Porcelain Patio Design: Ideas and Advice

Posted on 18th November 2022

Using porcelain slabs, it’s easy to create a stunning terrace brimming with character and charm to suit both modern and traditional garden designs. Whether it’s through colour porcelain tiles, or effect porcelain tiles, we’re sure our breath-taking collection has something to suit everyone!

Is porcelain paving a good choice for a patio?

Porcelain paving is a great choice for a patio because of the high foot traffic that patio areas experience. Many people ask whether porcelain paving or natural stone is better for patio areas, and they’re often surprised to hear that due to the extreme strength, low porosity, high frost resistance and beautiful aesthetics, porcelain slabs are actually the best choice.

Another benefit of porcelain paving is that they’re UV resistant, meaning they won’t fade in direct sunlight. This is perfect for all patio areas, even those which aren’t at all covered by trees or canopies!

Choosing the right tiles for an outdoor patio

Given that our porcelain paving is uniformly frost and slip resistant, and is strong enough to withstand high volumes of foot traffic, the main factor when it comes to making a decision is your aesthetic preference. Whilst all porcelain tiles are uniformly printed and look beautiful, the colour or effect of tile you decide on can have a huge impact on the feel of your living space.

Porcelain paving is designed to mimic the look of a variety of natural materials, including limestone effect tiles or wood effect tiles. To choose the right tiles, you need to consider the aesthetic you’re going for, and select the tiles that match. 

• For example, if you’re looking for a modern, sleek look, try looking for neutral colours that enhance natural light, such as white tiles, light grey tiles or beige tiles.

However, if you’re looking for a more natural look, consider styles such as quartzite effect tiles, or sandstone effect tiles. These patterns are professionally printed to look completely true to the actual materials, and integrate perfectly with a beautiful natural aesthetic.

Why porcelain tiles are perfect for patios

Porcelain tiles are perfect for patios because they offer the authentic beauty of natural stone and other materials with the benefits of strength, durability and more:

• Aesthetic appeal - Porcelain allows you to perfectly mimic the beauty of a variety of different natural materials which would otherwise be more expensive, and/or less durable.

• Strength/durability - Porcelain tiles are resistant to wear and tear and cracking. This is ideal for busy patio areas because there is likely to be lots of foot traffic.

• Simple installation - Laying porcelain paving is relatively simple in comparison to other types of slabs.

• Weather resistance - Porcelain tiles are resistant to frost damage, they won’t fade in direct sunlight and they absorb almost no water.

• Low maintenance - They’re easy to clean with just water, or a low pressure jet wash.

Invest in Porcelain Paving Tiles this Season!

Designing a patio/terrace with porcelain tiles

Choosing porcelain paving

Choosing and subsequently buying porcelain paving involves initially choosing the style of porcelain you want, before measuring the area you’re planning to cover in m^2. From here, you can place an order for just the right amount of porcelain slabs.

Preparing to lay porcelain paving

Now that you’ve ordered your desired amount, you need to prepare to lay porcelain paving. This involves ensuring proper drainage, choosing the ideal base, and preparing the ground area. This includes marking out the area and removing any topsoil and debris, then filling with a sub-base, compacting and adding a bedding layer.

You should also design your paved area so that any water runs onto a lawn or garden borders.

Laying porcelain paving

Now it’s time to lay porcelain paving, you need to gather your materials:

• VillaFix™ Rapid Base Mix
• VillaFix™ Porcelain & Stone Primer
• VillaFix™ Porcelain & Stone Adhesive
• Sub-base material
• Grout
• Water
• Spacers
• String line

With these materials, you can begin to lay paving on a solid mortar bed. Make sure any debris is removed from the area before laying, as this could cause damage or uneven tiles.

You’ll need to cut porcelain tiles using a specific cutting tool to ensure they fit perfectly and look uniform, and then prime them, place them using spacers and leave them to dry for 24 hours before grouting the area in between tiles.