8 December 2025
Patios are increasingly a porcelain decision rather than a sandstone one. The materials behave very differently and the installation method matters as much as the choice of slab.
Porcelain is fired clay — essentially a very large floor tile. It's harder than stone, doesn't stain, doesn't moss easily, and stays flat for decades. The downside is that it's brittle on impact and needs a specific installation method: a slurry primer between the bed and the slab, otherwise the bond fails within a couple of winters.
Natural stone — sandstone, limestone, granite — has variation and character that porcelain can't fake. It also needs more care: most stones absorb water, mark with rust where it sits, and grow algae on the shaded side. Sealing slows that down but doesn't stop it.
Cost is closer than it used to be. Mid-range porcelain is comparable to mid-range sandstone per square metre, and installation costs are similar (the slurry-primer step on porcelain adds a small amount but the cutting is faster).
Default recommendation: porcelain for contemporary houses and shaded gardens where moss is a risk; natural stone for period properties where the variation suits the building.
