What are the benefits of porcelain paving?

Porcelain paving offers so much for the modern garden. It comes in a wide range of styles and textures, bringing clean lines, uniform sizing and consistent colour across every slab, and providing a flawless finish that outperforms many other outdoor materials.

High-quality porcelain garden tiles are known for their strength and durability. They're capable of withstanding heavy foot traffic and supporting substantial weight, including any outdoor furniture that you choose to place on them. This makes them ideal for creating a stylish, long-lasting outdoor living space that's perfect for relaxing and entertaining.

Porcelain paving is low-maintenance, with no need for sealing, and it's naturally stain-resistant. This means that cleaning your porcelain tiles can be done with little effort. With minimal attention, your patio, path or driveway will continue to look as if it were laid yesterday.

It's worth mentioning that, unlike natural materials, porcelain doesn't weather. If you're looking for a weathered effect or a more natural appearance, then you may like our stone-effect porcelain options. These bring the look of natural stone with the convenience and consistency of porcelain. Our Florence Grey slabs, for example, are a very convincing look-alike for natural limestone. For more information see Porcelain paving - Pros and Cons.

Our range includes over 50 porcelain paving products, featuring carefully curated colours, styles, and price points, as well as textures that emulate natural stone, wood and concrete. You're sure to find the ideal choice for your outdoor space.

Find inspiration for your porcelain project

Do visit our blog to find tons of ideas for your porcelain project.

For even more inspiration, we have created case studies, featuring our porcelain materials in inspirational garden projects by some of our landscape and garden design clients in the UK.

What our customers say about our porcelain paving

We've supplied thousands of satisfied customers up and down the country with porcelain paving, from homeowners to landscape professionals. Let's hear what some of them have to say about their experience of buying porcelain from London Stone:

Rachel Goozee Garden & Planting Design

www.rachelgoozee.com

As a garden designer, I'm consistently impressed by London Stone's porcelain range. The exceptional quality, diverse styles and durability make it a top choice for any outdoor space. Porcelain adds a touch of elegance, blending beautifully with natural elements. Truly, it's a game-changer in landscape design.

The Landscape Design Studio

www.thelandscapedesignstudio.co.uk

The beautiful warm tone of the Golden Stone Porcelain paving is the perfect product for those clients wishing for a light contemporary scheme that is easy to keep clean. On one particular scheme we had bespoke swimming pool copings made up with a 40mm downstand, which seamlessly blended with the surrounding Golden Stone tiles. We also used Coppered Oak Millboard for the deck areas to create a successful contrast.

Aspen Landscape Design & Build LTD

www.aspenlandscapeglasgow.co.uk

Jura Beige Porcelain Paving is an exceptional choice for outdoor paving projects, offering not only durability but also an impressive natural appearance. These tiles provide a range of textures and finishes that mimic the look of natural stone, creating a strikingly authentic finish. The warm beige colour and subtle veining add to the overall aesthetic appeal of the design, and the low-maintenance nature of the product is a bonus. I highly recommend Jura Beige Porcelain Paving for anyone looking for a high-quality, natural-looking paving solution that is built to last.

Our porcelain paving ranges

There are a variety of options available with porcelain paving, each bringing their own unique characteristics. Below is a summary of our collections - for a more detailed delve into the differences between our ranges, see About Our Porcelain Paving.

• Luxury Italian Porcelain: Our most extensive outdoor porcelain collection manufactured by the world-renowned Caesar Ceramics, with the widest selection of colours, sizes, and textures available.
• Premium Italian Porcelain: Also manufactured by Caesar, this represents exceptional value and focuses on paving that looks like sawn natural limestones, with detailed and authentic surface textures.
• Budget Porcelain: Mostly manufactured in India, with a wide range of colours and sizes, this collection offers excellent value for money and high quality. This range also includes budget Italian porcelain, made exclusively for London Stone. It offers a refined but limited colour palette at a surprisingly affordable price.
• Large Format Porcelain: Perfect for laying in expansive, elegant areas, for sleek design and to cover ground quickly, these 20mm thick outdoor tiles are available in 800x800mm or a 1200x1200mm format.
• 900x600mm Porcelain: A popular size that is standard in natural stone. The rectangular shape adds movement to a paving design. For more information, check out laying patterns for porcelain paving.

