The beauty of the porcelain tiles we sell here at AlfrescoPlus is that they are extremely durable, fundamentally designed to weather the storm in terms of elemental abuse from the environment.

That being said, nothing is invincible and even the very best can have an off-day from time to time. As such, you may find that, in order to retain your just-laid shine, you may want to give your porcelain tiles a sporadic once-over when necessary.

However, blindly jumping in with both feet for a porcelain deep clean can be a recipe for disaster, particularly if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are a few guidelines you may want to stick to if you want to ensure the longevity of your shiny new slabs.

Read on for the ultimate guide to cleaning porcelain tiles.

Step by Step: How to Clean Porcelain Floor Tiles

1. Sweep the surface with a dry mop to rid the tiles of any visible dust and dirt.
2. Once swept clear, cover the area with warm, soapy water and leave briefly to soak.
3. Next, use a wet mop to clean the face of each tile to give your patio a renewed shine.
4. For stubborn dirt and stains, scrub the problem area with a soft nylon brush.
5. Wash away the surface water with clean water to reveal your gleaming tiles.

Top Tips for Cleaning Porcelain Tiles

So, now you’re clued up on the ABCs of cleaning porcelain tiles, it’s time to dot the Is and cross the Ts. Here’s a few more handy tips that are worth bearing in mind before you get polishing your porcelain.

Cleaning Inside Out

Naturally, depending on whether you’re cleaning indoor tiles or outdoor pavers will determine just how you treat your tiles and how you scrub your surface.

For indoor tiles, the steps remain largely unchanged from the guidelines above; however, you will need to be a little less liberal with your water coverage. You may also want to dry and buff the surface with a microfibre cloth once you are finished.

Conversely, outdoor tiles will likely feature a more textured finish and, as such, may require a more thorough scrub to clean. Use a broom or scrubbing brush instead of a mop to ensure you get a good clean within the surface grooves.

Chemical Warfare

To maintain their flawless aesthetic, porcelain tiles are vitrified for enhanced moisture-resistance that’s virtually impermeable. Great, right?

However, this is achieved through the vitrification process which essentially bakes the tile into a glass-like material to achieve this low-porosity.

When exposed to corrosive chemicals, the water-proof, vitrified surface can become damaged, resulting in an increase in water absorption and a natural dip in performance as a result.

In short, chemical cleaners can ruin your tiles and damage the aesthetic of the porcelain – so don’t use cleaners containing chemicals, particularly those containing ammonia, bleach or acids.

Stubborn Stains

Okay, despite what we just said in the previous section, desperate times cause for desperate measures. If you do happen to notice stubborn stains that simply won’t budge, even after a thorough clean, you may have to resort to Plan B.

Specialist floor cleaning products and those specifically designed for porcelain tile cleaning can be a handy fallback plan if your initial clean does nothing to shift a persistent stain. However, it’s still advisable to steer clear of those containing corrosive chemicals.

Similarly, some people swear by white vinegar when it comes to porcelain tile stain removal, commonly used at a ratio of roughly 0.25 litres of white vinegar to 3.75 litres of water.

Before using any specialist cleaning products or methods, be sure to read the instructions and always test them out on a small section of flooring first. That way, you can make sure they won’t damage your tiles without risking complete ruin.

For more information on how to clean porcelain tiles and general porcelain tile maintenance, call now on 0800 028 8756 or drop us a line using the button below.

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The great outdoors is said to be one of the most relaxing places on Earth, full of wildlife, steeped in nature and generally radiating organic tranquillity.

Sadly, the same can’t always be said for our gardens, where wildlife is replaced by plastic kids’ toys, nature is subbed for overgrown weeds and radiant tranquillity makes way for barking neighbourhood dogs and cat mess.

But it doesn’t have to be this way! In fact, creating your very own outdoor oasis can be a lot easier than you think.

With a little imagination, a bit of time and a lot of will power, your gruesome garden could become the nirvana of the neighbourhood in no time.

Here’s how to create your very own outdoor spa in your garden space.

On the bubble

What better place to start in your quest for garden serenity than with the ultimate piece of chill technology – the hot tub.

The pinnacle of outdoor relaxation, the hot tub has been the symbol of summertime leisure for decades, offering an unrivalled setting for alone times and social gatherings alike.

However, hot tubs have also been seen as a symbol of status as well and with very good reason – hot tubs don’t come cheap! That being said, there’s no denying they are worth the investment.

On the other hand, if you don’t happen to have a swag bag of thousands lying around gathering dust, there are economical alternatives. Inflatable hot tubs – like the Lay-Z-Spa – can be found at a far more affordable price.

Lay the foundation

If you do decide to opt for a hot tub, you’ll need a designated area to house it. An exposed spa in the middle of a marshy wasteland doesn’t exactly scream “decadence”, so start by laying a base for your new home spa with a fitting flooring option.

At AlfrescoPlus, we recommend either capped composite decking or porcelain paving tiles for their superior moisture control and water-resistance. Naturally, these watery capabilities make either surface ideal for the task at hand.

