Porcelain Porcelain vs. Natural Stone Pavers for Canadian Driveways

You want an aesthetic driveway edge.

And, also the advantage of durability, which can survive changing weather or harsh climate, traffic, or strains without being slippery or faded.

So for you, the choice could be either porcelain pavers or the natural stone. Both are in demand in Canada due to their unique advantage. At Worldwide Stone, we offer both.

Before you decide, take a look at our guide that can help you understand the pros and cons of porcelain and natural stone. Moreover, understand what you should choose when to get a better longevity.

What is Porcelain Paving?

Generally, around 20 mm thick, non-porous, highly compressed clay tiles fired at over 2200°F. Then, to give a concrete finish, natural stone, or wooden like look, they get inkjet printed high resolution images. The final output that you get for decorative paving is known as porcelain paving slabs. It looks more aesthetic and eye soothing while it can be molded to keep the modern taste.

What is Natural Stone Paving?

Unlike porcelain patio tiles, natural stone landscape products are extracted and cut from quarries. It’s completely non-man-made. Each natural stone you find differs in shade, texture, size, and natural build-up from one another. More than an aesthetic appeal, it’ll give you the touch of tradition and authenticity.

Let’s have a look at natural stone coping, where you can prefer any of these stones to make your driveway elegant: 

• Sandstone paving: The enduring, timeless beauty and resistance of sandstone paving depends on its core cement like material, known as silicon. If the molecules within it are tightly packed, the sandstone can be tougher.
• Limestone paving: It’s not much different than a sandstone paving. The only difference is that limestone combines both lime and silica and is exposed to an acid reaction. However, it can provide comparatively higher color resistance than sandstone paving.
• Granite paving: It’s considered as the strongest durable natural stone paving. As it’s highly thermally stable, Granite paving slabs don’t easily fade under constant heat and UV rays.
• Slate paving: Lastly, the slate paving tiles are more subtle and weather resistant. However, if you choose to build a slate paver driveway, always prefer calibrated slate as it’s naturally made in layers.

Porcelain vs. Natural Stone: Key Considerations while Paving Your Canadian Driveways 

Installation Comparison 

As a smart buyer, you can’t only look for endurance beauty or just the resistance. You must think a little further. Outdoor driveways often fail due to overlooking base preparation and maintenance. So, what preserves integrity is more important, and let’s talk about it:

• Complexity: While porcelain paving slabs need to be handled with delicacy, sturdy natural stone tiles demand comparatively less attention. However, it can be more labour-intensive when making your driveway with natural stone tiles.
• Cutting & shaping: As natural stone slabs are sturdy and directly extracted from earth material, giving it a shape of your choice isn’t easy. Contrary to it, porcelain pavers are more flexible to be designed, though it needs precise cutting equipment.
• Handling & lifting: Porcelain paving slabs are comparatively highly resistant to strain but also highly fragile. On the other hand, natural stone tiles come with comparatively high durability but lower resistance to strain. That’s why both have to be handled with utmost care.

• Cost: The cost of transforming your driveway with either porcelain or natural stone depends on the stone materials, and their sizes, and weight. It can also vary, depending on the involved labor, expert handling, and specialized tools. You can contact us at Worldwide Stone to get the best deal according to the custom stone coping in Ontario, Canada.

Porcelain vs. Natural Stone: What Should You Choose and When? 

If you’ve reached so far, the obvious question you come across is what you can rely on. Let us answer that. Whether you choose a different size and format of porcelain or natural stone pavers for your Canadian driveways, they come with their own advantages and drawbacks.

So, porcelain patio tiles driveway in Ontario can be your go-to choice while you’re looking for:

• Minimalist but eye-appealing, versatile designs

• Low outdoor maintenance but higher resistance to the climate

• Anti-slip surface with a higher longevity of color retention

On the other hand, a natural stone paving driveway can be your best fit if

• Traditional heritage outlook attracts you more than the aesthetic design spectrum

• You prefer sturdy earth material than a man-made piece

• You won’t mind spending on daily maintenance

Choose Worldwide Stone to Pave Your Driveways with Custom Stone Coping in Ontario, Canada

You know the drill. You want the design, the quality, durability, and cost-effectiveness all in one place to make the most of your investment in a porcelain or natural stone paving driveway.

And, so we ensure at Worldwide Stone. Our handpicked stone materials, expert suggestion, and strict management principles can provide you with the perfect touch of finishing off your project. Let’s connect to build your dreamy exterior space!