Porcelain Paving on a Budget

Posted on 5th September 2025

The beauty of porcelain paving is that it offers similar aesthetics to genuine stone, wood and other materials, with a number of additional benefits, and at a fraction of the price!

Porcelain slabs are designed to withstand the heavy wear and tear of both indoor and outdoor environments, and can be installed on a budget to deliver a premium look and feel to your living space.

Can you get budget porcelain paving?

The benefit of many styles of porcelain paving is that it matches, or even improves on the look of natural tiles. But it is almost always much cheaper, much more durable, and much more cost-effective.

Limestone effect porcelain vs genuine limestone

Limestone effect porcelain tiles have a number of advantages over natural limestone:

• Aesthetics - Limestone effect porcelain tiles actually have a very similar look to actual limestone, and this is because of the design and printing methods which perfectly mimic the natural look.

• Durability - Porcelain is extremely hard and dense. This means it’s much more unlikely to crack or scratch than actual limestone is. Limestone is a relatively soft natural stone, so you’d have to be much more careful not to damage it.

• Frost resistance - Due to its porous nature, limestone absorbs water easily. If this water freezes, it will expand and may cause cracking. Porcelain tiles on the other hand, are much more resistant because they’re non-porous and won’t retain much water at all.

• Cost - Genuine limestone costs much more than limestone effect porcelain tiles; so why not opt for the cheaper alternative!

Sandstone effect porcelain vs genuine sandstone

Now let’s look at the advantages of sandstone effect porcelain vs genuine sandstone:

• Maintenance - Genuine sandstone needs careful cleaning, and needs sealing. On the other hand, sandstone effect porcelain does not need sealing, and can normally be wiped clean.

• Suitability for outdoor use - Both styles of tile are suitable for outdoor use, but real sandstone is more likely to fade over time without careful protection, and may become damaged during a freeze-thaw cycle.

• Cost - Whilst genuine sandstone might be a bit cheaper upfront, its maintenance needs and lack of durability guarantee that you’ll be spending more long term than with porcelain.

Granite effect porcelain vs genuine granite

Finally, we’ll run through granite effect porcelain vs genuine granite:

• Durability - Granite is actually one of the hardest natural stones, so it has a similar strength to porcelain. However, granite is porous so needs sealing to avoid frost damage and staining.

• Cost - Granite is generally more expensive than porcelain, with higher upkeep costs as well. Porcelain is definitely the better option financially, and holds the same (if not more) benefits as granite.

• Slip-resistance - Polished granite is smooth and very slippery, whilst honed, flamed, or leathered granite is less slippery. All porcelain tiles are highly slip-resistent, and all tiles we sell come with an R11 slip rating.

Read more about the difference between porcelain paving and natural stone.

Can you lay porcelain slabs yourself to reduce costs?

It is possible to lay porcelain slabs yourself to keep costs down, but make sure you do thorough research in advance to guarantee that you do a professional job and don’t risk damaging your tiles.

Following our porcelain laying guide ensures you’ll have all the required materials, and follow the correct process to guarantee a professional finish. You need to lay porcelain tiles on a solid mortar bed, using a sub-base and a full base for proper adhesion and long-lasting tiles.

Whilst it is possible to lay your own porcelain to keep costs down, if you’re at all unsure, get in touch with Porcelain Paving Direct for more information.

Is cheaper porcelain paving lower quality?

Cheaper porcelain paving is not necessarily lower quality. Whilst it can be in some cases, our porcelain is both affordable and extremely high quality. We manufacture using a mixture of clays, sands and other materials, which is pressed at extremely high pressure into a mold and baked in a kiln.

Then, vitrification ensures strength, water and scratch resistance and reduced porosity.

Many people believe that cheaper porcelain paving is always lower quality, and that’s because many manufacturers keep costs down by skipping parts of these processes. We don’t.

How to transform your home or garden with porcelain paving on a budget

To transform your home or garden with porcelain paving, you first need to consider buying the correct porcelain paving. Establish what aesthetic you’re looking for (more information on that below), and ensure that the slabs you’ve bought have similar batch codes, ensuring visual consistency.

Then, you need to think about the area, you’ll be covering, and measure exactly how much you might need. This is very important, as buying excess tiles may cause you to go above budget.

Next, you need to prepare to lay the porcelain tiles. This includes gathering the right materials, such as base mix, and consider how water will drain from your tiles (if they’re outside).

Then, follow our helpful guide for expertly preparing the ground for porcelain tiles:

Our best budget porcelain paving options

Even on a budget, transforming a home or garden (or any other living space) is certainly doable!

For a sleek, modern look, white porcelain tiles are always a great option. Offering a clean and bright aesthetic which creates a sense of spaciousness and cleanliness, the hallmark of a modern interior. Particularly for outdoor areas, we’d recommend our Sorano Blanca tiles for an elegant and high quality upgrade.

For a more earthy feel, consider brown porcelain tiles, or even beige porcelain tiles. These colours can be used to elicit a more natural feel, which is particularly calming and homely. They’re a great way to bring the outdoors in if you’re a nature lover, and these colours often bring a warm and cosy aesthetic to your living space. The volcano taupe tiles are especially popular thanks to their stunning design and finish.

Sandstone effect tiles can be utilised for a relaxing and inviting atmosphere in any living space, thanks to their ability to mimic the natural beauty of sandstone, and timeless appeal. Sandstone is known for its warmth and appeal for both indoor and outdoor areas. Our top picks are the rocca fossil tiles and rocca leonardo sand tiles.

For plenty more options, check out our full range of colour porcelain tiles and effect porcelain tiles.