Clinker surfaces – is it worth using the technology to install driveways, pathways and garden terraces? It definitely does, because they have many functional benefits, which are mentioned below.
Clinker surfaces – Why go for it?
Section 1. Aesthetics
Visual features are naturally the first ones to draw our attention when choosing the material for pavements around the house or garden. In that respect, clinker paver holds a strong position. You can tell by the first look that it’s a precious material. Some associate clinker surfaces with English gardens, some with modernistic garden layouts at pre-war villas and the other with the paved streets and squares of great cities. But clinker surfaces are always recognized as durable, elegant and timeless.
Until recently, red was the dominant color among ceramic road bricks – as the product is formally called. Nowadays those products are available in a great range of colors – from yellow, orange, red and brown to graphite and shaded products. Additionally, several formats with 5 different faces are available. All this together gives a very wide range of arrangement possibilities.
It’s worth mentioning, that the variety of clinker paver colors is the result of the use of certain types of clay, that naturally burn into a certain color. It’s obviously not the only method to obtain colors. Another method requiring certain skills is a flashing treatment, which is a way to control the burning process, or a method called reduction. This one is based on the repeated burning of paver in a given color in special furnaces in a nitrogen atmosphere. It allows to obtain clinker pavers of unusual colors – gray, graphite or even black.
Clinker surfaces – Why go for it?
Section 2. Functionality
Clinker paver is a material that can be used not only for surface work. Thanks to the fact that it has 3 facing (nice-looking) sides, it can be used to install decorative curbs, borders and even to build stairs. Moreover, it can be treated as miniature brick and used to make brickworks, flower pots and other elements of landscape architecture.
Another extremely important aspect that influences the clinker paver look is high resistance to soiling, also to concentrated acids, alkalis and detergents. It makes it easy to clean if need be.
However it has been observed, that debris typically seen in the garden or around the house are removed by natural forces such sun and rain. Although it is hard to imagine, what if something damages the block permanently? In this case… Simply turn the block on the other side as the opposite surface is also faced.
Clinker surfaces have more functional benefits, probably as many as visual qualities. It’s worth mentioning that they are 4 times more durable than the concrete paver mentioned earlier. For example, to lay a driveway that withstands the same loads as the 80 mm thick concrete block, you need to use only 47 mm think clinker paver. Moreover, abrasibility of clinker paver is extremely low, up to 20 times higher than the concrete block, and high skid resistance (it achieves the highest possible class U3), also when the surface is wet.
Clinker surfaces – Why go for it?
Section 3. Technical benefits
Benefits, such as ease of installation, are appreciated especially by designers and contractors. However, no need for cement based foundation and separate verges or palisades, which are usually made with the use of clinker blocks laid in a certain way, is also good news for the investor. Savings made in those areas translate to lower total costs, for example the cost of a terrace construction will be lower than in the case of ceramic slips. Taking that into account, it’s important to calculate the total cost of different options for surfaces around the house. It’s necessary to see the bigger picture. Due to the extremely low abrasibility, clinker surfaces will look like new for many years. On the other hand, if needs of users change, same paving blocks may be reused – easily dismantled and laid in a new place. It is possible due to the lack of a permanent set between the clinker paver and the ground. It’s eco-friendly, economical and stylish!
