Why choose porcelain
Outdoor porcelain absorbs almost no water, so it shrugs off frost and resists stains. It's made to exact sizes, so joints can be narrow and lines crisp. Light colours stay bright, and many designs imitate stone, slate or timber.
Laying it
Porcelain must be bonded properly: a primer on the back of each slab and a full mortar bed underneath. Cuts need diamond blades. Joints are filled with a compound designed for porcelain.
New-build gardens
Many new-build gardens have compacted clay and rubble below a thin layer of topsoil, and they drain poorly. We dig out, build a proper base and add a drainage channel where water would otherwise sit against the house.
Doors and thresholds
If you'd like the patio close to the level of the inside floor, the damp-proof course still rules. A step or channel drain at the doors keeps the house dry.