Capped composite decking comes in protective polymer sleeve that is virtually impervious to moisture, while porcelain is made for slip-resistance and built to withstand spills and splashes while maintaining grip and traction.

Whichever surface you settle on, either one would make a fantastic flooring solution that’s ideal for housing a hot tub.

Take cover

Now that we have our hot tub and flooring planned out, it’s worth considering a cover for your outdoor spa area.

British weather can be pretty unpredictable at times and, at others, completely unforgiving. There’s nothing fun or relaxing about sitting in the rain, so cover your back by covering your head.

Meanwhile, even if you don’t mind the rain creeping in, you’ll certainly mind a neighbouring peering in. An awning or veranda can provide elemental shelter and heightened privacy simultaneously.

Meanwhile, shelter in the form of wood fencing, trellis and naturally high growing plants can provide additional privacy and seclusion, while also adding to the natural ambience of your garden spa space.

Take a seat

As amazing as it is to relax in the comfort of a hot tub in the outdoors, doing so for too long can pose many risks. Meanwhile, too much of anything can lose its appeal, so an alternative option can act as a welcome break.

Creating a seating area within your outdoor space can provide you with the perfect spot to soak up a rare bout of sun and unwind with a relaxatory beverage of your choice. Whether this is part of the same area as your hot tub or another patch entirely is up to you.

If budget and space allow, this could make for the perfect opportunity to create an outdoor lounge area separate from your hot tub, capitalising on the garden trend of zoning while adding to your overall spa ambience.

Choose a fitting flooring surface in keeping with your theme and adorn with compatible garden seating and loungers. Accessorise with a water feature for the ultimate complimentary area to complete your garden spa sanctuary.

For more information about our products and how to transform your outdoor space into a home spa haven, give us a call on 0800 028 8756 or send us an email using the link below.

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When it comes to adding an element of contemporary garden design to your outdoor space, knowing where to start can be half the battle.

With so many options at the click of a mouse, the myriad of available avenues is virtually endless, leaving you spoilt for choice and none the wiser on where to begin.

To save you from an overwhelming state of mental design flux, we’ve laid out a few simple options to help you bring your contemporary garden design to life on your property.

Zone Out

A growing trend in the gardening community and exterior design is the art of zoning. This essentially splits your outdoor space into distinct areas with a designated theme, look or purpose for each “zone”.

Zoning can help open up your garden give it a more voluminous feel, while it can also increase your garden’s overall appeal by giving your outdoor space with a multi-dimensional sense of purpose.

Creating designated areas for dining, relaxing and play can instantly make your outdoor space an outdoor oasis for people of all ages, making your garden the place to be for a variety of occasions.

Hit the Deck

The multi-functional appeal of decking makes it the perfect addition to any modern garden design. Whether you’re looking to relax and soak up the sun or wine and dine with friends, a decking area can oblige with ease.

Providing the perfect surface to host a variety of outdoor activities, decking can also be a great way to break up your garden and separate it from your lawn and plants.

What’s more, modern composite decking provides both style and substance with its superior durability and range of board designs, making it the perfect material for a long-term garden fixture that looks good and lasts.

Pave the Way

Providing design diversity in droves and personality in abundance, paving for your garden can inject an immediate dose of personality into your property, bringing your outdoor space to life from the moment they arrive.

Available in a huge variety of design options, paving is perhaps the easiest way to make a wholesale change to your garden’s aesthetic presentation. Better still, porcelain paving is specifically designed for low-maintenance longevity and long-term lifespan, providing you with a durable design that retains its looks for the long-haul.

Additionally, lighter colours, like creams and whites, can help create a sense of space, giving the illusion that your garden is bigger than it actually is. If space is at a premium, a brighter tile choice could result in a visually expansive garden.

Lounge Around

Perhaps the ultimate in outdoor enjoyment and relaxation, turning your garden into a glorified lounge can be a perfect way to add a touch of contemporary design to your outdoor space.

While a lounge-like ambience can be achieved through many of the above methods – established to great effect when combining several of these options – the way you accessorise can make all the difference.

Modern design trends have seen interior design staples make their way out into the open air, from rattan style corner sofas to upcycled indoor furniture reborn for the outdoors.

Meanwhile, fire pits and fire bowls can make a great centrepiece for a social area that also provides a hypnotic, mesmerising quality you can just as easily get lost in.

However, no outdoor lounge would be complete without comfy weatherproof seating, so keep that high on the list. Complete the care-free atmosphere by adding an attractive water feature for an all-natural soundtrack.

For more inspiration and information on contemporary garden design, give us a call on 0800 028 8756 or get in touch online using the button below.

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There’s no denying that rivalry and competition can often make for a better outcome, particularly when two rivals are seeking the same end goal.

When there’s an equally appealing Ying to the opposition’s Yang, the game of one-upmanship makes for a mutually beneficial environment where the ultimate winner is you – the consumer!

