resistant
Porcelain pavers are non-porous by nature, which means they don't expand or contract with changes in weather. As a result, even extreme heat or cold can't damage them.
Their non-porous quality makes them virtually impenetrable and results in little to no water absorption, so they remain frost-resistant in temperatures as low as -60°F. They won't absorb water and eventually crack when exposed to freezing weather. If you live in an area that experiences harsh cold, porcelain pavers are the most ideal paving option for you.
Extreme heat is also no match for porcelain pavers. You can put grills or fire pits over them safely because they don't catch on fire, and they also won't absorb heat and become uncomfortable to walk on in the summer. Take note that lighter-colored porcelain pavers are much more effective in preventing fast heat absorption than their dark-colored counterparts.
3. Resistant to stains, fading, and discoloration
Again, because the water absorption rate of porcelain pavers is so low, stains won't set on their surface. Spills, oil, grease, and all other types of liquids can be easily wiped off or cleaned with soap and water.
Consistent exposure to sunlight is inevitable with outdoor pavers, which can lead to fading in most paving materials like concrete. Over time, their color will change which is certain to affect their appearance significantly. Luckily, this isn't the case for porcelain pavers!
These pavers go through a vitrification process that integrates the color into the surface permanently. As such, the pavers won't fade over time - even with everyday exposure to harmful UV rays from the sun. They'll look brand new with their color intact for years to come!
4. Resistant to mold, mildew, and bacterial growth
Given that porcelain pavers have no pores, they don't offer a breeding ground for mold and bacteria to grow. Not only does this make them suitable for areas with constant exposure to water such as pools, but it also means that they can help your family steer clear of health hazards caused by these harmful growths.
They're also resistant to moss, and any slight growth can be quickly removed.
5. Easy to clean and maintain
It's difficult for dust and dirt to seep into porcelain, so it's much easier to clean than materials like concrete and natural stone. A simple hosing down with soap and water will suffice in keeping it sparkling clean.
Better yet, you won't have to purchase any special cleaning products for porcelain pavers since the material isn't sensitive to chemicals. Any product you already have at home will do the job perfectly well.
6. Stylish and versatile
Featuring a wide variety of styles and colors, porcelain pavers can help you add aesthetic appeal to your outdoor area effortlessly. You can choose pavers that suit your tastes and preferences, whether you're going for classic elegance, modern luxury, or rustic charm.
With porcelain pavers, you can flex your creative muscles and use different paver sizes and styles to achieve your dream outdoor area!
7. Suitable for different outdoor areas
Practically every area of your home can be spruced up with porcelain pavers. They're moisture-resistant and mold-resistant so they can beautify and safeguard your pool deck. Because they resist stains, you can also place them on outdoor areas for kids or patios with alfresco dining sets.
In addition, porcelain pavers have an impressive load-bearing capacity, so they're perfect for areas that get a lot of traffic from heavy vehicles such as your driveway.
Best of all, you can use them to create a consistent look for your entire home! Because they're suitable for indoor and outdoor areas, you can use them in different parts of your home to create a seamlessly elegant aesthetic.
Drawbacks of Porcelain Pavers
Like all other paving materials, there are certain drawbacks to installing porcelain pavers. Here are a few of the most significant disadvantages:
1. Tedious installation
Proper installation of porcelain pavers is extremely crucial because they won't function well otherwise. The base material needs to be sufficiently compacted and leveled to achieve a certain depth before installing the pavers. Skilled installers also have to ensure they watch out for raised edges that could lead to chipping
Shippers also need to take extra care in transporting them to prevent them from breaking while in transit as they can be quite brittle prior to installation.
Plus, they're more difficult to cut and drill, meaning they require special diamond blades for the job. As such, finding a qualified installer for porcelain pavers can be much more difficult than other standard pavers. It's also not advisable to install them on your own, so they're not DIY-friendly.
2. Costly price
Porcelain pavers cost around $7 to $9 per square foot in installation fees. For comparison, installation of concrete pavers costs around $4 to $6 per square foot. However, its durability and low maintenance make its costly upfront price worth the expense.
3. Heavy
Because they're made from extremely dense material, some elevated structures may not be able to support their weight. It's extremely important that you check with a professional before installing them on a deck or any similar structure.
Shipping costs for this material are also generally higher due to its weight.
4. Not natural
Despite its resemblance to natural stone, porcelain pavers are still man-made. While they offer plenty of benefits that come specifically from their construction, this may be a considerable drawback for those who prefer natural flooring options.
Are porcelain pavers slippery?
No! On the contrary, porcelain pavers have a slip-resistant texture which makes them suitable for wet areas such as pools or walkways such as in your garden or backyard. It's also highly advisable to have them installed in areas used by kids, pets, or senior adults.
Can you jet wash porcelain paving?
Yes. Porcelain paving can withstand the force from a pressure washer. You can use one to clean it if there is stubborn dirt or debris that won't come off with regular brushing or sweeping.
See this pressure washer on Amazon.
Should porcelain pavers be sealed?
Among the factors that make porcelain pavers so low-maintenance is that they don't need to be sealed! They're already non-porous so you don't need to apply coatings to protect them from spills or help them maintain their appearance.
The Wrap-Up
Attractive, long-lasting, and resistant to extreme weather and harmful elements, porcelain pavers are among the top-notch paving solutions for indoor and outdoor spaces. Feel free to refer to this list of the pros and cons of porcelain pavers when you're deciding on whether to choose them for your home so you can make an informed decision.
Did you find this article helpful? We've got more paver-related posts for you to enjoy and learn from:
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