How much does porcelain paving cost?

Many of our porcelain paving ranges overlap pricewise, and our pricing structure ensures that there's a paving solution to fit your project perfectly, regardless of your budget or design requirements.

The table below will help you understand what you will find within different budgets. Note that all our porcelain paving is vitrified with fully rectified edges.

What do I need - porcelain, stone, clay, or decking?

We understand that the array of landscaping materials available can be overwhelming when you're just starting your project. This table simplifies your decision-making by providing a clear comparison of key paving materials, including Porcelain, Natural Stone, Clay Pavers, and Composite Decking. Each material is detailed with features and pricing, allowing you to easily assess what best fits your budget, aesthetic preferences, and functional needs. Whether you're renovating a garden or designing a new patio, this guide helps streamline your selection process, ensuring you find the perfect material effortlessly.

Why choose London Stone for your porcelain paving?

As one of the first suppliers to introduce porcelain paving to the UK market, London Stone has led the way in the supply of high-quality outdoor materials and products for any budget. The London Stone story shows that we, as a family-run business, believe in always putting our customers first, offering you products and services tailored your needs.

When you buy porcelain paving from us, you enjoy advantages often not seen elsewhere.

• FREE 10-year homeowner guarantee
• FREE next-day nationwide delivery
• No-quibble returns
• No split-pack charges - order only what you need
• Nationwide showroom network

High-quality porcelain

All our Italian porcelain tiles, whether Budget or Luxury, are produced to the same high standards and with the same ingredients by Caesar, one of the most experienced porcelain manufacturers in the world. Caesar's consistent manufacturing approach guarantees that our outdoor tiles are robust and long-lasting, making them ideal for both residential and commercial applications. Find out more about how porcelain paving is made in our visit to Caesar's state-of-the-art factory.

Our Indian porcelain paving offers exceptional quality at a more affordable price point. Whilst it doesn't feature full-body colour like our Italian range, it still delivers impressive performance and style. Plus, like all our porcelain paving, it's backed by our 10-year guarantee.

Purchasing from us is easy

In whatever way suits you best, we're here to help.

• Online: All our paving materials and ancillaries may be bought directly through our website.
• By telephone: Our experienced advisers are happy to talk through all your questions - you can call the sales team on 01753 212 950.
• In person: We have a network of showrooms where you can view porcelain paving alongside our complete range of slabs and pavers, decking, pergolas, and planters.

The UK's largest porcelain steps and copings collection

All our porcelain paving colours are available in matching steps and copings with a choice of edge detail. This not only offers a suitable option for every budget, but also a range of styles that gives you true freedom to design your garden the way you want.

We're proud to be the only supplier in the UK to offer a 36mm bullnose step profile in porcelain. This thickness adds weight to the appearance of step treads and is standard for natural stone, making it a smart choice when you choose a porcelain that emulates sandstone, granite, or limestone. You can browse the UK's largest porcelain steps and copings collection.

Transform your garden with our bespoke porcelain paving

Just like natural stone, porcelain can be crafted into anything. Curved cuts, profiled edges, and steps and copings can be made to your exact specifications. At London Stone, our in-house experts and bespoke production facility has allowed us to lead the way in customised porcelain. We ensure every bespoke detail is finished to the highest standard, bringing your unique outdoor design to life with precision.

We were the first supplier in the UK to offer a 40mm downstand edge profile for steps and copings, matching the look of natural stone and solving a key limitation in early porcelain ranges. Plus, we offer 36mm bullnose, an option unique to London Stone.

Both our 36mm and 40mm options give standard 20mm porcelain steps a weightier appearance, increasing the similarity in appearance to natural stone, and giving you options in the subtle design detail that is so important to the finished look of a garden.

Porcelain Paving FAQs

What is porcelain paving?

Porcelain paving is an outdoor material made from refined clay and minerals that are ground down, pressed, and then fired at very high temperatures. This process creates a dense, hard-wearing surface that's highly resistant to moisture, stains, frost and fading. Porcelain provides a sleek, modern look with consistent colours and textures, which has made it a popular choice for low-maintenance, long-lasting garden design.

Is porcelain paving hard-wearing?

