Choosing Porcelain Tiles For Winter

Posted on 13th December 2021

Transforming your living space using a variety of types of tiling can make you more satisfied with your home, as well as increasing the value of your property. However, you need to consider varying weather conditions; particularly the freezing temperatures that come during winter months.

Many tiles are prone to cracking and becoming slippery under freezing conditions, but that’s just another area where porcelain tiles can stand out.

Can porcelain tiles be used outside in the winter?

Porcelain tiles are the ideal choice for outdoor use in the winter. Not only are they strong and durable, but they’re well known for their frost proof benefits. No matter what style you opt for, porcelain slabs have uniform strength and frost resistance across the board.

An important consideration when deciding to use porcelain tiles outside in the winter is ensuring you lay your porcelain correctly. Proper preparation and installation allows the substrate to handle the freeze-thaw cycle without putting additional pressure on, and subsequently cracking, the tiles.

How do porcelain tiles hold up in the winter?

Porcelain tiles hold up just fine in the winter. As a result of their low porosity, they are frost proof. This is because low porosity means not much water will be held by the tile, so it won’t freeze and cause cracking in minus temperatures.

Equally, porcelain tiles have anti-slip qualities which are vital for the winter months.

Are porcelain tiles anti-slip in the winter?

As a result of the riven finish and R11 anti-slip properties our porcelain slabs are manufactured with, they have maximum grip. Although it is important to know that any standing water that freezes will be slippy, so you need to keep on top of drainage!

With our range of colour porcelain paving tiles and effect porcelain tiles ,you can expect plenty of traction and firmness underfoot to provide you with complete peace of mind as harsher weather conditions begin to make an appearance.

Are porcelain tiles frost proof?

Yes, porcelain tiles are frost proof. Low porosity levels prevent water from being absorbed beneath the surface of the tiles. With some types of tiles, water is absorbed, then expands as it freezes in colder weather. When this water expands as it turns to ice, tiles which hold a lot of water can crack under pressure.

This is one of the main benefits of using porcelain for outdoor paving/patios.

Our porcelain tiles are suitable for a huge variety of surfaces, including patios, driveways and swimming pools to kitchens, bathrooms and conservatories. Therefore, when the real cold comes in you can rest assured that porcelain paving is highly resistant to freezing temperatures.

At Porcelain Paving Direct, our entire collection has been manufactured to offer frost-proof qualities to ensure you are always safe when using your outdoor space during the winter months.

As an added bonus, our porcelain slabs are pre-sealed, which means there are no cracks present for any water to settle into, expand and potentially cause large cracks in your paving investment.

Will porcelain tile crack in cold weather?

No, porcelain will not usually crack in the cold weather. Porcelain tiles are made from highly compacted fine clays and other materials, which are then fused together at extremely high temperatures to create an exceptionally strong bond. In fact, this is one of the strongest benefits of porcelain tiles vs ceramic tiles.

However, improper porcelain paving preparation using low quality grout or mortars can allow water to seep into the cracks, which can cause pressure to build and weaken the structural integrity of the tiles. This is not a problem with the porcelain tiles themselves however, rather an issue with preparation and/or installation.

 Invest in Porcelain Paving Tiles this Winter!

Choosing porcelain tiles for indoors over winter

Let’s take a look at some of the pros that come with porcelain tiles during the winter months:

• Durability - Porcelain tiles are highly resistant to wear and tear, meaning they can withstand the high footfall of family winter gatherings, and even the potential impact from dropped items. They’re also incredibly moisture resistant, preventing cracking or damage when temperatures and moisture levels fluctuate.

• Low maintenance - Porcelain is exceptionally easy to clean, on top of being stain resistant. This makes them particularly ideal for kitchen or bathroom areas. To clean, simply sweep and occasionally mop.

• Heat conductor - Porcelain works particularly well with radiant heating systems, and can be excellent for winter months when paired with underfloor heating.

Now let’s see if there are any drawbacks to porcelain tiles over winter:

• Potential coldness - If your house is already cold, and the tiles have no source of heat to conduct, it can be uncomfortable to walk on the cold porcelain. However, if your house is adequately heated, or you have any sort of underfloor heating system, you should have no issues.

• Installation difficulties - Due to their weight, porcelain tiles can be difficult to install, especially when compared to wooden flooring or carpet. However, we feel that these potential difficulties are more than worth it, thanks to all the amazing benefits of porcelain.

If we haven’t yet convinced you that porcelain paving is the right investment for you and your home improvement project, get in touch with us and we will be happy to help with any queries you may have.