Adding a patio to your garden is a great way to add more usable space. Nowadays, there are so many different paving options on the market it can be difficult to know what to choose. Is ceramic better than brick? Will concrete last longer than limestone? There are so many questions you need to answer before you get to work on your new patio. 

If you're asking yourself the question - "should I use porcelain pavers for my patio" then this blog is perfect for you. We're going to take a look at the ways that porcelain paving is superior to other types of stone so that you can make an educated decision on whether porcelain paving is right for you!

Durable

One of the main reasons that porcelain paving is a great choice for your patio is because it's much more durable than other forms of natural stone. The porcelain paving we offer from PrimaPorcelain is vitrified at a very high temperature. This causes the elements inside the tiles to turn into a strong, glass-like substrate which offers numerous benefits. Firstly, the tiles waterproof without needing a glaze, secondly the tiles resistant to scuffs and chips regardless of heavy footfall and thirdly, the vitrification process extends the tiles' life expectancy. 

The durability of porcelain pavers means they're perfect for patios in busy family homes. Even if there are children and pets running around, spilling drinks and spreading dirt, your porcelain tiles will stand up to the challenges boldly and will come out the other side unscathed.

Low-Maintenance

Nowadays, homeowners don't have very much free time on their hands. Between the 9-5 job, the school run and the precious moments of 'me time' there isn't much time left over for garden maintenance. With limited free time, you might be looking for garden features that require as little upkeep as possible.

If you want to create a stress-free, low-maintenance garden then porcelain pavers are ideal. All they need is a quick wipe over to remove surface dirt. Their impermeable surface means they won't become stained even if you spill red wine during your next garden party!

Beautifully Designed

Whether you're creating a simple and contemporary garden or something more traditional and rustic, there's a range of porcelain paving that'll suit your needs. If you're looking for something that looks like natural stone, we can cater for that! We offer porcelain paving in the style of sandstone, slate and limestone, meaning you can achieve a natural appearance while still benefitting from porcelain paving's many advantages. 

For something a little more unique, we also offer porcelain paving with a real-wood effect. This means you can create a patio that's durable, easy to maintain and incredibly stylish too. Just take a look at the beautiful rooftop veranda (above) created using PrimaPorcelain's Forest Oak paving! The wood grain works perfectly in this setting but won't require the same level of maintenance as a typical wooden deck.

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Hopefully you can see why porcelain paving is a great choice for any patio. With excellent durability, minimal maintenance and some gorgeous designs you can create a porcelain paver patio that suits your home perfectly.

When it comes to time-saving solutions to your outdoor flooring needs, few can compare to the awesome efficiency-boosting properties of the Easy-Frame.

Providing your flooring with a supportive sub-frame, the Easy-Frame is the supreme structural shortcut you’ve been waiting for, designed to ensure your best-laid plans achieve the best-laid results.

What is Easy-Frame?

Made from galvanised steel, Easy-Frame is a strong and reliable underfloor support that won’t let you down.

Designed to support a variety of surfaces, the versatile structure allows you to lay your decking or porcelain paving with ease, achieving a level finish without a spirit level in sight.

Featuring a unique modular system for layout customisation, the supportive frames simply lock together for a solid base that makes outdoor flooring jobs a doddle.

Benefits of Easy-Frame

A truly innovative addition to outdoor flooring application, Easy-Frame boasts a laundry list of benefits that go far beyond what you would expect from a simple framework.

Durability

The steel composition of the frame provides the highest weight-to-strength ratio of any building product on the market. Unlike traditional timber decking frames, Easy-Frame can support the load effortlessly without risk of cracks, bows or bends.

Better yet, every inch of steel is zinc-coated, providing fully-enhanced elemental protection. Not only does this make it immune to temperature changes, but also leaves it unaffected by moisture and capable of withstanding the effects of the frost thaw cycle.

Versatility

Whether you opt for composite decking or porcelain paving, Easy-Frame is uniquely equipped to adapt to either flooring option.

