The cost of patio paving is not merely reflected in the price-per-metre-square of the slabs themselves. That is only one element amongst many which will determine what you end up paying. The main thing to factor in when buying patio paving is the installation costs (more on this below).
Historically, concrete paving was the cheapest option. Then global trade allowed low-cost importation of natural stone from the likes of China and India, creating a large market in the last 30 years for the likes of Indian sandstone in the UK. Recent disruption to the global supply chain from Covid-19 has seen natural stone prices rise again, as shipping costs increase dramatically. This has equalised prices, bringing all three types of paving into a closer range.
It’s important to check carefully when comparing paving from different suppliers, as not all slabs are of equal quality. Here, we’ve provided some top tips to help you shop wisely:
You typically get what you pay for because paving is made and supplied to a price within market conditions. A cheaper price is often a sign that the slabs are either of a lower quality or have fewer processes involved in their production.
If the price of natural stone paving seems too good to be true, this is often because it has been sourced from lower quality quarries or taken from shallower seams of rock. It may look the same as sound stone to begin with, but will likely see more delamination, abrasions and cracking over time.
Sawn edges, honed surfaces, tumbled ageing and depth calibration of natural stone all add to the cost. Expect to pay more for processed natural stone paving.
Concrete and porcelain paving is man-made – below-average prices are often the result of cost-saving in the manufacturing process, which produces lower quality slabs.
The main cost of a new patio is the installation (materials and labour). The paving slabs will rarely be more than 20% of your total costs. Even if you end up spending double on the slabs, the impact on the cost would typically only add 10% to the project.
The key to keeping costs down is finding a good installer with a proven track record. Pay a little more to get the right installer – it will probably save you money as there will be no mishaps or errors to put right, and experts tend to work efficiently to their schedule too.
Natural stone is the easiest material to cut and lay, with large slabs and few breakages. As a result, the installation should be quicker, keeping your costs down.
Porcelain is much more difficult to cut, adding to your installation time and costs. That said, it is a tough material so breakages should still be few and far between.
Concrete has more potential for breakages and often comes in smaller slabs, meaning it could take a little longer to cut and lay. Installation costs for concrete paving should be roughly the same as porcelain, but will often be more than natural stone for the same area of paving.
Each different type of paving slab material has unique properties that affect the likelihood of it fading in the sun, weathering due to slightly acidic rain or eroding as a result of freeze-thaw cycles:
Concrete is the least long-lasting paving material. With high porosity and weaker slab strength, concrete can crack more easily than other types (although you can help to prevent this by sealing the paving slabs).
Natural stone tends to be more durable than concrete. That said, limestone can be susceptible to chemical erosion from rain and UV bleaching, whilst the surface of sandstone can delaminate (i.e. divide into layers) as a result of frost action.
Porcelain is particularly hard-wearing and will typically last for a very long time. This material is not only waterproof and frost-resistant, but its pigments are also UV-protected to prevent fading.
We recommend sealing less durable paving materials such as concrete, limestone, and sandstone. This will help to protect them against the elements, reduce the likelihood of moisture related staining and frost action, and extend the lifespan of your patio paving.
Maintenance requirements are an often-overlooked consideration when choosing patio paving. The porosity and hardness of the paving material will determine how easy or difficult it will be to maintain whilst preventing stains, scratches and the build-up of grime.
Concrete requires the most maintenance due to its high porosity and weaker surface strength. This type of paving is more likely to absorb spills and grime than other materials, but it can be cleaned with special patio cleaning products.
PHOENIX PAVINGWe recommend sealing concrete paving slabs at an early stage to protect them. This will help to stop the material from scratching and staining over time, as well as preventing the formation of algae and black spots.
Care needs to be taken when washing concrete paving. We recommend that you do not use a pressure washer on concrete paving – this will likely damage the surface of the paving slabs (and can even remove the surface pigment).
Natural stone can require less maintenance than concrete, but this largely depends on the specific type of stone you choose. Granite and slate, for example, are fairly hard-wearing and will resist scratching and staining more than porous stone types like limestone or sandstone.
If you choose a more porous material, we recommend sealing it. The sealer will help to prevent erosion, delamination and algae formation.
You should use a priming slurry during installation. The priming slurry will ensure the slabs are properly stuck in place, and are less likely to become loose or rock, letting in water at the joints. The slurry also act as a membrane barrier on the underside of the slab, helping to reduce damp and blooming/staining from natural salts and minerals.
It’s also advisable to buy a specialised non-acid cleaning product for porous stone paving. These are designed to lift and clean deposits in the stone’s capillaries and micro-fissures without chemically damaging the stone.
Looking for low-maintenance patio paving? Then porcelain is your best option. This type of material is resistant to scratches and abrasions (but try to avoid dragging furniture or dropping garden tools on it, as it can still mark).
Looking for low-maintenance patio paving? Then porcelain is your best option. This type of material is resistant to scratches and abrasions (but try to avoid dragging furniture or dropping garden tools on it, as it can still mark).
Porcelain is also the easiest paving material to clean. Because it is a vitrified (glass-like) homogeneous material, it is virtually impermeable/non-porous, so has no capillaries or micro-fissures that can get filled with grime, oils/fats, salts or minerals.
But just like glass, it can still be stained or become dirty via surface contact. A common surface stain will be tannin stains from decomposing and/or damp leaves, trigs, berries and nuts that have fallen on the patio. So simply brushing or blow these off the patio will mean it remains in pretty good condition.
If porcelain paving does become stained, then a patio cleaning chemical will usually resolve this issue easily, as you’re dealing with a surface stain, that’s not embedded in the slab itself.
This guide has taken you through the main things to consider when buying patio paving, from the different types of material available to the costs and the various looks you can achieve.
As you make your decision, remember that your choice of patio paving material is key. It’ll impact the options that are open to you in terms of colour, texture, finish, size and laying pattern. The durability and maintenance requirements of your new patio paving will also depend on its material.
This DIY Installation Guide has been written for the do-it-yourself home handyperson. Following these instructions will help you achieve an excellent paving result that you will be proud of. However, if you really want a professional concrete paving finish, give us a call and we can arrange for the job to be done.
The method followed in this guide is used by the majority of professional landscapers. However, they would have their own small individual variations. So this really is a professional method and one you can be confident with. There are other concrete paver installation methods like “wet lay” which we suggest you leave to a professional. The contents of this publication are intended for general guidance only. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Slatecrete Paving cannot accept any liability whatsoever in respect to the content of this publication or the work performed using these methods. If you are unsure always seek the advice of a professional.
Pavers can be used in all those places around your home when you want a hard stand finish like entertainment areas, patios, paths, steps, driveways and pergolas. A visit to Slatecrete will help you choose from the different style of pavers and over 100 colours. You will get helpful advice and see for yourself what pavers look like laid, and on large display boards, along with the interesting landscape features.
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