Porcelain stoneware in 2 and 3 cm: how STAR 2.0 and STAR 3.0 are changing how we think about outdoor surfaces

Thickness as a functional parameter, not a cosmetic one

Standard interior floor porcelain stoneware is usually 8–10 mm. Paving slabs are an entirely different structural category: STAR 2.0 is porcelain stoneware 20 mm thick, and STAR 3.0 — 30 mm. It is a difference you see not in the catalogue, but on site. STARGRES presents itself, moreover, as the first Polish manufacturer to bring a two-centimetre porcelain stoneware to market in this format — the STAR 2.0 line was launched in 2014, at a time when the segment was dominated by Italian and Spanish manufacturers. The three-centimetre STAR 3.0 is a heavier and stiffer layer: the manufacturer describes it with the formula "50 per cent more mass means 50 per cent more stability". In practice, the thicker slab better withstands point loads and movement of the substrate, which is why STAR 3.0 is directed to places where vehicles drive over the surface — driveways and internal roads.

Pedestal installation: why it changes the design

Installation flexibility is key for this segment. Slabs of 20 and 30 mm can be laid not only on adhesive, but above all dry — on a gravel bed, on grass, on sand and on adjustable pedestals in what is known as a raised (ventilated) terrace system. This last solution is the most interesting for the architect, because it changes the way a deck is designed. The slab is not glued to the substrate — it "floats" on the pedestals, retaining freedom of thermal movement, which eliminates the risk of cracks and delamination under temperature fluctuations. A technical void is created beneath the slabs: installations can be concealed and drainage routed within it, and the whole can easily be levelled over roof decks and floor slabs. The system works without grout — the surface is uniform and easy to maintain — and a single slab can be lifted and replaced at any time without disturbing the rest of the terrace. For developments with rooftop terraces, apartment patios or entrance zones, this is a purely technical argument rather than an aesthetic one.

The parameters that make it into the specification

STARGRES porcelain stoneware is produced by firing at temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees Celsius, which yields a dense, practically non-absorbent structure — water absorption below 0.5 per cent is the threshold that determines suitability for outdoor use. Low water absorption gives rise to frost resistance, that is resistance to repeated freeze–thaw cycles — a critical parameter in the Central European climate. Added to this is anti-slip performance declared for paving slabs in the R10 and R11 classes, high abrasion resistance (distributors' catalogues are dominated by the PEI P3 and P4 classes), as well as resistance to UV, staining, chemical agents and to moss and mould growth. The manufacturer emphasises that no impregnation or maintenance is required — the surface needs no seasonal oiling like wood, nor does it fade like some composites. When pricing, it is worth remembering a practical detail: distributors recommend adding around 5–7 per cent of material for cuts and waste.

Design without compromising durability

STAR 2.0 comprises twelve collections designed by studios from Poland, Italy and Spain (including Stark, Pizarra, Pietra Serena, Downtown, Spectre, Select and Pulsar), with patterns inspired by natural stone, architectural concrete and warm wood. The available formats — from 60×60, through 45×90 and 90×90, to large-format 60×120 and 30×120 cm — allow the module to be matched to the scale of the terrace. The realism here is the effect of digital printing on the ceramic surface. For the designer, this means the ability to carry a single aesthetic from the living room out onto the terrace — the same pattern is offered in parallel in a thin version (for interiors) and a thick 2/3 cm version (for outdoors). The "terrace flowing into the living room" effect, in which the threshold visually disappears, is today one of the most frequently realised motifs in premium homes.

Why this matters to three different audiences

For the architect, porcelain stoneware in 2/3 cm is a single material that reconciles the specification argument (parameters, anti-slip classes, installation system) with the aesthetic argument (pattern, format, indoor–outdoor continuity). For the developer, it is the promise of predictable upkeep of common areas — a surface that requires no annual servicing and whose individual element can be replaced after a failure of the installations beneath the terrace. For the contractor, pedestal installation reduces wet work and allows the terrace to be handed over sooner, without waiting for the adhesive to cure. It is a rare case where engineering and design do not compete for the budget but sell within a single product.