Now that spring has started and summer is well on its way, more and more homeowners can begin thinking about the much-needed garden improvements that they've been putting off during the cold winter months.

And with restrictions slowly being lifted, the garden is one of the first places where we will be allowed to meet up with friends and family, so ensuring it is ready is going to be one of the main things on the to-do list heading into this part of the year. 

Over the years more homeowners have been opting for porcelain as part of their garden and patio redesigns thanks to the countless benefits that it offers over natural stone products but one question that is often asked is 'does porcelain paving get hot in the sun?' If you plan or using porcelain in your garden redesign for the summer and are wondering the same thing, PrimaPorcelain are here to give you the answers you're looking for! 

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Now that winter is out of the way and spring is right on our doorstep, you can make a start on sprucing up your home ready for the warmer weather and the easing of lockdown restrictions!

One way you can do this is by giving your garden a paving overhaul, replacing the tired, worn slabs that have been there for years with some new, sleek and stylish slabs that are not only guaranteed to catch the eye of any passerby but slabs that will last the test of time and withstand the elements!

One question that is commonly asked when it comes to new paving projects, however, is whether planning permission is needed. So, if you're planning on laying new paving and are wondering the same, PrimaPorcelain is here to help!

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For many people, the initial lockdown was a real struggle that presented many issues. For others, however, it provided an opportunity to make some much-needed improvements. Whether this was to themselves, their lifestyle or to their home! 

Well, for one homeowner, it's safe to say the latter certainly applies to them. A recent customer of ours was one of the many people up and down the country that used the extra time they found themselves having to make some incredible enhancements to their home, in particular, their outdoor living space. 

Hoping to renovate and transform their garden area, the in question customer placed a sample order for our stunning Cotswold Ivory porcelain pavers, a flooring product that brightens up any outdoor space with beautiful warm hues. 

Having received their samples, the customer decided that this product was just the thing they were looking for to complete their garden transformation and proceeded to discuss with our helpful sales team their exact needs and requirements. With clear and thorough communication, we were able to provide the customer with the right amount of paving slabs that they needed to bring their new outdoor design to life. 

Here are the results:

Thanks to our stunning porcelain paving, this homeowner was able to create a breathtaking outdoor space that they are now able to enjoy all-year-round. Using the light-coloured tiles to contrast the popping colours of the garden furniture and the abundance of plants, they were able to create a truly quirky garden design that is sure to stand out from the rest. 

An added bonus of installing our porcelain products is the low-maintenance properties that they offer. With extremely low porosity levels and high resistance to all forms of scratching, abrasions and fades, this customer's garden is set to look incredible for years to come with very little effort - fantastic! 

Are you interested in transforming your garden?

If you are considering a complete garden makeover with a new patio, be sure to check out our range of porcelain products today! Click below to browse our outdoor tiles.

Our Porcelain Products >

For more information, be sure to get in touch with a member of the PrimaPorcelain team today, we'd be more than happy to discuss your requirements.

If you're looking for a change of scenery and you think it's time to move house, then preparing your home properly can help you secure a quick sale. We've been working with homeowners to improve their indoor and outdoor spaces for years, so we know the positive impact that new flooring (or a new patio) can have. 

Competition is fierce on the housing market, so if you want your home to stand out you need to make sure it's clean and well presented. Here are a few things that we'd recommend you do before putting your house up for sale.

1. Clean and Tidy

People say that first impressions are everything and the first thing that people will notice when they come for a viewing is whether or not your house has been cleaned and looked after. General untidiness, dirt and grime can put someone off in a matter of seconds. To combat this, we'd recommend giving your house a thorough clean prior to any visits. This means:

• Packing away children's toys
• Putting shoes away in the cupboard
• Hoovering the floors and carpets
• Removing grubby fingerprints on windows

2. Fix and Replace

If you've been living in your home for more than a few years, there's bound to be a few things that need fixing and replacing. Whether it's something small like a faulty light switch or something more serious like a hole in the kitchen lino, investing in your home now will pay dividends when you come to sell it. 

Why not replace the old wooden deck in your garden with a chic, low maintenance patio? Or better yet, use our indoor/outdoor tiles to create a seamless transition between your home and garden. Using our modern porcelain paving to connect your home and garden will give the illusion of a bigger and more open living space which is sure to appeal to potential buyers. Plus, you (and the new owners) will benefit from a very low-maintenance space that will last for years to come - a worthwile investment indeed.

