Why choose stone-effect porcelain instead of natural stone?

Sandstone, limestone, slate and granite—with their natural colour variation and unique texture, each has its own distinct character. Stone also weathers gradually, acquiring a patina over time that contributes to its timeless appearance. So, with all stone's positive characteristics, why do people often choose a porcelain that emulates stone instead of opting for the real thing?

Stain-resistance

A major attraction of porcelain is its stain-resistance. The way porcelain paving is made results in a very dense material that repels dirt and is easier to keep clean than almost all natural stone options. To clean stone-effect porcelain you'll probably only need to jet wash or brush it down with water. For natural stone, however, you may need to use specialist cleaning products in conjunction with a more intensive cleaning regime. Find out more about how to clean porcelain paving.

No need to seal

Thin joint lines and crisp edges are often the main reason for choosing sawn sandstone and limestone; sawn edges give a crisp linearity to patio paving. One of the drawbacks of sawn stone is that it needs to be sealed, as the sawing process opens up pores in the surface of the material, which allows moisture and dirt to penetrate. Porcelain paving offers the same modern rectilinear appearance but doesn't need sealing, as its density means it is highly stain-resistant.

Budget-conscious projects

Our porcelain paving ranges in price from £27 + VAT/m² in our Project collection to £90 + VAT/m² for XL exterior tiles in our Luxury Italian range.

Compare the cost of natural stone with its porcelain look-alike, though, and you'll find a budget-friendly difference in price for some of the most sought-after pavings.

Jura limestone, for example, is much loved for its fine appearance and embedded shells and fossils but, costing from £100 + VAT/m², it's beyond the scope of many budgets. Jura Grey and Jura Beige porcelain paving start from £50 + VAT/m² and, while they don't feature embedded fossils, they still look almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Or check out Brera 800x800, an attractive emulation of Ceppo di Gré limestone from Lombardy and much more affordable. Stone-effect porcelain paving also doesn't need the additional cost of sealing, which is highly recommended for sawn natural limestone.

A modern patio in traditional colours

Some natural stone colours never go out of fashion. Kandla Grey and Raj Green Indian sandstone are two of the most popular choices for gardens. They are both riven, which means they have a slightly uneven surface. They also have hand-cut edges, which results in a tolerance of up to +/-5mm and means that width and length can vary from slab to slab by up to 10mm. This can look out of place in a contemporary garden. To solve this problem, porcelain options are now available in both of these iconic natural stones.

Unlike natural stone, Raj Green and Kandla Grey porcelain have rectified edges, like all our porcelain paving, so there's no tolerance on the largest-sized slabs. The design effect is of a traditional colour but with a slim-jointed appearance that suits so many modern designs.

Smoother paving

An even surface may be an important factor in your choice. If you need an accessible garden for a wheelchair user or have a wheeled barbecue or loungers that you want to move around, then the smoother surface of porcelain paving may be preferable to the natural split of riven paving.

Exclusive stone effects with London Stone

Over the years we've built up a close relationship with our porcelain manufacturers. The happy result is that when we make suggestions based on what our customers have told us, our suppliers listen. This collaboration has resulted in the development of some of our most popular paving products, including the Raj Green and Kandla Grey porcelain, as well as the Jura options.

Our Florence porcelain paving is a perennial favourite. Exclusive in the UK to London Stone, and in a range of colours, our “Florences” have a natural limestone character, complete with small imperfections in the paving surface, which makes them a great choice for a variety of garden settings.

Experienced manufacturers

One of the important features of stone-effect porcelain is the "repeat". This is the number of different printed faces within a colour before you have to lay a repeat slab. A very limited number results in an unnatural appearance—the very opposite of what you want when you've chosen stone-look outdoor tiles.

Our manufacturers give close attention to detail and are experienced enough to understand what's required for an authentic effect in any particular colour. Black Basalt, for example, is made up of 18 different faces, and Silver Contro (with a filled travertine appearance) has a whopping 27.

FAQs

Do You Offer an Installation Service for Your Range of Stone Effect Porcelain Paving?

At present, we don't offer an installation service for our paving products. However, if you require a landscaper of garden designer, our Landscape Specialist Scheme may be of use.

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

More information about installing our porcelain and natural stone paving can be found on our Installation FAQ page.

Can I Return My Stone Effect Outdoor Tiles if I'm Not Happy with Them?

It's rare that our customers are unhappy with our products. However, in the unlikely event of an issue developing with your stone effect patio slabs, 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 quickly. 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 understand that sometimes people change their minds. When purchasing your stone-effect paving items from London Stone, you have the right to cancel your order and return your items within 14 days of delivery. The only exception to this is bespoke and pre-sealed items. Please note that your patio slabs must be returned in their original condition and packing.

If your slabs 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.

How Long Will It Take to Deliver My Porcelain Paving Slabs?

At London Stone, we pride ourselves on our fast-shipping times, keeping a huge variety of items in stock at any time. If your order of stone-effect porcelain paving is placed before 1pm, we can usually deliver your products the next day.

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.

Customers can also collect their porcelain pavers from our Southern distribution centre near Heathrow, or our Northern distribution hub in Manchester.

Do You Have Any Showrooms I Can Visit?

Yes, we currently have ten showroom locations based around the country:

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

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

Our showrooms are conveniently located, displaying all our porcelain paving products in an aesthetically pleasing manner to help you visualise them in your own space. We also offer free parking, hot and cold refreshments and free Wi-Fi, making you feel at home in every location.