Porcelain stoneware for paving - what are the advantages? Caesar Ceramics, The unique ‘material culture’ that identifies us comes from more than 30 years experience and innovation in the field of high-quality Italian porcelain tile, a guarantee of comprehensive technical know-how.

Choosing the right paving for a home is very important. In this article, we will be looking at the technical properties and characteristics that make porcelain stoneware the ideal solution for your home exterior. We will also examine the advantages it offers from a design aesthetic perspective and run through  the hottest trends  and ideas for perfect pairings. So let's get started!

What materials are best for paving?

Not all materials are suitable for paving a home exterior. The choice is far from easy, because various aspects of the paving materials have to be taken into account, in particular living comfort and resistance to weathering (including thermal shock), continuous footfall, and heavy loads (for example, cars driving over the paved area). Not only that, the ideal paving for your outdoor area must also be non-slip, easy to clean, impermeable to humidity, and stainproof.

In today's market, there are very few materials that can offer all this. Porcelain stoneware is undoubtedly one of the best performing options, in terms of both technical features and visual impact. 

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What are the advantages of porcelain stoneware? Its exceptional technical properties 

Made by mechanical pressing and firing at very high temperatures, porcelain stoneware is the ideal material for residential paving. 

The technical benefits are endless. First of all, tiles are a single body of material rather than a product formed by joining multiple layers, which means they are stronger and have no joints along which breakage can occur.

The painstaking production process produces a surfacing material with high resistance to weathering and various kinds of stress. It is also an extremely safe product: firing in kilns at temperatures of over 1200 °C means the resulting paving is totally fireproof (these tiles do not burn, do not react to fire, and do not produce toxic gases in the event of a fire as they do not contain plastic materials). 

No less importantly, the surfaces of porcelain stoneware paving tiles all feature high non-slip and anti-freeze ratings, which means they are always safe to walk on. Last of all, these products withstand thermal shock and are mould-, mildew-,  and moss-resistant.

The design advantages: the vast assortment of choices that porcelain stoneware offers. All the on-trend ideas for your home exterior

In terms of looks, porcelain stoneware undoubtedly carries considerable design advantages.  

Its incredible variety of effects and finishes for paving means it can be used in even the most challenging and sophisticated design projects. 

One of the options most in demand for outdoor use at the moment is the wood effect, which is perfect for stylish, contemporary outdoor settings. The Cocoon - wood effect collection by Caesar, for example, is available in a matt finish in the Aextra20 (20 mm) thickness version for outdoor use in two shades, Joy and Ease.  An ideal look to enjoy all the beauty of outdoor living, which gives gardens the comfort and warmth of wood without any compromises, thanks to the technical features offered by porcelain stoneware. 

Another popular choice in original nature-inspired exterior design projects is stone-effect materials, which are just as perfect for country homes immersed in nature as in an urban setting. The Slab2 stone-effect collection fuses ceramic with the essence of slate and its broad colour palette (seven shades, ranging from cool ice to deep black) allows users free rein to pair various colours and materials. For projects where indoor-outdoor continuity is needed, the Khaki, Ash, and Iron options are available in the 20 mm Aextra20 size with a non-slip finish.

The slabs in the Caesar CCS 20 mm collection are extra-thick (20 mm) in the 60x60 and 45x90 cm sizes and feature a non-slip finish, making them perfect for paving (with dry laying also an option) that is not only stunning but also incredibly resistant to various factors. 

The same goes for the stylish travertine-effect porcelain stoneware in Caesar's latest collection, ICONICA, which draws on the classics of traditional architectures to bring homes the natural beauty of a thousand-year-old stone. Available in the Aextra20  (20 mm) thickness version,  in the Navona Verso and Classico Verso variants.

For lovers of neutral surfaces and a contemporary mood, concrete-effect tiles are the ideal solution. The final result obviously depends on the vibrancy of each shade and the textures of the finish (rough or smooth). The PRIMA collection, for example, offers ceramic tiles that can be paired with virtually any kind of furnishing, from minimal to industrial. 

So what is the takeaway? That porcelain stoneware for paving offers multiple advantageous. 

Caesar provides a complete range of tiles and slabs with sizes and  surfaces that are specifically designed for outdoor use. If you are designing the exterior of your home and need advice on the right material to choose, get in touch! One of the Caesar team will be happy to help.

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