From decking to stone paving to artificial turf, there are many different ways to floor a balcony. Still, we feel that porcelain paving is the best choice of all – our porcelain slabs are sturdy, water-resistant, and very beautiful indeed!

One customer in Berkshire certainly agreed with this point of view. They ordered 39m² of our beautiful Limestone Champagne paving for their balcony, and the results are really rather stunning!

Here’s a ‘Before and After’ photo:

What a transformation! Not so long ago, the balcony was a grimy, grubby-looking thing, with weeds poking between the paving stones and a rather tired appearance in general. But now that our porcelain products have worked their magic, the balcony is all but unrecognisable. The champagne-coloured tiles look fabulous as usual, bringing a hint of classical decadence to the customer's outdoor space, and that beautiful white balustrade looks perfect alongside them!

And it’s the perfect time for it, too – we’re right at the height of summer now, and we’re positive that the view from this client’s balcony is absolutely astounding in the Berkshire sunshine!

Would you like us to transform your tired-looking balcony? Call 029 2080 3750 today, or visit our dedicated Balcony Flooring page for further details. Remember to order your free paving sample!

Both decking and paving are extremely popular choices for the back garden, but it's somewhat rare to see a garden design that utilises both. A lot of landscaping enthusiasts think of this as an either/or decision, but deck boards and paving slabs will quite happily go together, and if you're after a stunningly unique look for your outdoor space, this is definitely a tactic worth considering.

But how best to combine these two contrasting materials? Here are a few ideas...

Multiple Levels

This is the strategy that our architect deployed when designing the garden in the photo above. The doors open out onto a stylish paved patio, with a raised deck just beyond. This two-tier look is very appealing indeed, making the whole garden feel larger and, in a way, giving you two equally beautiful outdoor spaces for the price of one.

Keep 'Em Separated

If you've got a reasonably big garden, you may consider splitting it into different sections. Instead of sticking with that large, blank patch of lawn, you could install a small seating area at one end of the garden, and a nice little patio at the other. You could even have a hot tub in the corner - both composite wood and porcelain paving make great slip-resistant tub surrounds!

Blended Together

This approach is a little trickier, but the results are well worth the effort. We found the above image on Pinterest, and it's the perfect example: the duality of that design makes for a smooth, elegant outdoor living space. Mind you, you'll have to cut your boards and pavers quite precisely if you want to create that flawless transition between them.

No matter what you have in mind for your outdoor space, we at PrimaPorcelain can help. In addition to our spectacular porcelain paving products, we are also able to supply low-maintenance deck boards, and if you want to use one or both of these materials in your garden, our experienced in-house architect will be more than happy to help with the design.

When it comes to outdoor paving products, the general rule of thumb is as follows:

The thicker, the better!

Some consumers are happy to purchase relatively thin paving slabs – after all, they’re cheaper, and they don’t look all that different once they’re laid. What’s the problem?

The problem lies beneath the surface. Thick paving slabs can bear heavy loads without showing the strain; they can stand up to reasonably high levels of foot traffic; they can stay strong in the face of wear and tear for years on end. Thin paving slabs...can’t.

Our 20mm porcelain paving is the thickest porcelain product available. It is sturdier, more robust, and longer-lasting than the competition, meaning that your outdoor space will stay beautiful for longer.

Oh, and one other thing: the superior thickness of Out 2.0 paving allows it to be installed without mortar, cement, or adhesives of any kind. We use a revolutionary pedestal support system that makes laying your paving slabs a quicker, easier task than ever before.

So, to sum up...

Thick paving slabs are better because:

• They can handle heavier loads
• They are less likely to be damaged by large of volumes of foot traffic
• They will last longer in the average outdoor space
• They can be dry-installed

Thin paving slabs simply can't compete! Order your Out 2.0 paving sample today.

Decking and paving: two quality outdoor surfaces, two equally excellent options. Since we have experience of both, we are often asked which of the two materials is better for the garden.

As with most decisions like this, there isn't a single, objective answer that we can give. Both choices have their unique merits, and at the end of the day, it mostly comes down to preference.

With this in mind, one good approach to this decision is to think about what kind of effect you want from the finished project. Generally speaking, a paved area lends itself to a smooth, contemporary style, while the natural-looking wooden boards are better for the more traditional outdoor space.

Of course, there are exceptions; some deck products are designed to look rather modern, and certain paving slabs boast a timeless, classical air. The best thing to do is as follows: decide what you want from your outdoor space, consider how you would like it to look and feel, and proceed from there, investigating as many different colours and designs as possible to ensure that you get the right one.

Now, some people might tell you that there is a clear-cut winner in this battle. They might say that paving is better because timber boards need loads of maintenance; conversely, they might argue that paving should be avoided because it's difficult to install. But, in truth, very few of these factors present a problem nowadays.

Composite wood decking and porcelain paving are both very durable, very easy to manage, and most importantly, very low-maintenance. Furthermore, neither product is decisively dearer; you’ll find a mix of cheap, low-quality products and more expensive high-end items in both markets. Whether you’re shopping for paving slabs or deck boards, you’ll get what you pay for.

This is good news. With those mitigating factors all but eliminated, you are free to forget about the specifications and concentrate on the design you want for your dream outdoor space. With no maintenance to worry about and very little difference in price or performance, decking and paving are both brilliant choices for the garden, and it’s entirely up to you which is better for your project.

Of course, you could always just do what Lee from Cardiff did and use them both!

Our porcelain tiles are great for the back garden, but that doesn't mean that you can’t dream a little bigger for them. We’re great admirers of beautiful landscapes, and we’re thrilled by the prospect of our porcelain tiles being used by a landscape architect.

Landscape architecture is the art of designing outdoor spaces for public consumption. This includes parks, playgrounds, urban spaces, forecourts, and all kinds of other spaces. And while we don’t want to toot our own horn, we think that our porcelain paving would be pretty perfect for any of these environments! 

A paved area can lend depth and appeal to almost any area. Imagine a verdant green park with a porcelain-paved path running through it, or a bustling, metropolitan forecourt in front of a grand, towering hotel.

We are more than happy to work alongside landscape architects to make these creations a reality. If you work in the landscaping business, get in touch today to discuss your requirements – call 029 2037 1584 or email info@porcelainpaving.co.uk for a chat with one of our friendly porcelain experts. We can’t wait to see the amazing designs you’ve come up with!

Image credit: La Citta Vita