Block paving has long been a staple of outdoor flooring design, both in residential and commercial areas, as well as public spaces.

However, just because this classic method is a tried and tested approach doesn’t mean there aren’t new and novel ways of achieving this established paving look.

Popular Block Paving Patterns

While block paving can come in many forms with a variety of different designs, colours and sizes, there are a few go-to methods when it comes to aesthetics.

Here are the three block paving patterns you’re most likely to find dotted throughout your local neighbourhood.

Stretcher Bond

The most simplistic of all the flooring patterns, the classic stretcher bond look is one that never goes out of fashion.

Also known as running bond or half bond, the joints of each block are offset exactly half the width of each block beneath and above it.

The finished aesthetic provides a clean, uniform pattern from left to right, resembling a traditional brickwork pattern.

Herringbone

Named for its likeness to the bones of a fish, herringbone paving is a common choice for driveway designs in particular, providing a common sense of direction in its pattern.

The mechanics of the pavers also help ensure that the blocks won’t become displaced when vehicles brake and turn on them.

The mesmerising pattern is achieved by interlocking slabs to create an arrowhead, zig-zag effect for a beguiling finish.

Basketweave

Perhaps the most common and popular alternative to straight flooring pattern, the basketweave is named for its likeness to – you guessed it – a woven basket.

The end-result of interlacing blocks create a visual that looks as though the slabs are weaving under and over each other.

The traditional block paving basketweave pattern involves columns of pavers, alternating repeatedly between two vertical pavers on top of two horizontal pavers.

This also comes in a variety of sub-categories and modifications, such as the Boxed Basketweave and the Californian Weave.

"Common Block Paving Patterns" by Selcltd licensed under CC BY 3.0 (unchanged)

Porcelain Block Paving Patterns

While block paving patterns have long been achieved through the use of brick and stone, there is no hard or fast rule that says you have to use a particular material to achieve such as finish.

In fact, provided that the pavers themselves are rectangular in shape, the choice of material is completely up to you!

While there are plenty of options to choose from, we believe that porcelain is the king of outdoor paving. With a myriad of benefits and virtually limitless design options, the upside of porcelain is incomparable.

Boasting extreme elemental durability and unrivalled resistance to scratches and abrasions, porcelain is robust enough to withstand the demands of any outdoor environment, including driveways.

What’s more, its low porosity makes it extremely resistant to staining and also provides a high level of slip resistance. Add to that fade resistance that is unparalleled by any other material and you have yourself the perfect material for your outdoor design.

Speaking of design, why limit yourself to the bog-standard orange brick aesthetic? PrimaPorcelain has the largest selection of porcelain tile design in the UK, allowing you to achieve a traditional block paving pattern with a contemporary look for a truly unique finish.

What are you waiting for? Order a FREE sample of your favourite paving design today and explore the world of block paving patterns available with porcelain paving. Call now on 029 2080 3756 or click the button below to get in touch online.

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Block paving has long been the surface of choice for driveways across the UK. Pleasing to the eye, relatively versatile and long-lasting, paving makes for a decent option when it comes to surfacing your external property.

PICTURED: 20mm Bolzano Graphite porcelain paving

Outside of block paving, other popular options include traditional concrete, tarmac and gravel - again, all perfectly acceptable and practical materials for the driveway. However, in the near future, you can expect to see an influx of an entirely different driveway design.

It's out with the old and in with bold, so step aside tradition - there's a new sheriff in town and its name is porcelain paving.

Order FREE Porcelain Paving Samples >

Porcelain Driveway Paving

Outdoor porcelain paving makes for a fantastic surface for driveways. There are many reasons for this, not least porcelain's extreme durability and weather-resistance.

Porcelain is an inherently hard-wearing material, capable of withstanding a myriad of demands. Slip, stain and fade-resistant, it makes for the perfect driveway surface, providing traction for tyres without the worry of oil staining or losing its colour in the sun.

PICTURED: 20mm Concrete Silver porcelain paving

Additionally, porcelain is also resistant to abrasions and relatively scratch-proof. Meanwhile, it's also notably frost-resistant, providing reliable performance even in sub-zero winter temperatures. Deliberately textured for maximum grip, porcelain pavers retain their non-slip properties even in the face of harsh conditions.

