Patio Guide: Porcelain vs Natural Stone and How a Patio Should Be Laid

Porcelain vs natural stone

• Porcelain: very low water absorption, so it resists stains, moss and frost. Consistent in colour and size. Needs a bonding primer (slurry) on the back of each slab, and specialist cutting tools.
• Indian sandstone: popular, natural and varied in colour, with a riven (textured) or sawn finish. It can stain and grow algae, so a sealer is often used.
• Limestone: smoother and more uniform, giving a contemporary look in pale greys and blues.
• Granite and slate: very hard-wearing, with granite suited to driveways and steps and slate giving a dark, modern finish.
• York stone and reclaimed stone: classic choices for period properties and estates, at a higher cost.

Planning your patio

• Patios at ground level generally don't need planning permission. Raised terraces and decking over 30 cm high may, as can work at listed buildings.
• Keep the patio at least 150 mm below the damp proof course of the house, so rain doesn't splash above it.
• Plan the fall (slope) so water runs away from the building, usually around 1 in 60 to 1 in 80.
• Think about how you'll use it: a dining table and chairs need roughly 3 by 3 metres, more for a sofa set or outdoor kitchen.

How a patio should be laid

1. 01

   Set out and excavate

   Mark out the area and dig down to allow for the sub-base, bedding and paving, usually about 150 to 200 mm.

2. 02

   Lay a compacted sub-base

   Spread around 100 mm of MOT Type 1 stone and compact it in layers with a plate compactor, following the planned fall.

3. 03

   Bed each slab on full mortar

   Lay each slab on a full bed of mortar, not on dots or spots of mortar, which leave voids that let slabs crack and rock.

4. 04

   Prime porcelain slabs

   Porcelain slabs are painted on the back with a bonding slurry primer just before laying, so they stick to the bed.

5. 05

   Check levels and joints

   Each slab is tapped level to string lines, keeping the fall and consistent joints.

6. 06

   Point the joints

   Joints are filled with a jointing compound or mortar once the bed has set, and the patio cleaned down.

Frequently asked questions