Choosing patio paving: porcelain, sandstone, limestone and granite
Part of our patios guides
Every paving material can make a good patio and every one of them has a trade-off. The right choice depends on how shaded the garden is, how much maintenance you want to do, and what the slab has to be bedded on.
Porcelain
Porcelain is dense, effectively non-porous and resists staining and algae better than any natural stone. Colours stay stable and the surface is easy to clean. It costs more, cuts slower and needs a slurry primer on the back of every slab before bedding — skip that and the slab will eventually let go of the mortar. Rectified edges mean tight, consistent joints, which also means the base has to be accurate.
Indian sandstone
The most widely used natural paving in UK gardens and generally the most affordable. It is warm-looking, easy to work, and forgiving on price. It is also porous, so it will take on algae in shade and can stain from planters, barbecues and leaf fall. Sealing helps but has to be maintained.
Limestone, granite and concrete
Limestone gives a more uniform, contemporary look than sandstone and is usually finer grained, but it is sensitive to acids — including some cleaning products.
Granite is the hardest wearing natural option, very consistent, and holds up well to traffic; flamed finishes give reliable grip. It is heavy and slower to cut.
Modern concrete paving has improved enormously, with textured and stone-effect surfaces at lower cost and very consistent thickness, which speeds up laying. Pigment can fade over many years of sun.
Practical points people forget
Ask for a wet sample. Almost all paving looks different — often better — when it is wet, and grip changes too. Check calibrated thickness if you are mixing sizes in a pattern, and buy the whole job in one delivery where possible so the batch matches.
In heavy shade, choose a material you are happy to clean, or accept that it will green over. No sealer prevents that permanently.
Frequently asked
Is porcelain slippery when wet?
External porcelain is manufactured with a textured, slip-rated surface and performs well in the wet — it is internal polished porcelain that is unsuitable outdoors. As with any paving, algae growth is what makes a surface slippery, and porcelain resists that better than porous stone.
Does natural stone paving need sealing?
It is optional. Sealing a porous stone makes stains easier to lift and slows algae, but it needs reapplying periodically and must go onto clean, dry, fully cured paving. Many patios are left unsealed and simply cleaned once a year.