Sonic had Mario; Muhammad Ali had Joe Frazier; even Bill Gates had Steve Jobs! In keeping with the theme, the outdoor flooring industry is no different.

Paving vs. decking

Patio vs decking has long been the ultimate showdown between garden gunslingers. Find out which side of the duel you reside on, as we run down the pros and cons of paving and decking.

Benefits of porcelain paving

Providing all the aesthetic allure of natural stone, porcelain paving provides a modern twist on the classic stony façade, with heightened durability, hard-wearing properties and extremely low-maintenance.

Built to not only withstand elemental demands like fades and frost, these tiles are also slip, stain and scratch-resistant, leaving you with a new-look tile long after their introduction to your property.

They also come in a wide range of sizes and style, providing you with a huge selection in terms of outdoor design and patio finish.

Meanwhile, the low porosity of the pavers also makes them ideal for a variety of purposes and surfaces, from outdoor dining spots and hot tub areas to pool-sides and driveways.

Benefits of composite decking

Much like porcelain paving, composite decking also mimics its natural counterpart, this time providing a remarkably uncanny aesthetic of real wood.

However, unlike natural wood, composite decking won’t rot, fade, chip or splinter, nor will warp, bow or crack. Better still, it’ll never need to be sealed, stained or painted either.

Also built for slip-resistance, it’s extremely resistant to liquids and frost, particularly the capped composite range, which comes with protective polymer sleeve for enhanced moisture resistance.

Composite decking also boasts an eco-friendly design, made of reclaimed wood and polymer resin for a top-quality end product with a minimal carbon footprint for sustainability.

Porcelain paving or composite decking?

When it comes to choosing one of the other, it’s difficult to identify a clear-cut winner between pavers and decking.

Both offer similar advantages, providing long-lasting durability and weather-resistant stability. Meanwhile, both also offer low-maintenance properties for minimal upkeep.

However, while both porcelain pavers and composite decking are available in a variety of designs, the sheer variety of pavers give them the edge in terms of design freedom.

That being said, composite decking is available in a range of deck types and brands, offering additional diversity in terms of the materials.

The verdict

With porcelain tiles and composite decking boards acting as the Coke to the other’s Pepsi – ultimately, it all comes down to a matter of taste.

Both provide a feast for the eyes and either one would make a fantastic addition to any property, providing an instant upgrade for any property they reside on.

Whether you prefer an authentic stone-look space or a natural wood-look finish, you won’t be disappointed with either one!

For more information on our paving and decking options, feel free to get in touch today on 0800 028 8756 or drop us an email using the button below.

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The term “vitrified tiles” is one you may have seen in your quest for tiling perfection and is a phrase that has seen increasing regularity in recent years – but what does it actually mean?

Grab a Stanley knife and wonder no more, as we unbox this tiling enigma once and for all with this guide to vitrified tiles.

What are vitrified tiles?

In the case of tile making, the term actually refers to the vitrification process of the tile (which makes a lot of sense when you think about it).

During this vitrification process, extremely high temperatures are used to bake tiles into a glass-like material, providing the new substance with a high water-resistance that’s essentially impermeable.

The resulting product boasts an extremely low porosity, making them ideal for outdoor use and areas that see regular exposure to water, such as the surroundings of pools, hot tubs and jacuzzies.

Are vitrified tiles the same as porcelain tiles?

If that last paragraph sounded familiar, it’s probably because it very much is. Porcelain tiles fall under the vitrified tiles banner and are classed as “fully vitrified” with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%.

Due to this, porcelain tiles are often referred to simply as “vitrified tiles”, leaving their true identity to sometimes go under the radar. However, to add to the confusion, porcelain tiles are also considered to be a form of ceramic tile.

Nevertheless, the true label of “fully vitrified” is perhaps the best indicator to go by. While many tiles can fall under the banner of vitrified tiles and ceramic tiles, only porcelain tiles can be categorised as “fully vitrified”.

Vitrified tiles vs ceramic tiles

Ultimately, the benefits of vitrified tiles over traditional ceramic tiles are durability, porosity and traction. The low absorption rate increases grip, making them ideal for bathrooms and poolside, as well as outdoor use.

The dense durability makes them extremely hardwearing and resistant against the elements, keeping them protected from a variety of outdoor issues, from fading and staining to scratches and abrasions.

Meanwhile, in the unlikely event you do happen to chip a tile, you may not even be able to notice. Vitrified tiles contain a dye that is added to the tile mix prior to the vitrification process; this provides them with a consistent colouration all the way through, unlike ceramic tiles.

As such, vitrified tiles boast a consistent colour right the way through, making chips largely unnoticeable. Conversely, ceramic tiles are coated post-bake, making chips far more obvious and conspicuous.

Overall, vitrified tiles are a great choice for a long-term tiling solution, providing long-lasting aesthetic quality with little maintenance required. For a durable tile that won’t crack under the pressure, look no further!

For more information on vitrified tiles and the power of vitrified porcelain paving, why not get in touch? Call now on 0800 028 8756 or drop us an email using the link below.

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