All three types of patio paving material are available as single-size formats or as mixed-size. That said, mixed-size slabs are much less prevalent with porcelain paving at present, and you’ll most likely only encounter single size packs.
Below we’re placed single size paving next to a mixed size patio so you can see the difference between the uniform pattern of the former and the more irregular pattern of the latter.
Your choice of jointing style will also affect the appearance of your patio paving pattern. For a contemporary aesthetic, you may want to consider narrow-jointed paving (where the slabs are positioned close together). On the other hand, wide-jointed paving tends to offer a more traditional look.
All three types of paving can be narrow-jointed (contemporary) or wide-jointed (traditional), but narrow-jointing will require the paving to have a straight or sawn edge that’s not chamfered, so the slabs can be laid near together (3-5 mm).
A jointing compound is recommended for concrete and stone installations. Exterior paving grout is recommended for porcelain paving. However, a jointing compound can be used with porcelain, and will look okay if you’re using a traditional joint width.
As you consider which pattern and jointing to go for, remember that the material you choose will impact the options that are open to you:
Concrete paving – The edge profile of decorative concrete typically lends itself to wide jointing (the more traditional style). Pressed concrete will often have straight edges, and can be jointed narrower. Concrete slabs come in a wide range of size formats, with mixed size packs being common, giving you lots of choice when it comes to laying patterns.
Natural stone – With plenty of size formats available, stone offers flexibility in terms of laying patterns. You can also choose between hand-cut chamfered edges or straight sawn edges, depending on whether you’d prefer contemporary narrow or standard and traditional wider jointing.
Porcelain paving – Mostly sold in single-size packs, with limited options when it comes to mixed-size packs. If you choose this material, you’ll likely have to go for a more uniform paving pattern (or do a lot of cutting!).
The cost of patio paving is not merely reflected in the price-per-metre-square of the slabs themselves. That is only one element amongst many which will determine what you end up paying. The main thing to factor in when buying patio paving is the installation costs (more on this below).
Historically, concrete paving was the cheapest option. Then global trade allowed low-cost importation of natural stone from the likes of China and India, creating a large market in the last 30 years for the likes of Indian sandstone in the UK. Recent disruption to the global supply chain from Covid-19 has seen natural stone prices rise again, as shipping costs increase dramatically. This has equalised prices, bringing all three types of paving into a closer range.
It’s important to check carefully when comparing paving from different suppliers, as not all slabs are of equal quality. Here, we’ve provided some top tips to help you shop wisely:
You typically get what you pay for because paving is made and supplied to a price within market conditions. A cheaper price is often a sign that the slabs are either of a lower quality or have fewer processes involved in their production.
If the price of natural stone paving seems too good to be true, this is often because it has been sourced from lower quality quarries or taken from shallower seams of rock. It may look the same as sound stone to begin with, but will likely see more delamination, abrasions and cracking over time.
Sawn edges, honed surfaces, tumbled ageing and depth calibration of natural stone all add to the cost. Expect to pay more for processed natural stone paving.
Concrete and porcelain paving is man-made – below-average prices are often the result of cost-saving in the manufacturing process, which produces lower quality slabs.
The main cost of a new patio is the installation (materials and labour). The paving slabs will rarely be more than 20% of your total costs. Even if you end up spending double on the slabs, the impact on the cost would typically only add 10% to the project.
The key to keeping costs down is finding a good installer with a proven track record. Pay a little more to get the right installer – it will probably save you money as there will be no mishaps or errors to put right, and experts tend to work efficiently to their schedule too.
Natural stone is the easiest material to cut and lay, with large slabs and few breakages. As a result, the installation should be quicker, keeping your costs down.
PHOENIX PAVERS ARIZONAPorcelain is much more difficult to cut, adding to your installation time and costs. That said, it is a tough material so breakages should still be few and far between.
Concrete has more potential for breakages and often comes in smaller slabs, meaning it could take a little longer to cut and lay. Installation costs for concrete paving should be roughly the same as porcelain, but will often be more than natural stone for the same area of paving.
Each different type of paving slab material has unique properties that affect the likelihood of it fading in the sun, weathering due to slightly acidic rain or eroding as a result of freeze-thaw cycles:
Concrete is the least long-lasting paving material. With high porosity and weaker slab strength, concrete can crack more easily than other types (although you can help to prevent this by sealing the paving slabs).
Natural stone tends to be more durable than concrete. That said, limestone can be susceptible to chemical erosion from rain and UV bleaching, whilst the surface of sandstone can delaminate (i.e. divide into layers) as a result of frost action.
Porcelain is particularly hard-wearing and will typically last for a very long time. This material is not only waterproof and frost-resistant, but its pigments are also UV-protected to prevent fading.
We recommend sealing less durable paving materials such as concrete, limestone, and sandstone. This will help to protect them against the elements, reduce the likelihood of moisture related staining and frost action, and extend the lifespan of your patio paving.
We recommend sealing less durable paving materials such as concrete, limestone, and sandstone. This will help to protect them against the elements, reduce the likelihood of moisture related staining and frost action, and extend the lifespan of your patio paving.
Maintenance requirements are an often-overlooked consideration when choosing patio paving. The porosity and hardness of the paving material will determine how easy or difficult it will be to maintain whilst preventing stains, scratches and the build-up of grime.
Concrete requires the most maintenance due to its high porosity and weaker surface strength. This type of paving is more likely to absorb spills and grime than other materials, but it can be cleaned with special patio cleaning products.
We recommend sealing concrete paving slabs at an early stage to protect them. This will help to stop the material from scratching and staining over time, as well as preventing the formation of algae and black spots.
Care needs to be taken when washing concrete paving. We recommend that you do not use a pressure washer on concrete paving – this will likely damage the surface of the paving slabs (and can even remove the surface pigment).
Natural stone can require less maintenance than concrete, but this largely depends on the specific type of stone you choose. Granite and slate, for example, are fairly hard-wearing and will resist scratching and staining more than porous stone types like limestone or sandstone.
If you choose a more porous material, we recommend sealing it. The sealer will help to prevent erosion, delamination and algae formation.
You should use a priming slurry during installation. The priming slurry will ensure the slabs are properly stuck in place, and are less likely to become loose or rock, letting in water at the joints. The slurry also act as a membrane barrier on the underside of the slab, helping to reduce damp and blooming/staining from natural salts and minerals.
It’s also advisable to buy a specialised non-acid cleaning product for porous stone paving. These are designed to lift and clean deposits in the stone’s capillaries and micro-fissures without chemically damaging the stone.
Looking for low-maintenance patio paving? Then porcelain is your best option. This type of material is resistant to scratches and abrasions (but try to avoid dragging furniture or dropping garden tools on it, as it can still mark).
