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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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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When the weather is warm, the sun is shining and the clouds are curiously absent from the British skyline, the garden can be the perfect destination for a lazy afternoon of carefree relaxation.

That worriless ambience can be made all the more wondrous if you know how to accessorise your garden with the right furniture.

Give peace (and quiet) a chance with a garden seating area that turns your outdoor space into an R&R VIP room.

Benefits of Outdoor Seating

While Mother Nature’s weatherly influence can determine when you enjoy your garden, there are a few man-made factors that are firmly in your hands – namely garden furniture.

Whether you have decking or a paved patio, the introduction of outdoor seating to your external space can notably improve your outdoor enjoyment.

Better still, not only can it enhance your relaxation, it can also add an instant element of style and fashion to your garden.

Outdoor Seating Ideas

While it’s easy to automatically think of typical garden staples when it comes to outdoor furnishing, there’s so much more to outdoor furniture than wooden benches and metallic dining sets.

Here’s a few creative ideas to help you think outside that box when it comes to your garden seating area.

Hanging Out

If Homer Simpsons has taught us anything – and I think we can all agree, he’s taught us a lot – it’s that there’s no better way to relax in the garden than in the supine comfort of a hammock.

It’s easy to overlook this unusual yet awesome seating option, as many of us will have a pre-conceived notion that your garden needs two conveniently placed trees to support a hammock.

Luckily, this is purely a stereotype created by movies and cartoons. In reality, hammocks come in a variety of forms, including free-standing versions with solid frames for ready-made relaxation.

Whether you choose to go full Homer and rest a frosty beverage on your belly while you do so is your call, but the message remains: hammocks = relaxation

If you want to add a unique sense of luxury to your garden, look no further than the hanging haven that is the garden hammock.

Swing Along

In keeping with the hanging theme of the last entry, swing seats are another great way to relax in your outdoor space.

In addition to the ever-popular swing seats (also known as canopy swings) that have been staples of outdoor relaxation for decades, outdoor hanging chairs have become increasingly popular in recent years.

Bridging the gap between hammocks and traditional outdoor furniture, hanging garden chairs come in a variety of forms, from the cushioned comfort of padded armchairs and sofas to the modern style of all-weather bamboo/wicker chairs.

These dangling seats can be attached to suitable structural supports for sturdy suspension, providing a stylish seating solution that’s also spatially economical.

Bubble Over

Stylishly modern and unashamedly different, bubble chairs and cocoon seats are an instant statement, providing aesthetic allure and human intrigue in one fell swoop.

Uniquely designed and for style and comfort, these unusual seating options make for a memorable addition to any outdoor space. These can also come in hanging form, however, the standing form with a standard base is just as common and just as stylish.

The most common options are the transparent plastic versions and the more traditional wicker variety. For a contemporary, if not somewhat futuristic option, the plastic option is sure to be a crowd pleaser on novelty and curiosity; however, the wicker range is undoubtedly a safer option for long term style.

Cutting Corners

Corner sofas have become a preferred seating option for many homeowners when it comes to interior design; however, why should this stylishly practical furnishing be limited to indoor use only?

Modernised rattan furniture has been infiltrating British gardens with increasing regularity over the last decade or two, with revolutionary new designs cropping up as the years roll on.

One such innovation has been the introduction of the corner sofa to outdoor spaces. Space saving, stylish and superbly comfortable, it ticks a lot of boxes.

Better still, outdoor corner sofas are also weatherproof and tailor-made for socialising, making them a great place for summertime gatherings when the weather allows.

Outdoor Seating Area

Now that you’ve got the actual seating sorted, next up is the all-important flooring. After all, what good is beautiful, expensive seating if the base beneath it is made up of weeds, weathered wood or age-ravaged tiles?

To compliment your lovely, new garden furniture, why not explore the aesthetic awesomeness of garden decking or patio tiles from AlfrescoPlus? Both make fantastic flooring options with their own distinct personality and style, providing the perfect platform for your fresh garden furnishings.

You can even incorporate benched seating into your deck design, with decked benches built into your overall decking design. Built-in deck seating can also double up as a storage area to really make the most of the space available.

Conversely, paving can also work just as well and provide an equally stunning solution to your flooring conundrums. With a huge range of designs to suit your mental blueprint, a paved patio area can round off your garden and make for the perfect setting for an outdoor dining area.

All of our porcelain paving tiles are slip, stain and fade resistant and can simply be wiped clean of spills in an instant. Meanwhile, our decking options also boast these protective features, should you prefer to dine on deck over a porcelain patio.

Whichever material you opt for, decking and patio are the perfect base for stylish furniture. Simply accessorise with garden furniture that features complementary colours, sit back and enjoy!

For more information on outdoor living options, why not drop us a line? Call 0800 028 8756 today to speak with one of our friendly staff or use the button below to get in touch online.

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