inspiration
Published: December, 2019
One of the most stylish of modern home and garden developments is rooms that flow naturally through patio doors into the garden outside.
It’s a great look, with the inside and outside at the same level, and porcelain tiles creating a seamless link between the two areas. Not only a stunning feature, it creates the illusion of a kitchen or living room being far more spacious than they really are.
You’ll have noted we specifically said porcelain tiles, not just any tiles and definitely not ceramic. That’s for a very good reason. Porcelain has many qualities essential for outdoor areas, among them extreme durability and moisture resistance. They’re non-porous, with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%, which makes them frost resistant too. And as well as withstanding extremes of weather and fire, they can also be made slip-resistant, offering high R-Values.
Ceramic, on the other hand, is really only for indoor use. It’s got a much higher moisture content than porcelain, which means cracks appear almost as soon as the rains or snow arrive.
These marvellous qualities - so useful for landscapers - come about because porcelain is made from very fine clay which is fired at such high temperatures – up to 2500F - that the moisture is removed and the tile becomes hard and dense. Its hardness is measured on a scale of one to five, devised by the Porcelain Enamel Institute, with the toughest getting a PEI rating of 5.
Porcelain tiles have been around for hundreds of years. China is said to be the first to produce them in the 15th century, though some historians trace porcelain back even earlier to Ancient Egyptian times. Now they’re made all over the world, with Brazil, Spain and Italy in the vanguard but plenty of top-class manufacturers operate in Britain today.
Despite many modern refinements, the process of creating porcelain tiles is still pretty much as it’s always been: water is mixed with natural ingredients such as feldspar, dense clay and silica sand until a sand-like consistency is reached with most of the moisture removed. This mix is then shaped into tile forms, dried and patterns and colours added before a glaze is applied to protect the tiles. They’re fired in a kiln and emerge as beautiful and extremely hard-wearing objects.
Given their 100% natural components, porcelain tiles are very environmentally friendly. No toxic fumes are created in the manufacturing and being low-maintenance means they don’t require harsh chemical cleaners. Their extremely long lifespans saves on replacement materials. Basically they’ll last a lifetime, and you won’t have to do much to look after them.
Another clever thing about porcelain tiles is they can be manufactured to look like real stone or wood, or there are concrete tiles with a neutral surface. They come in many patterned versions, offering endless design possibilities.
You can also get “outside-inside” tiles, which look exactly the same but with a different surface texture, the outside tiles being more slip and weather resistant.
If you want to know more about the porcelain tiles that work best for your projects, get in touch with us and learn about the design possibilities we can help you unlock.
Kinley’s porcelain tile range offers the widest range of choice, for indoor and outdoor areas. They’re of the highest specification, with an R9 and R11 slip rating, are resistant to chemicals, frost, mildew, moss and algae, have high breaking loads and are as stylish as they are functional.
Check out our NEW enhanced range of Atria tiles to see what we can offer.
Kinley provides innovative and superior quality products to create inspiring gardens and outdoor places people enjoy.
Learn more about our product ranges
Or please get in touch +44 (0)1580 830688 email: [email protected]
View the Project
North West Cambridge
North West Cambridge is a 150 hectare development for Cambridge University with homes for key workers, private use and post-graduate student accommodation, research facilities, community facilities and new infrastructure. The first phase was complete in 2018 with a value of circa £80million.
We make it possible for you to create amazing outdoor spaces.
Kinley Head Office, Northpoint, Compass Park,
Staplecross, East Sussex, TN32 5BS
Kinley London Showroom, 117-121 St John Street,
Clerkenwell, London, EC1V 4JA
E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)1580 830688
Register with Kinley
Register to access our datasheets, technical drawings, case studies, brochures and media centre.
Create a Kinley AccountJoin Our Newsletter
* Every now and then, we'd like to use the information you give us to send you product, services and news most relevant to you. Submitting your details tells us that you're ok with this, and that you agree to our privacy and cookie policy. You can of course, opt out of these communications at any time
Kinley Client Login
Information
Landscape Edging
Garden Edging
Technical Support
Driveway edging
Path Edging
Steel Edging
Products
Landscape Edging
Planters
Support Structures
Terrace Systems
© Kinley 2021 | Terms & Conditions | Privacy & Cookie Policy | Quality Management Policy | Anti Bribery & Corruption Policy | Sustainability & Environmental Quality Policy
Kinley is the trading name of Kinley Systems Limited, reg. number 6545086.
Registered Office Address: Northpoint, Compass Park Junction Road, Bodiam, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, United Kingdom, TN32 5BS
Search...
Your Enquiry
We know that working from home can be tricky without the office resources and literature. If you’d like our brochures popped in the post to your home or work address please fill out the form below.
* At Kinley, we have exciting offers and news that we hope you’d like to hear about. Every now and then, we'd like to use the information you give us to send you product, services and news most relevant to you. Submitting your details tells us that you're ok with this, and that you agree to our privacy and cookie policy. You can of course, opt out of these communications at any time
** Read our privacy and cookie policy to see how we process the data you provide.
We’d love to keep you updated with Kinley news, offers, CPD presentations, new products and services, and technical articles and advice all to inspire your next landscape project. If you are happy to receive the occasional newsletter from us, sign up below.