Porcelain Paving in Christchurch
If you are in and around the Christchurch area and are looking to create the garden of your dreams, then look no further than Stone Zone & Landscaping Supplies. Our Christchurch showroom and e-commerce website are the ideal places to browse through our extensive Porcelain Paving collection. We have a wide selection of ranges, including our best-selling Sienna™ range; the Commercial range; the Jurassic Range and the innovative 'Natural' and Woodland ranges. You will be spoilt for choice with our selection.
Our brand new Christchurch Showroom will allow you to see our paving range face to face so you can choose the one that best suits or taste and style. We also have expert team members who are there to help you every step of the way, not only are they knowledgeable about the paving slabs themselves, but they can also give you ideas and inspiration on garden designs.
Benefits of Sandstone Paving for Christchurch Gardens
Porcelain paving offers numerous benefits that make it an increasingly popular choice for outdoor spaces. Here are some of the key advantages:
Durability
Porcelain paving is highly durable and long-lasting, making it ideal for outdoor use. It is resistant to scratches, stains, and fading, ensuring that your outdoor space retains its beauty even after years of use. Additionally, porcelain is frost-proof, meaning it can withstand freeze-thaw cycles without cracking or deteriorating, making it suitable for use in all climates.
Low Maintenance
One of the most significant benefits of porcelain paving is its low maintenance requirements. Unlike natural stone or wood, porcelain does not require sealing or special treatments to maintain its appearance. Regular sweeping and occasional washing with water is usually sufficient to keep porcelain paving looking clean and fresh. This makes it an excellent choice for homeowners who want a beautiful outdoor space without the hassle of extensive maintenance.
Versatility
Porcelain paving comes in a wide range of colours, textures, and sizes, allowing homeowners to create custom outdoor spaces that reflect their personal style. Whether you prefer a modern, sleek look or a more traditional aesthetic, there is a porcelain paving option to suit your taste. Additionally, porcelain can be used for various outdoor applications, including patios, pathways, pool decks, and even driveways, giving homeowners flexibility in design and functionality.
Weather Resistant
Porcelain paving is highly resistant to weather and environmental factors, making it an excellent choice for outdoor use. It is impervious to moisture, meaning it will not absorb water or harbour mould, mildew, or algae growth. Additionally, porcelain is resistant to UV rays, meaning it will not fade or discolour over time, even with prolonged exposure to sunlight. This makes porcelain paving an ideal choice for outdoor spaces that are exposed to the elements year-round.
Safety
Porcelain paving is slip-resistant, even when wet, making it a safe option for outdoor areas such as pool decks and patios. The textured surface of porcelain paving provides traction underfoot, reducing the risk of slips and falls, especially in areas where water is present. This makes porcelain paving an excellent choice for families with children or elderly individuals who may be at a higher risk of falls.
Overall, porcelain paving offers a combination of durability, low maintenance, versatility, and safety that makes it an excellent choice for outdoor spaces. Whether you're looking to create a stylish patio, a functional pool deck, or a welcoming garden pathway, porcelain paving provides a durable and attractive solution that will enhance the beauty and functionality of your outdoor space for years to come.
Why Choose Porcelain Paving for Your Christchurch Garden?
Many homeowners and gardening enthusiasts favour Porcelain garden slabs for their wide range of consistent colours and designs. This offers precise control over the garden's aesthetics, providing a level of freedom and variety not found with natural Indian stone. In contrast, Indian Sandstone slabs offer fewer colour options, and their natural variations result in a unique design but with limited control. Your choice between Porcelain for a modern garden or Sandstone for a rustic one should align with your vision.
Factory-made garden paving slabs offer significant advantages due to the rigorous control exercised during production. Engineered for durability and longevity, these slabs maintain their structure and colour over time.
During the development process, porcelain slabs undergo strict protocols to ensure durability and strength. They are subjected to intense heating and pressure, vitrified, and rectified, ensuring they remain pristine for decades, regardless of weather or foot traffic.
Designs are printed onto the slabs, ensuring uniformity among them. This allows for a seamless, harmonious appearance in the garden, without anything appearing out of place. Such consistency is not achievable with natural Indian Sandstone, where variations may lead to inconsistencies throughout the patio.
Porcelain Paving Developed for Christchurch Gardens
Porcelain paving is made through a process that involves mixing raw materials, shaping the mixture into slabs or tiles, and firing them at high temperatures. Here's a detailed overview of the manufacturing process:
Raw Materials
The process begins with the selection of high-quality raw materials, including fine clay, feldspar, silica, and other minerals. These materials are chosen for their purity, consistency, and ability to withstand high temperatures.
Mixing
The raw materials are mixed together in precise proportions to create a homogeneous mixture. Water may be added to achieve the desired consistency, forming a slurry-like substance known as "slip."
Shaping
The slip is then poured into moulds or pressed into shape using hydraulic presses. These moulds are typically designed to produce specific sizes, shapes, and textures of paving slabs or tiles. During this stage, any desired surface texture or pattern may be imprinted onto the slabs.
Drying
Once shaped, the slabs are dried to remove excess moisture and improve their strength. This can be done through air drying or using industrial dryers, depending on the manufacturer's preferences and production capabilities.
Firing
The dried slabs are fired in kilns at extremely high temperatures, typically ranging from 1200°C to 1400°C (2192°F to 2552°F). This process, known as vitrification, causes the raw materials to undergo chemical changes, fusing together and forming a dense, non-porous material.
Cooling
After firing, the slabs are slowly cooled to room temperature to prevent thermal shock and ensure uniformity in their structure. This cooling process may take several hours or even days, depending on the size and thickness of the slabs.
Quality Control
Throughout the manufacturing process, strict quality control measures are implemented to ensure that the finished paving slabs meet industry standards for strength, durability, and appearance. This may involve conducting tests on samples of the finished product, such as measuring water absorption, flexural strength, and surface flatness.
Finishing
Finally, the finished paving slabs may undergo additional finishing processes, such as grinding, polishing, or applying surface treatments to enhance their appearance and performance. These finishing touches help to create a smooth, uniform surface that is resistant to stains, scratches, and wear.
Overall, the manufacturing process for porcelain paving involves a combination of advanced technology, precise craftsmanship, and quality control measures to produce high-quality paving slabs that are durable, aesthetically pleasing, and suitable for a wide range of outdoor applications.
Sandstone v Porcelain for Your Christchurch Gardens
When choosing between Sandstone, Limestone, and Porcelain Paving, several factors should be considered to ensure they suit your garden and lifestyle.
Porcelain Paving, a meticulously crafted man-made product, offers full control over patterns and designs. Composed of minerals like pure Clay and Quartz, our Porcelain paving slabs are sturdy and visually appealing. Each slab undergoes intense heat treatment and pressure during production, ensuring strength and resilience against heavy foot traffic.
In contrast, Sandstone and Limestone Paving are naturally occurring stones formed over millions of years in quarries. These stones create authentic and rustic garden patios with unique, naturally occurring patterns. However, they may lack the durability of Porcelain Paving, being more prone to cracking during installation due to their natural origin and larger stone pieces.
Moreover, there's a difference in maintenance between these materials. Porcelain Paving requires priming during installation but does not need sealing. Regular sweeping and semi-annual jet washing is usually sufficient to maintain its longevity. On the other hand, Sandstone and Limestone require regular sealing to preserve their vibrancy, though their colour may lighten over time, even with regular sealing.