Slate is an undeniably beautiful natural stone, but it does have some flaws that make it a problematic choice when tiling a large area. By understanding the different qualities of natural slate and porcelain slate tiles you can make a more educated choice about which tiles are right for your floor.

How is natural slate formed?

Slate is formed underground when minerals and sediments are compressed under intense heat and pressure; these sediments and minerals can be anything from chlorite to mica meaning that natural slate can have a lot of inconsistencies in its colour, quality, and porosity. No two natural slate tiles will be the same.

How are vitrified porcelain tiles made?

Vitrified porcelain tiles are made from clay and water that (much like slate) is put under immense heat and pressure to create a durable, aesthetically pleasing tile. The difference is that the components that make up vitrified porcelain tiles are controlled to ensure that the slate effect tiles have a more uniform appearance and are more structurally consistent.

Maintenance

Maintenance is often a factor that weighs heavily on people’s minds when they’re looking to choose the right material for their floors. Natural slate is quite a crumbly stone. This means that to keep natural slate floors looking their best you’ll need to regularly sweep and seal them– this can be time-consuming and costly. The brittle nature of slate also makes it prone to cracks and chips. These tiles can be hard to replace because the appearance of them is so varied.

On the contrary, slate effect porcelain tiles require almost no maintenance, simply give them the occasional wipe over and they’ll continue to look gorgeous for years to come. Porcelain is far more durable than slate meaning it is less prone to scratching or chipping and therefore, won't need replacing as often (if at all).

Porosity

As previously mentioned, slate tiles can range from incredibly porous to not very porous at all due to the way slate is formed. This does mean that some slate tiles are very prone to staining and others are not. This can make installing slate tiles in your kitchen or living room (where coffee and food spills are likely to occur) can be a risky move, but it really does depend on the qualities of the particular slate you’re installing. PrimaPorcelain’s slate tiles are notorious for their water-resistance, meaning they are far less likely to stain.

Can slate be installed outdoors?

Slate can be installed outdoors but can become very slippery when wet, a definite issue if you install them anywhere in the United Kingdom. PrimaPorcelain offers two thicknesses of slate porcelain tiles (10mm and 20mm) both of which offer excellent slip resistance making them the perfect choice for creating a visual flow from your inside to your outside space - a clever way to enhance the dimensions of your home.

PrimaPorcelain Slate Tiles:

• Consistent in colour and structure
• Incredibly easy to maintain
• Water-resistant
• Perform well indoors and outdoors
• Available in a range of colours

Do you think PrimaPorcelain slate tiles are the right option for you? If so, take a look at our slate range by clicking the button below:

View our Porcelain Slate Range here >

Our beautiful porcelain tiles and paving slabs can be used to transform the look of your balcony space completely. We have a gorgeous range of balcony flooring products that vary in both colour and style, all made from the same superior porcelain material. If you’re new to the concept of porcelain tiles then let us briefly guide you through their wondrous qualities, and why they’re a superior choice when it comes to balcony flooring and roof terraces alike.

Balcony Tiles & Paving >

The fine Italian porcelain we use for our balcony tiles outperforms all its rivals in every single way. Our tiles require no regular maintenance, so this means no time and labour is needed to keep your floor intact! The slabs we use also resist water, frost, fades, fire and slippages too; not to mention the fact they are strong and durable enough to be used for commercial use. What we are basically proposing to you is a material which looks as luxurious and appealing as natural stone, but comes with none of the drawbacks!

As our porcelain is such a fine performing outdoor material, it makes the perfect choice for those looking to revamp their balconies and roof terraces. Using pedestal supports, our balcony tiles can be dry installed – the beauty of this is you can create a level surface while also benefiting from acoustic and thermal insulation! Not only that, but this method of installation also allows for pipes, leads, and cables to be laid between the void.

You could even lay the tiles yourself, no adhesives or mortars are needed making it a relatively easy task for keen DIY enthusiasts. As nothing is sticking the tiles down they can also be removed easily – this is ideal should you need to lay wires, or remove them altogether.

One of the best things we think our tiles can offer your balcony is a complete makeover! If you have an outdoor space already that is a bit worn, weathered, and warped, realise its full potential through our sumptuous porcelain slabs. Made to look like some of the most exotic natural stone available – as well as also creating some new shades and finishes of our own – our tiles will transform your balcony into a pristine space that yearns to be used!