In terms of positioning and design, the frame can be installed flush against your property, should you wish to create a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces.

Meanwhile, it can just as easily be installed as a free-standing structure elsewhere in your garden if you’re looking to create a featured presentation, like a hot tub area or outdoor lounge.

Exclusive

Bespoke and made-to-order, each Easy-Frame is meticulously assembled off-site to fit the exact requirements of your space, ensuring your Easy-Frame is the perfect fit.

Despite being extremely sturdy and hard-wearing, each frame is surprisingly manoeuvrable allowing them to be easily transported in their assembled form right to your property.

Appearance

From an aesthetic perspective, the “made-to-measure” aspect of the frame provides dimensional accuracy that allows it to fit perfectly in your outdoor space, achieving a clean, level finish with minimal impact to the ground below.

Best of all, the framework can also be used to hide unsightly housing necessities like electrical wiring and plumbing pipes.

Accessibility

On the subject of pipes and wiring, another perk of the Easy-Frame is that it can be installed without disturbing utilities. All electric and plumbing requirements can be safely housed within the framework.

Meanwhile, the suspended nature of the platform allows such requirements to still be easily accessible, while also providing access to any on-site maintenance features, such as manholes and drains.

All Easy-Frame systems are bespoke and made-to-order based on the dimensions of your chosen space. If you’re interested in installing your flooring using the Easy-Frame option, get in touch today on 0800 028 8756 or click the button below to send us an enquiry online.

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If you’re thinking of revamping your outdoor space with paving slabs or a patio design, you’ve probably been faced with the inevitable choice between natural stone and porcelain paving.

While both have their advantages, here at AlfrescoPlus we believe that porcelain pavers have the upper hand. From durability and practicality to aesthetics and maintenance, the power of porcelain has the edge over natural stone.

Don’t believe us? Let’s run through the pros and cons in more details in the battle of porcelain paving vs natural stone.

Disadvantages of Natural Stone

While natural stone has the obvious advantage of being the real article with its authentic features innately built-in, natural stone also has a number of drawbacks not applicable to porcelain.

Real stone requires real work to maintain a pristine aesthetic. High-maintenance is a common trait of natural stone and regular cleaning/treatment is often required to ensure its appearance remains presentable.

Natural stone is also uniquely crafted by Mother Nature, with each individual paver differing from the last. While this can be great for creating an organic-looking surface, it can be a detrimental attribute when looking to create a uniform finish.

While most of our porcelain designs feature a variegated pattern to differentiate between pavers, they don’t differ too drastically to ruin the overall aesthetic of the flooring. That being said, they still vary enough from tile to tile to maintain the natural deviation of genuine stone.

Benefits of Porcelain Paving

Porcelain tiles are specifically designed to mimic natural stone by recreating their organic appearance in a man-made product. From a production standpoint, this has a number of benefits, ranging from durability right down to the aesthetics.

Our porcelain products have been painstakingly engineered to look exactly like natural stone, so much so that it’s hard to tell the two apart. However, the materials used to create porcelain paving give them a distinct edge over their natural counterpart.

Extremely durable and low-maintenance, each paver is built to last. They require very little upkeep and have the ability to retain their vibrancy and unblemished finish for years with very little TLC along the way. An annual jet-wash is all that’s needed.

As well as being extremely resistant to stains, fading and abrasions, porcelain is also impressively slip-resistant when wet, providing a far more reliable surface in wet and damp conditions. This weather-proofing also extends to frost and our porcelain tiles are highly capable in sub-zero temperatures.

Why Choose Porcelain Paving?

From the durability and low-maintenance upkeep to its stunning design and impressive weather-resistance, porcelain is the next evolution of stonework design in the home. Porcelain has the ability to provide all the benefits of natural stone and more, culminating in a finished product that’s fit for 21^st century living.