3. Kerb Appeal

So far, we've given you a few recommendations to improve your home and garden before you put your home up for sale, but we haven't discussed one of the most important factors - kerb appeal.

Kerb appeal is the way that your home looks from the street and is the very first thing that potential buyers will see whether they're driving past your home, or looking at the listing online. Spending a bit of time to improve the way the front of your home looks can help you attract more buyers. To improve your home's kerb appeal, we'd suggest:

• Painting fences and gates
• Neatening up the lawn and any outdoor plants/bushes
• Installing a new path/walkway (or cleaning up the existing one)
• Giving your front door a clean/new lick of paint

Can I move house during the coronavirus pandemic?

For most people, it is still perfectly possible to move home despite the current challenges of COVID-19. The main changes we've seen so far effect the way that house viewings and moving days work. 

Wherever possible, house viewings should take place via video, this limits the exposure that potential buyers and homeowners have with one another. If an 'in-person' house viewing does take place, the government are advising that the house is thoroughly cleaned before and after the viewing and that homeowners vacate during the viewing if possible.

On moving day, you are advised to disinfect your belongings (especially if a third party removal company are going to be helping you). When removal workers are in your home, you should stick to social distance guidelines wherever possible and wash your hands regularly. 

If either you or anyone involved in the transaction come down with COVID-19 symptoms, it's vital that you self isolate. This can, of course, slow down the house moving process but it's important for all parties that the move happens safely. 

You can read the in-depth government guidelines here. 

If you're thinking about selling your home and you want to install PrimaPorcelain paving as part of your preparations - don't hesistate to get in touch. 

The porcelain slabs that we supply here at PrimaPorcelain come in a range of standard sizes including, 40cm x 80cm, 60cm x 60cm and 20cm x 120cm. However, when it comes to laying your new porcelain paving in your home or garden, you may need to cut the slabs down to fit in a certain gap or around an existing feature. In this blog, we'll talk you through the equipment you'll need and the method you should use to cut your porcelain slabs up safely. Our full installation resource can be found here. 

To cut porcelain slabs, you will need:

• A circular saw
• Durable cutting blade
• Gloves
• Safety goggles
• Mask

1. Safety precautions

Before you start cutting your porcelain slabs, it's paramount that you take the necessary safety precautions. While cutting your porcelain slabs, you may see flecks of stone and dust in the air. These can be dangerous because they might a) hit you at force and cause an injury or b) enter your lungs and cause irritation. Therefore, you should make sure that you have and use appropriate personal protective equipment (listed above) before cutting your porcelain slabs. 

2. Choosing a circular saw

Here at PrimaPorcelain, we recommend the Rubi TC-180 circular saw which is designed for cutting porcelain. This comes with two different blade options, the dry blade (model number Rubi TCR31975 180mm), or the wet blade (model number Rubi CPC230955 180mm).

3. Choosing the right blades

Porcelain slabs are notoriously hard and dense, which means a regular circular saw might not be capable of slicing through them. Cheap blades will wear down very quickly and are far more likely to chip or shatter your porcelain slabs as you make your cuts. We'd recommend investing in a high-quality diamond blade for your circular saw. This will ensure that the cuts are clean and will reduce the likelihood of broken or damaged tiles.

We often recommend that our clients use a wet blade to cut their porcelain slabs because this method allows the most precise cuts. The water keeps the blade cool while it cuts through the tough material, this means there's less friction which means less chance of a crack or split. 

Cutting the tiles

To cut your porcelain slabs accurately, we'd recommend marking where you need to cut. This ensures that you get a straight and precise finish. Line the circular saw up with your pre-drawn mark and begin to cut down into the tile, applying light pressure.

One of the biggest tips we can give you is to take your time! Porcelain slabs are notoriously hard and brittle and will begin to chip if you cut too deep too quickly. Ideally, you'll be using a wet blade which, as we've previously mentioned, will help to keep the blade cool as well as making for a cleaner cut. 

If you want to cut your porcelain tiles along a curve or radius, you may need to use a hand-held circular saw rather than a fixed one, to allow you to create a contour as you cut. This method is perfect if you have garden features that you need to work around. 

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Hopefully, this guide will help you cut your porcelain tiles in a safe and accurate manner. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions about installation - 029 2080 3756.