Porcelain Pavers

Porcelain pavers are the option we point contractors to when the client wants a stone look with no sealing, no staining and no freeze-thaw worry. The body is fired dense enough that water absorption is close to zero, the face is a printed and textured matte surface, and the edges are rectified so the joints stay tight and even. They are not natural stone, and the honest comparison with the travertine and marble lines is in our guide to porcelain versus natural stone.

The looks

Every paver here is named by its family and the surface it imitates. Stone-look: Rainier Smoke, Whitney Gray, Sedona, Tahoe, Shasta, Moab, Kanab Bone, Glacier Gray, Denali Ice and Crater Blue. Travertine-look: Ojai Silver and Ojai Beige. Limestone-look: Aspen White, Aspen Gray and the Hudson series in white, beige and gray. Concrete-look: Presidio, Marin and Cascade in ivory, off white, sand, greige, silver, cool gray, ash and anthracite. Terrazzo-look: Savannah Cream and Savannah Gray. Sandstone-look: Saratoga Gray and Anthracite. Porphyry-look: Telluride Gray. Bluestone-look: Catskill Black. The silver and gray color page lines the gray porcelain looks up against gray natural stone.

Formats

The 24x24 is the workhorse and carries nearly every look; it is also the size that fits standard pedestal systems without cutting. The 24x48 and 24x36 come in a handful of looks and are usually laid in running bond with the 24x24 as the cut piece. For the same footprint in natural stone, compare the 24x24 paver page and the 24x48 paver page.

Three ways to install

Pedestal: the 3/4" thickness is designed for adjustable pedestals on roof decks and over waterproofing, with open joints for drainage. Sand-set: on a compacted aggregate base with a bedding layer, joints filled with polymeric sand, suited to patios and walkways. Mortar-set: on a concrete slab with a modified thinset and full coverage, the usual method around pools. Porcelain does not take a bullnose profile, so pool edges are normally finished with natural stone coping from the pool coping collection and the porcelain runs up to it.

Care and climate

Never seal porcelain; a sealer has nothing to soak into and will sit on the surface. Clean with water and a neutral cleaner. Because absorption is near zero, porcelain is the safest choice in freeze-thaw regions and around salt pools. It runs a little warmer underfoot than white marble in full sun, so pick the lighter looks for hot climates. Sizes, pallet coverage and weight are on each product page, and the outdoor porcelain buyer's guide covers cutting, joint width and edge details.

Shopping by a distributor's name? If you were shown a design such as Beton Grey, Livingstyle Beige, Coralina Ivory or Pietra Di Vals at a yard or SiteOne branch, our MSI Arterra cross-reference or SiteOne porcelain cross-reference groups those names by look family and shows the closest Stonorama designs. Order a sample before buying — porcelain prints differ between factories.