What is the difference between porcelain and sandstone paving?
Sandstone is a natural stone, most often imported from India, cut into slabs with a riven or sawn surface. Every slab is slightly different in colour and texture. It is porous, so it soaks up water and anything spilled on it.
Porcelain paving is a man made ceramic, fired at very high temperature. It is dense, hard and almost non porous. Outdoor porcelain is usually 20mm thick and printed to look like stone, slate, concrete or wood.
How much does each patio cost to lay in the UK?
Typical 2026 UK figures for a fully installed patio, including the sub-base and laying, look like this. London tends to sit in the upper half of these ranges. Every garden is different, so a free visit gives a fixed price.
- Indian sandstone: roughly £70 to £120 per square metre installed.
- Porcelain: roughly £90 to £150 per square metre installed, more for large format slabs.
- Extras for both: edging, steps, drainage channels, removing old paving and difficult access.
Why is porcelain more expensive to lay?
Porcelain is so dense that ordinary mortar does not grip it well. Each slab needs a priming slurry painted on the back before it is laid. It is also very hard to cut, so it needs diamond blades and more time at every corner and curve.
Sandstone is quicker to cut and more forgiving to lay. The extra labour for porcelain is where most of the price difference comes from, not the slabs themselves.
Which patio is less slippery?
Both can be safe if you choose the right finish. Good outdoor porcelain carries a slip rating, usually R11, which is suitable for wet outdoor use. Because water sits on the surface rather than soaking in, it also dries quickly after rain.
Riven sandstone has a naturally textured face that grips well when it is clean. The problem comes when algae and moss grow on it in shaded spots, which is common in north facing gardens in Ealing or under trees in Northwood. Green sandstone is slippery. If anyone in the household is unsteady on their feet, a textured porcelain is usually the safer choice.
Which is easier to look after?
Porcelain needs very little care. Sandstone needs a routine. Here is a fair comparison.
- Porcelain: sweep, then wash with water and a mild cleaner a few times a year. Barbecue fat and red wine wipe off. No sealing needed.
- Sandstone: seal it after laying and again every two to three years. Clean with a patio cleaner suited to natural stone. Black lichen spots appear over time and need a specialist treatment.
- Both: keep joints filled and weed free, and avoid pressure washing straight into the joints.
How do they cope with a wet London winter?
Frost, rain and clay ground all test a patio. Porcelain barely absorbs water, so frost has little to work on. Sandstone absorbs some water, and poor quality slabs can flake over many winters.
With either material, the sub-base matters more than the slab. On London clay a patio needs a firm compacted base and a slight fall away from the house so rainwater runs off. In front gardens, if you are paving over more than 5 square metres, the surface must be permeable or drain into a lawn or border, or you will need planning permission.
Which one should I choose?
Choose porcelain if you want a clean look that stays the same for years with almost no upkeep. Choose sandstone if you love natural stone, enjoy a traditional style and do not mind sealing and cleaning it.
We lay both, along with paths and steps, as part of our patios and paving work in Ruislip, Pinner, Greenford and across West London. Call 07703 040203 for a free visit. We can bring samples so you can see both in your own garden light.
Questions people ask
Is porcelain paving better than sandstone?
Porcelain is better for low maintenance: it does not stain, needs no sealing and keeps its colour. Sandstone is better if you want a natural stone look with variation in every slab. Both make a good patio when laid on a proper sub-base.
How much does a porcelain patio cost per square metre in the UK?
A typical installed price in 2026 is around £90 to £150 per square metre, with large format slabs and London jobs at the higher end. Indian sandstone is usually around £70 to £120 per square metre installed.
Is porcelain paving slippery when wet?
Outdoor porcelain with an R11 slip rating is designed for wet conditions and dries quickly because it does not absorb water. Polished indoor tiles should never be used outside. Any patio becomes slippery if algae is allowed to build up.
Does sandstone need sealing?
Yes, sealing is strongly recommended. Sandstone is porous and absorbs water, oil and dirt. A good sealer applied after laying, and again every two to three years, helps prevent staining and slows down moss and algae.
Do I need planning permission for a patio?
Back garden patios usually do not need permission. In a front garden, paving over 5 square metres needs planning permission unless the surface is permeable or drains into a lawn or border. Listed buildings have extra rules.
Karol Antolak
Owner of A.K. Gardening Specialist in Northolt. Looking after gardens across West London since 2006. Fully insured, DBS checked.