What's more, porcelain slabs are also extremely low-maintenance, requiring very little TLC to retain their good looks and unblemished finish. With a porosity of less than 0.05%, they retain very little moisture and never need to be sealed. Simply give them a jetwash annually to keep them in peak condition.

Browse Outdoor Porcelain Tiles >

Choosing Your Driveway Pavers

Best of all, the sheer scope for patterns and visuals is virtually limitless when it comes to porcelain paving. At PrimaPorcelain, we stock the widest selection of porcelain paving designs in the UK, providing you with a cornucopia of aesthetic options for your driveway.

You can even experiment with two tile designs to really set your driveway apart from the rest of the street, opening up even more opportunity for artistic freedom and designer flair. You can even blend two tile designs for a stunning border effect.

Even the orientation of the tiles can make a big difference when it comes to the finished look and a combination of vertical and horizontal can make a wonderful criss-cross visual. Meanwhile, a herringbone pattern can create a fantastic sense of direction that works particularly well for driveway design.

Browse All Porcelain Paving >

For more hints and tips on how to create a porcelain paver driveway on your property, check out our blog dedicated to driveway designs for our hot take on this inherently cool look.

We now offer large and small porcelain tile samples so you can see our porcelain paving up close. Once you've picked your favourite porcelain paving, use our paving calculator to work out how many pavers you need & order directly through the website. We can't wait to help you transform your driveway!

British weather often gets a bad rap for being dull, grey and generally a whole lot wetter than we would like.

However, despite this negative stereotype, British summertime can actually be surprisingly hot – particularly in the summer.

In fact, the climate of British summertime has rivalled that of the continent in recent years, with UK temperatures reaching as high as 35.5 degrees Celsius in 2018.

In order to escape the heat and keep your property cool and comfortable inside, here are a few handy tips to help make your interior design feel as cool as it looks, even when the sun is blazing outside.

The science behind cool flooring

From a scientific perspective, the temperature of your flooring largely comes down to the conductivity of the material.

Materials that are good conductors can transfer heat faster, giving the perception that the surface is colder.

On the other hand, poor conductors will take time to transfer heat, giving a warmer sensation underfoot.

As such, flooring that’s an excellent conductor of heat – such as tiles – will naturally feel cooler in the summer than a material that is a poor conductor of heat.

Indoor tiles for summer comfort

Carpet is a poor conductor and retains heat, which can make you feel uncomfortably warm during the summertime. The hot air in the room gets trapped in the carpet fibres, acting as an insulator and retaining the heat in the surface.

Luckily, the same can’t be said for indoor porcelain tiles. Porcelain tiles are traditionally very conductive, making them considerably cooler to walk on than carpet due to their structural makeup.

One of the biggest perks of tile flooring is that it’s also great for keeping you cooler when the heat of summer is at its scorching peak. For a cool interior design, ditch the carpet in favour of the vastly more conductive and considerably cooler tile option.

Porcelain tiles in your home

Indoor tiles are commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens within the homestead; however, it’s increasingly common for them to be found in living rooms and hallways, as well as anywhere else in the house.

For a cool, tactful tile with cooling, tactile style, look no further than porcelain tiles from PrimaPorcelain.

For more information on our vast range of indoor porcelain tiles and outdoor porcelain pavers, why not drop us a line? Call now on 029 2080 3756 to find out more or hit the button below to get in touch online.

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Famed for their style and passion, Italians have long been regarded as the prima donnas of the fashion world. But if you thought that Italy's flair for beautiful creations was confined to the catwalk at Milan fashion week, think again - Italian design has also had a massive impact on the porcelain paving market, and their influence has brought the beauty of the bel paese to countless British gardens.

Here at PrimaPorcelain, we offer a number of high-quality porcelain products that are designed and manufactured in Italy. Here's why our Italian-style porcelain tiles are the best choice for your outdoor living space...

Benefits of our Italian porcelain tiles

PrimaPorcelain's tiles and paving slabs are engineered to deliver aesthetic allure and practicality in equal measure.

Hard-wearing and durable, our top-quality tiles bring outdoor design up to date with beautiful, state-of-the-art material that is built to last.

Highly resistant to scratches, stains and abrasions, these beautifully-crafted outdoor tiles are also treated to resist a variety of other eventualities, including fading, frost and slip hazards.