Yes, definitely! They are the ideal material for the UK climate; they absorb little water (water absorption values are under 0.01% for Italian porcelain and under 0.05% for Indian porcelain), so they are highly resistant to frost. Additionally, their density makes them extremely hard-wearing. Our porcelain pavers are fade-resistant, scratch-resistant, and stain-resistant, with a textured finish to ensure enhanced grip.

The surge in porcelain's popularity in the UK over the past few years attests to its success as a paving material. In Europe, it's been a landscaping staple for decades, and the UK is now finally catching up.

How to clean porcelain paving?

Cleaning porcelain paving is simple and low maintenance. You just need to regularly sweep to remove any debris, and then wash with warm water and a stiff-bristled brush. For more stubborn dirt or algae, a specialist cleaning product can be used. Thanks to the low-porosity of the porcelain, it resists staining, so ongoing upkeep is typically easy.

Do you need to seal porcelain paving?

Porcelain paving does not require sealing due to its low porosity and durable surface. It has a natural resistance to moisture, stains, and frost, so it delivers excellent performance without additional protection. However, if you prefer extra peace of mind, you can apply a suitable porcelain sealant to help maintain its appearance over time.

Are porcelain paving slabs slippery?

No, porcelain paving slabs are not slippery, due to their textured surface. In fact, they are a good option for areas that are likely to get wet, such as swimming pool surrounds. Find out more in Are Porcelain Tiles Slippery?

How to lay porcelain paving?

You'll need specialist tools and equipment to install porcelain paving slabs. Full information about installing our outdoor tiles can be found on our Installation FAQ page or, for a full run-down, with video, of the materials you need and the steps you need to take, see How to Lay Porcelain Slabs.

What size jointing gaps are best for porcelain slabs?

Unlike natural stone, each porcelain paving slab is fully rectified. This means there is no dimensional tolerance, and every slab is the same size. Such consistency allows tile spacers to be used when laying, with the result that pointing gaps between slabs are perfectly consistent, adding a crisp quality to the modern design. We recommend joints of 5mm but 3mm joints can also be achieved.

Do you offer bespoke sizes in porcelain?

Cutting porcelain slabs can be done on site but getting the right finish takes experience and specialist cutting equipment. If you prefer not to do this yourself, we offer a bespoke cutting service to help create paving for the unique features of your project.

Where can I see your porcelain paving?

We have showroom locations conveniently located around the country:

• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Hampshire
• Kent
• Manchester
• Middlesex
• Milton Keynes
• North London
• Surrey
• Hartlepool
• Great Barrow

When visiting our showrooms, you can view our wide range of porcelain paving, view lifestyle displays, and see how products might look when placed in your outdoor space.

We also offer free parking, and love to welcome you with hot and cold refreshments. You'll feel at home in every location.

How long will it take to deliver my porcelain slabs?

We pride ourselves on our fast-shipping times, keeping a wide variety of items in stock at any time. If your order is placed before 1pm, we can usually deliver your products the next day. Find out more in our general FAQ section. Bespoke orders need to be manufactured before shipping, so the lead times for these items can vary. For further information, please speak to a member of our team.

Can I Return My Porcelain Slabs if I Am Not Happy with Them?

It is rare that our customers are unhappy with our products. However, in the unlikely event of an issue developing with your outdoor tiles, we will do our utmost to ensure a suitable resolution is found. In these instances, we ask that you contact us as soon as possible, so that we can put the issue right for you fast. Rectifying order issues is more difficult once your items have been installed, so we recommend that you get in touch as quickly as possible.

We also understand that sometimes people change their minds. When purchasing your porcelain slabs from London Stone, you have the right to cancel your order and return your items within 14 days of delivery. Find out more in our FAQs on Returns. The only exception to this is bespoke and pre-sealed items which cannot be returned unless they are damage or defective. Please note that your patio slabs must be returned in their original condition and packing.

If your outdoor tiles are faulty, damaged, not fit for purpose or not as described, you have a 30-day period in which to return them. We will also collect the materials at our own cost, taking full responsibility in these situations.

Do You Offer an Installation Service for Your Range of Porcelain Slabs?

We do not offer an installation service. However, if you require a landscaper or garden designer, our Landscape Specialist Scheme will help you find contractors in your area.

Before committing to a landscaper, you should ensure that the person you choose is right for your design project. It is worth asking your proposed tradesperson if you can view a portfolio of similar works - we also recommend getting several quotations before making a commitment.