Browse through our gallery and case studies for visual evidence of the décor- dreams we realise; or why not get the ball rolling by ordering a FREE sample of our balcony tiles, so that you can have tangible evidence of its calibre.

If you have questions regarding our range of porcelain tiles & paving, do not hesitate to contact us today! 

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We have come to expect a lot of rain and snow throughout the autumn and winter months and many porous stone tiles emerge in spring looking a little worse for wear.

PrimaPorcelain products all come with a 10-year guarantee, are frost proof and have been given a unique slip resistance Grip Factor rating so you can purchase paving stones to withstand the many winters to come with confidence.

When you see this symbol on any of our products, it indicates the product has been awarded a Grip Factor of 5. This means the paving has a high-grip surface, reducing the likelihood of you having a fall in your garden this winter due to a slippery surface underfoot.

We have selected some of our favourite tiles that have a Grip Factor of 5, however many others also have this rating so be sure to look for this symbol when browsing tiles across the site.

Stoneware Tiles & Paving

Our Stoneware Collection combines the characteristics of real stone with PrimaPorcelain’s top-grade materials to ensure that these paving stones will look good and last all winter! Available in 4 colourways to suit any garden for years to come. Click below to shop the Stoneware Collection.

View Stoneware Collection >

Bolzano Tiles and Paving

These beautiful Bolzano tiles have a concrete effect that is perfect for indoor and outdoor flooring. They too are made of high-grade PrimaPorcelain that protects from frost and water damage. Click below to shop our Bolzano Tiles and Paving.

View Bolzano Collection >

If you have any questions regarding our tiles and paving, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling 02920 803 756 or send us an email at info@primaporcelain.co.uk. Remember, for a closer look at any of our tiles you can order 3 FREE SAMPLES today.

Our Forest range is the ultimate in wood effect porcelain tiles! We all enjoy the beautiful grains, lines and whorls in natural wood, but with such beauty comes all the flaws of such a natural and porous material. Low-porosity porcelain is a superb alternative for all sorts of spaces!

We've some great variety in our Forest range, including:

• Forest Oak - These stunning wood look tiles mimic the natural beauty of oak, with all the super-performance of our Italian porcelain.
• Forest Grey Larch - These gorgeous grey tiles have a far more cool and contemporary finish, and would thoroughly modernise just about any space.

Plus several other options!

Basically, if you'd like to decorate your garden with beautiful porcelain tiles that look like real wood, look no further than our Forest range!

View All Forest Tiles & Paving >

It’s no secret that the summer months are the best time to make the most of your garden! The unpredictable British weather means we have to take what we can get in terms of sunshine, but it also means that you need garden flooring which can withstand a variety of weather conditions (namely, rain). Laying slate garden tiles from PrimaPorcelain will turn any garden into a beautiful, modern space while also packing in the durability needed to last throughout the seasons. 

(Slate Ivory Tiles)

These beautiful slate ivory tiles will make any outdoor living space look spacious, fresh and bright. With a medium price rating, these slate garden tiles are excellent quality and look incredibly luxurious and expensive –  despite being very reasonably priced. Laying these ivory slate garden tiles will make you want to spend a lot more time in the garden!

(Slate Silver Tiles)

Our outdoor slate garden tiles in silver offer an authentic stone look which also accommodates a high-grip rating, making them ideal for your garden or outdoor space. We just love this silver slate look, it’s sure to transform your garden – these slate garden tiles truly exude style. Plus, their durability means you can appreciate your beautiful garden flooring all year round.

(Slate Grey Tiles)

These gorgeous slate grey garden tiles are the perfect choice for creating an appealing outdoor living space. Offered in a 2cm thickness, these garden slabs can be dry-installed outside without any need for adhesive. What’s not to like?

(Slate Black Tiles)

Rediscover your love for the garden with these lovely black slate garden tiles! Installing this garden slate paving will make for a trendy outdoor space. The shade variation for this product is V3 – meaning the slight shade difference from tile-to-tile will give a beautiful, organic look.

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If you’re finding it hard to decide between our range of beautiful slate garden tiles, order some of our FREE samples to see for yourself the incredible quality of the outdoor slate tiles offered by PrimaProcelain! You really can’t beat PrimaPorcelain on quality when it comes to slate garden tiles, for more information on PrimaPorcelain products give us a call on 029 2080 3756.