With a number of features specifically designed for the demands of outdoor use, porcelain is the perfect material for your garden or patio.

A taste of Italy

So, now we're all well acquainted with the power of porcelain paving, what of the Italian style that goes with it?

Here are some of our finest Italian tiles:

Modena

Created with a distinctive silvery-grey hue that blends classic and contemporary design, these metallic shades provide a visual effect that's as pleasing to the eye as it is underfoot.

The subtle differences from tile to tile limit the design variation, heightening the effect of a uniform finish. Not only does this finish look seriously striking, it also enhances the contemporary colours of the tiles themselves.

Highly textured for both grip and slip-resistance, it also provides an attractive stone-like appearance that won't fail to impress.

Tirolo

Blending classic functionality with artistic flair and unusual design, these unique outdoor pavers offer a world of wood-look and faux-stone with outdoor functionality of 21st-century materials.

Ranging from bright and elegant to deep and modern, this collection oozes charisma and personality, culminating in a product that's both easy on the eye and easy to maintain.

Tirolo White   Tirolo Grey

Verona

Available in two contrasting colours - Sand and Grey - our Verona porcelain paving has all the romance you'd expect from a product that's named after the home of Romeo and Juliet.

These gorgeous tiles have a distinctly Mediterranean personality, and they look fantastic in all sorts of outdoor spaces. Why not combine both colours to create a beautiful two-tone patio?

Don't forget, you can order up to 3 free samples of our Italian-style porcelain paving!

Making your driveway stand out from the crowd can be a tough task. After all, what’s so sexy about parking space?

Well, with a bit of effort and a little imagination, you may be surprised!

A unique approach, a splash of colour and a quality choice of paver could turn your plain, personal parking spot into a radiant runway fit for a king’s carriage.

How so? Read on to find out.

Driveway Design Ideas

When creating a unique driveway design for your home, it’s important to remember that a driveway isn’t just a designated area for your car. It’s often the first thing you and your visitors will see when approaching your front door, making it a prime focal point of the property.

As such, a memorable driveway design is a fantastic way to create a great first impression.

Tiles for Driveways

Block paving has been the staple of driveway design for decades, creating a visually appealing pattern that is both functional and fashionable.

That being said, fashion changes and functionality can be achieved just as well with a variety of other means and materials, from gravel to tarmac.

At PrimaPorcelain, we take great pride in providing top quality paving solutions that offer design and durability in equal measure.

For a truly unique finish that’s as practical as it is attractive, the world of porcelain paving is well worth exploring.

Things to Consider for Driveway Designs

When planning your driveway design, considerable thought, attention and organisation can make all the difference.

This is particularly applicable to tile designs; here’s a few things to consider when designing your driveway paving plan.

Colour

Tile colour can naturally have a profound impact on the overall design of your driveway, with the ability to influence the mood, feel and ambience of your home in one fell swoop.

Clean, crisp colours and silvery greys can create an urban style that’s rich in cosmopolitan appeal, whereas a more traditional vibe can be created using natural stone-look tiles and lighter colours for a warm and welcoming homely feel.

Size

The size of the tiles will also naturally dictate the number of tiles you need to cover the area of your driveway, so be sure to take this into account before ordering.

Larger tiles are ideal for creating the illusion of space, while smaller tiles are perfect for intricate, more detailed designs.

You may want to include a variety of sizes to break up the design, while bordering your larger pavers with smaller tiles can make for a fantastic boundary to your drive space.

Orientation

For rectangular pavers, in particular, the orientation of the tiles can have a big influence on the overall design.

Horizontally laid tiles will give an organic sense of width for a wider aesthetic finish, while vertically laid tiles will make your driveway seem longer.

Meanwhile, diagonal paving placement can also create a fantastic finish that also provides an appealing sense of direction at the same time.

Pattern

Much like orientation, the way the pavers are laid can also have a distinct influence on the overall aesthetic; e.g. criss-cross patterns have a completely different visual effect than uniform tiling.

For the ultimate unique finish, a combination of tile colours, shapes and sizes can be utilised to great effect for an awesome finish that’s truly one of a kind.

 For more details on driveway designs and our range of porcelain paving solutions, give us a call today. Call 029 2080 3756 to talk with one of our paving specialists or drop us an email using the button below.

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