Driveways and pavements require a lot of maintenance and upkeep and using materials such as concrete and asphalt can further add to your woes.

Here are a few reasons why a porcelain driveway has many advantages over conventional materials such as concrete, asphalt or gravel –

1. High Load-Bearing Capacity

In many parts of the world, we have harsh weather conditions including extreme cold, extreme heat and sunlight, and frequent rains. At the same time, asphalt and gravel can be poor choices because of their high maintenance and low durability while concrete is also not ideal for such conditions because of durability issues. Porcelain paving slabs have an obvious advantage as it can sustain high loads and extreme weather conditions.

2. Anti-Slip Surface

While slippery surfaces have a high risk of accidents, textured porcelain provides excellent traction against slipping. It provides a high degree of safety and security.

3. Self-Cleaning

It is an excellent choice for all-weather driveways as it allows itself to self-clean washing away all the dirt and debris using rainwater.

4. Resistance to Freeze-Thaw Cycles

It is known for its low water absorption rate and that’s the reason freezing temperatures can hardly damage it. When snowfall happens, the water starts melting and tends to seep into the surfaces, which damages concrete driveways fast, yet porcelain exhibits high durability.

5. Electromagnetic Radiation Resistance

Porcelain has a high degree of tolerance against extreme temperature fluctuations because it has a high degree of electromagnetic radiation resistance.

Uncommon Benefits

Apart from that, it also has some uncommon benefits which are as follows.

• Reduce Maintenance Costs: Regular cleaning and upkeep can be expensive but its self-cleaning properties can minimize this cost.
• Increased Property Value: Since porcelain is known for its enhanced curb appeal, it is directly linked with property value. The driveways with porcelain surfaces increase property value.
• Environment Sustainability: All over the world, sustainability is gaining momentum and governments are looking for ways to achieve environmental sustainability and the options that support it. Since porcelain is made from natural materials and can be recycled, it’s a great choice for environmental sustainability. So, we should use more such elements in our buildings and driveways as it is the need of the hour. UNESCO is trying very hard to persuade people to switch to environmentally sustainable materials.
• Aesthetic Versatility: People love aesthetics in their outdoors and indoors and porcelain provides numerous options in terms of colors, textures, and patterns. You can easily match it with your existing interiors and exterior leading to an enhanced aesthetic appeal.
• Long-Term Durability: You will be surprised to know that porcelain can last for many decades and that’s why it provides unmatched durability as it easily lasts up to 20-30 years or more. It gives you complete peace of mind as porcelain tiles don’t require the high maintenance and upkeep that other materials need.

Additional Advantages

Here are some additional advantages of using porcelain as your outdoor paving tiles –

1. Chemical Resistance

Many chemicals spill from vehicles such as oil, antifreeze elements, and other hazardous substances, damaging your driveways.

Oil and anti-free spells can damage driveways in many ways. Some of them are as follows:

2. Oil Stains

The dripping antifreeze can severely damage concrete driveways and give it the worst stains. The antifreeze fluid is used in a car radiator to prevent it from freezing. It frequently drips over the driveways leading to stubborn stains. However, you can easily clean those stains from porcelain surfaces. Apart from concrete it also happens with porous stone. So avoid using stones on your driveway.

Apart from stains, spilling oil can also damage your concrete driveway over time. Even the old stains if not removed can severely damage the surface material and it may soon require replacement. To remove oil from a wet driveway made of concrete, use an absorbent material such as sand or baking soda on the stain and let it dry. Now you can easily sweep the absorbent material and use water to clean the stain.

However, removing oil stains is quite easy with porcelain surfaces.

3. Antifreeze Stains

Antifreeze can be dangerous for building materials and humans & pets alike. It damages your driveways and pavements because it’s quite corrosive. If ingested accidentally by your pets or even humans, it can be harmful because it’s quite toxic. So it’s necessary to remove antifreeze spills as soon as possible. However, you might need to refinish the concrete or repair it if the stain is too deep or wide.

Once you are done with finishing or resurfacing, you can use a concrete sealer for the protection of the driveway. You have an advantage with porcelain driveways here. You won’t need much upkeep, if you use porcelain surfaces in your pavements and driveways.

4. Chemical Damage

Apart from antifreeze and oil, other chemicals such as gasoline can break down asphalt or concrete over time. Again you have an advantage with porcelain because you can easily clean these chemicals from its surface.

5. Sound Absorption

The sustainable development goals also include reducing noise pollution and porcelain papers are the best option because they absorb sound and reduce noise pollution. So if you are concerned with noise pollution you should use porcelain in your driveways.

6. Thermal Mass

Porcelain regulates temperature fluctuations by absorbing and releasing heat. Thermal mass is a property of a building material that is responsible for the absorption, storage and release of heat. Therefore, porcelain has a high thermal mass.

7. Fire Resistance

Porcelain is highly fire resistant as it is noncombustible so it gives you a high degree of safety in high-risk areas.

Final Words

Considering several advantages and benefits of using porcelain in your driveways such as its low maintenance, aesthetic appeal, and durability, it should be your ideal choice for all-weather driveways instead of alternative materials such as concrete, gravel, asphalt, etc. Strata Stones is a leading provider of premium porcelain paving slabs and tiles, offering a versatile range of high-quality products for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Visit Strata Stones today and choose from a vast collection of the best porcelain slabs for your driveway.