Porcelain or natural stone: choosing the right patio for a London garden

A new patio is often the single biggest change you can make to a garden, and the paving you choose will shape how it looks and how much care it needs for decades. The two most popular choices in the gardens we build across South West London and Surrey are porcelain and natural stone. Here is how they compare.

Porcelain paving

Porcelain is a manufactured slab, fired at very high temperature. Its biggest advantage is that it is almost non-porous.

• It resists staining from red wine, oil, barbecue fat and leaves, and does not need sealing.

• Colour stays consistent from slab to slab and does not fade noticeably in sun.

• It is easy to clean with warm water and a mild detergent.

• It comes in stone, slate, concrete and timber effects, so it suits both modern and traditional homes.

The trade-offs are a more uniform look than real stone and installation that must be done properly. Because porcelain does not absorb water, each slab needs a bonding primer on the back and a full mortar bed, or it can work loose. Cutting also takes diamond blades and more time, which adds to labour.

Natural stone

Indian sandstone, limestone and granite remain popular for good reason.

• Every slab is different, with natural variation in colour and texture.

• Stone softens and weathers into the garden, which suits period houses and cottage-style planting.

• Upfront material costs can be lower than premium porcelain.

The downside is that most natural stone is porous. It can stain, grow algae in shady London gardens and suffer in hard frosts if water gets in. Most stone patios benefit from an impregnating sealer and regular cleaning to keep them looking their best.

Which suits your garden?

• Small, shaded town gardens in Fulham, Chelsea or Putney often do best with porcelain, because it shrugs off algae and is easy to keep clean.

• Larger gardens in Wimbledon, Richmond, Esher or Cobham with a traditional house can suit natural stone, especially where you want it to age naturally.

• If you entertain a lot, porcelain's stain resistance is hard to beat.

• If the patio continues from an internal floor, porcelain lets you match the indoor tile closely.

Getting the base right

Whichever you choose, the result depends on what is underneath. A good patio needs a compacted sub-base, a full mortar bed, falls that carry rainwater away from the house and a drainage plan for where that water goes. These are the details we set out before a single slab is laid.

Planning a new patio or garden?

Koniu Construction designs and builds patios, paths and gardens across South West London and Surrey. See our garden projects or tell us about your garden.