In addition to its performance, porcelain pavers are also a great choice for environmentalists as all our tiles eco-friendly, made from natural raw materials, ethically sourced with minimal waste. Any waste that is created during the manufacturing process is simply recycled and each tile is meticulously made to meet European Ecolabel standards.

What are you waiting for? Request a FREE sample today and see for yourself or call now and speak to one of our experts using the button below.

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In the world of garden design, outside of grassy lawns, there are two primary design options that stand head and shoulders above the rest: paved patios and wood decking.

These tried and tested options have long been duking it out for garden supremacy, consistently engaged in a tug-of-war of exterior design.

When it comes to finding a winner in this popularity contest, it’s hard to pick a standout victor. Thanks to modern innovations in porcelain paving and composite decking, both offer fantastic benefits that are truly hard to choose between.

With such a fine line between the two, the final decision ultimately has to come down to personal preference. With that being said, which one is right for you? Let’s run the garden gamut and find out.

Patio Magnifico

For a classy, stone-look surface, nothing beats the almighty awesomeness of the porcelain-powered patio paving.

Extremely durable, indistinguishable from the real thing and available in a wide variety of colours and patterns, our porcelain paving slabs offer a wealth of creative freedom when it comes to creating patio perfection.

AlfrescoPlus has one of the largest selections of porcelain paving designs in the UK, giving you ample choice and unrivalled freedom when it comes to formulating your outdoor design.

From light, Mediterranean warmth of the Turin Cream to the dark and stormy allure of the Slate Riven Black, we have a tile for all tastes and a patio for all personalities.

What’s more, porcelain boasts an extremely low porosity that absorbs very little moisture, making it highly resistant to water, as well as frost and ice. This gives it added traction and grip for reassuring slip resistance in a number of wet and icy conditions.

Best of all, all our porcelain tiles extremely low-maintenance, requiring very little TLC at all. Inherently scratch, fade and stain resistant, all you need to do is give them an annual jetwash to keep them looking as good as new!

Hit the Deck

If stone-look isn’t quite your cup of tea, the alternative is the wood-grained garden grandeur of composite decking.

A more than fitting replacement, composite decking from AlfrescoPlus is made from a combination of natural hardwood and synthetic materials, giving it an authentic aesthetic appeal with the unparalleled durability of modern technology.

Composite decking boards never have to be sealed, painted or stained to retain their visage, while they will also never crack, splinter or bow. Each board is also capable of retaining its grip even under harsh conditions, engineered to be resistant to rain and frost.

Available in a variety of colours, shades and designs, our collection also caters for all manner of budgets. What’s more, our impressive warranties also provide unrivalled peace of mind, proof that your deck will last.

From a maintenance standpoint, each deck board is made for independence and requires very little upkeep to retain its looks. An occasional once over with warm, soapy water when necessary will be all it needs to return to its original glory.

Deck Out Your Patio

So, you’ve heard both sides of the argument and are still torn like Natalie Imbruglia. Now what?

Well, who’s to say you have to choose between the two at all? There’s always the option to blend the two using the art of zoning in your exterior design.

Garden zoning is an increasingly popular trend in outdoor design that sees your garden effectively split into sections (or “zones”) with a different setting for specific activities or ambiences. This method allows you to incorporate a patio with decking, all in one garden.

A great example of zoning is the standard three-part split. Imagine a rectangular garden: you step out the back door onto a paved patio, which leads onto a grass lawn with a raised deck area at the bottom of the garden.

From a zoning POV, the initial patio creates the ideal area for alfresco dining and barbeques; the grass is perfect for kids and pets to run, play and enjoy; while the decked base of the garden is tailor-made for relaxing and unwinding.

Naturally, the extent of the combination is entirely up to you and how you blend the two is restricted only to your own imagination. If you have a particular combination, design or layout in mind, we can make it happen.

For more information and advice on which garden design is right for you, why not drop us a line today and speak with one of our experts? Call now on 0800 028 8756 or send us an email with your queries using the button below.

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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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