Paving Tiles that look like wood to replace traditional timber decking
Wood effect porcelain tiles are 20mm thick porcelain tiles suitable for the outdoors, with a hyper-realistic surface finish that mimics the natural grains, knots, textures and irregularities of real timbers.
Unlike a traditional wood deck or hardwood flooring, porcelain boasts a range of excellent properties that makes it substantially better suited to outside conditions.
As wood-look tile flooring is manufactured and not grown, the choice of colours, styles and wood types are vast. Furthermore, manufacturers are not restricted to the length or width of a tree that has been cut down.
This means there is an array of different sizes to suit your requirements, which range from long traditional style planks to extra large tiles in either square or rectangle formats.
Benefits of Wood-Look Porcelain Paving Tiles
Addressing the main problem of real timber in outdoor environments is the fact that you do not have to apply, or keep reapplying, any surface treatment, varnish and/or stain to a porcelain tile. Therefore, a porcelain tile that looks like wood is a low maintenance product that is also highly durable and high load bearing.
So unless an elephant decides to wander through the garden, jump up onto the balcony or gain access to the roof terrace, it is highly unlikely that the structural integrity of a 20mm porcelain tile will be compromised by harsh weather conditions.
There are many benefits over traditional wood decking such as, longevity, low maintenance, slip resistance, frost proof, and resistance to thermal shock. Along with being easy to clean, porcelain tiles are available in a variety of lengths and widths allowing for customisation and the perfect buy-to-fit process. This removes saw marks, rough edges, exposed screws, splintering, splitting and warping all at once!
Troubles of Real Wood and Decking Timber
Real wood planks and decking timber boards require a lot more maintenance, compared to porcelain, to keep them looking and performing the way they did when they were brand new and first installed.
To protect the natural material from the varying weather conditions, wood must be treated and sealed to prevent surface and structural damage. If a wooden decking board were to be compromised, it could end up splitting, warping and breaking down creating an unstable surface.
Raised Access Flooring, Tiered Decking & Verticals
Often porcelain tiles get misunderstood and are seen to be used only as ground tiles. While this is partially true, because porcelain tiles do in fact work great as ground tiles, they are also extremely brilliant at creating raised floors, tiered platforms and using verticals to create outdoor access steps – all with the help from a pedestal paving support system.
By utilising a pedestal support system for the 20mm porcelain tiles, it is possible to create a perfectly level and completely stable exterior floor at the exact height required for the project.
The pedestal support system ranges from a couple of millimetres to 550mm in height. Providing raised access up to this height is ideal for covering objects such as outdoor units, drainage components and piping.
Installation of the support pedestals can be completed over most substrates (even or uneven), existing paving or waterproof membranes. This ultimately reduces installation time and removes the extra hassle of preparing a perfect foundation for the new raised floor, which improves project efficiency.
We offer expert advice and premium Wood effect porcelain tiles for outdoor pedestal installations.
Get in touch with us for professional guidance today!