What Is Vitrified Porcelain Paving?

March 21, 2024

If you're considering adding a patio, you may have come across the term 'vitrified porcelain'. Understanding exactly what it is isn’t essential to successfully installing porcelain paving, but it may give you an insight into the advantages it gives to your home.

Quality control is exercised at every stage of the Caesar tile production.

At London Stone, we're experts in the world of paving, with our porcelain paving slabs among our most sought-after items. We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction, aiming to give you all the knowledge needed to choose your outdoor tiles with ease. If you'd like more information after reading this, then please contact our helpful team to explore your options further.

What is vitrified porcelain?

Our vitrified porcelain is created by combining kaolin with minerals such as feldspar and quartz, with the resulting material being subjected to high pressure before being fired to an extremely hot temperature - this firing is the vitrification process. The result is a very strong tile. An alternative which often looks similar but is produced in a different way is ceramic tiles. These are manufactured using lower pressures and at lower temperatures. They are less dense, and their softer body is easier to cut. Vitrified porcelain is less porous and harder-wearing, making it more suitable to high-traffic areas and external use. Ceramic tiles are generally only employed indoors. London Stone are the UK’s exclusive supplier of vitrified porcelain paving by Caesar, one of Italy’s leading porcelain tile manufacturers. Find out more about vitrified porcelain production at the Caesar factory.

Black Basalt porcelain paving makes a smart, easy-to-care-for contrast with the white raised beds and garden wall in this design by Ground Team, London SE11.

The benefits of vitrified porcelain paving: a closer look

At London Stone, we’re passionate advocates of vitrified porcelain paving. Here we show you the many benefits it offers to the modern homeowner.

Weather-proof features you can trust

One reason why vitrified porcelain paving is popular is because it's highly weather resistant. Extremely durable and hard-wearing, it's perfect for outside patio areas as it's scratch-, water-, frost-and slip-resistant, protecting you from damage and accidents. Using vitrified porcelain means you have little to worry about in the event of extreme weather events. Our porcelain paving is UV-resistant and loses virtually no colour over time, even when exposed to sunlight. This ensures your patio will look the same, long into the future. In comparison, it’s worth remembering that stone pavers, being a natural material, are likely to change appearance slightly, and you may prefer the colour constancy of porcelain.

Habitat Landscapes chose Urban Grey porcelain paving for this modern, rectilinear design.

Extreme strength and load resistance

Installing porcelain correctly gives it a high resistance to heavy loads and means it can be used for just about any application, including: * Patio designs * Driveway designs * Swimming pool surrounds * Garden path designs * Pergola-covered seating areas Regardless of the area you choose to put them, you can be certain that you're getting high-quality porcelain paving that will retain its good looks. For your peace of mind, we even offer a porcelain paving guarantee.

Our Siena Copper indoor wall and floor tiles give a sumptuous feel to the shower.

Vitrified porcelain inside the home

As well as for garden paving, vitrified porcelain can also be used indoors. They're a great way to create a sleek, modern interior and ideal for shower wall design. Don’t be tempted by the thought of using exterior tiles indoors, though – or vice versa - as this could well create difficulties. Check out our range of interior wall and floor tiles for chic options with all the hard-wearing advantages that vitrified porcelain has to offer.

Maintenance made easy

Vitrified paving is relatively low maintenance, enabling you to focus on more important tasks around the home. It doesn't require a lot of work to keep your paving looking stylish, as liquid spills can easily be wiped away. If your patio needs a more thorough clean, the entire area can be washed with warm, soapy water, before being rinsed with clean water. Alternatively you may need one of the specialist patio cleaning products for specific stains. See our advice on the best patio cleaner to use with your paving. A jet wash may be used on your outdoor porcelain patio, but please ensure you use the correct way to pressure wash and select a low setting.

900 x 600mm vitrified porcelain paving on display at our Birmingham showroom

Discover our range of vitrified porcelain tiles

Vitrified porcelain paving is one of the most popular forms of tiling in the UK, thanks to the ease of looking after it and the varied colours and styles available. So, we hope this overview has helped with any questions you have. Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to find out more. If you’ve decided you’d like to install vitrified porcelain, we have a wide range available, including our Luxury Italian and Budget Italian porcelain ranges. Buy online, order samples, or visit one of our showrooms around the country to see our whole range. Shop with London Stone today to create the porcelain patio of your dreams.