Sandstone vs. Porcelain: Pros and Cons That’ll Make Your Paving Decisions Easier

Working on your next paving project and can’t decide between porcelain and sandstone?  Well that’s why we’re here. Since pavements account for a large portion of your home’s exterior, its crucial to get it right the first time around. Unlike wallpapers and furniture, this feature of your home lasts somewhat a lifetime. It gives character to your home and has the ability to make or break it.

However, paving isn’t all about aesthetics, you have to take slip resistance, strength and durability into account as well.

Here are some pros and cons of commonly used pavement materials to help you make an informed decision.

Porcelain:

If you’re new to paving, porcelain is made up of a concoction of sand and other minerals which are later baked in kiln. For this reason alone, porcelain is quite popular amongst builders.

Pros:

  • Durable: With its exceptional strength, this is one of the toughest materials you can choose for the pavement. They’re designed to last and are quite suitable for places experiencing heavy impact.
  • Maintenance: Porcelain paving stones are inherently stain-resistant. This means that they do not require heavy upkeep and are quite suitable for working homeowners.
  • Resistant: As porcelain is made up of a combination of porous materials, this makes it slip resistant. If live in a region that experiences a lot of rain, it would probably make for a great option.

Cons:

  • Installation: As it’s made of such heavy materials, it is quite difficult to cut into and can be tedious to install. However, if you aren’t taking on this task yourself, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
  • Weight: These slabs can get pretty heavy so make sure the spot you’ve chosen for them in your home is capable of supporting large amounts of weight.

Sandstone:

Sandstone gets its popularity from its Indian heritage, its complex designs and aesthetically appealing textures. Not only that, with sandstone you can choose from a variety of colors, so you can always find an option that matches the feel of your home.

Pros:

  • Long-lasting: Though not as strong as porcelain, sandstone can last up to several decades if cared for and maintained properly.
  • Maintenance: The best part is, it requires little to no maintenance. If you notice your pavement getting dirty, just use a pressure washer to get rid of any unwanted stains and dirt.
  • Environmentally-friendly: Keep it green with sandstone! Yes, it’s recyclable and biodegradable. Additionally, since it’s not made of toxic chemicals installing and maintaining it has a lower carbon footprint.
  • Unique finish: Since sandstone is cut out of naturally developed stones, each individual slab has its own unique design.

Cons:

  • Water Absorption: Unfortunately, it is quite porous so it’s likely to absorb water when it does rain which could potentially damage or stain it in the future.
  • Imperfections: Since its slightly more delicate, major use could lead to scratches. But if proper care is taken, this could be avoided.

Now that you know all the necessary pros and cons to these paving options, we hope you’re able to make an informed decision.

Good luck and happy paving!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *