What makes it different
Outdoor porcelain is usually 20 millimetres thick and fired at very high temperatures, so it absorbs almost no water. That means it shrugs off frost and resists the algae and staining that natural stone can suffer in damp corners. Designs include stone-effect, concrete-effect and wood-effect planks.
Laying it properly
Porcelain's smooth back doesn't bond to mortar on its own, so every slab is coated with a slurry primer before being laid on a full wet mortar bed. Without that primer, slabs can come loose. Cutting porcelain also takes the right tools; it's very hard, so we cut outside wherever possible.
Where it works best
- Shady walled yards behind terraces.
- Patios outside modern rear extensions, where porcelain can continue the line of an indoor floor.
- Busy family gardens that need easy cleaning.
Grip
Outdoor porcelain has a textured surface for grip. We choose slabs rated for outdoor use, and in shady spots we pick a finish with good slip resistance.
