Does anyone have a porcelain patio?

[redhat]

Is it really easier to look after?

I would like a stone patio but DH has been persuaded that porcelain will save us time in the long run since we don't have to seal it, it won't stain etc. Is this just hype or are they really that much easier to maintain?

The patio will cover a large area and we are in woodland and so we do get a lot of staining from leaves.

[Floggingmolly]

April fool??

[redhat]

Um - no. Its a real thing, honestly!

[whatdoIget]

It sounds slippy. I've never heard of this before though.

[redhat]

I hadn't until I stared looking into it but many of the images you see of smooth patios are actually porcelain, particularly those where there are bifold doors and the flooring seems to run from the inside through to the outside. The tiles are slightly textured so that they are not slippery.

Its also obviously used around pools etc (although we don't have a pool)

[AesopsMables]

We are having one fitted this month!! Cement base all in and ready for 80x80 Porcelain (White and Grey Limestone effect). Chip/Frost and slip resistant with no maintenance. Perfect as taking the new kitchen tile out so all matching.

[Totalshambles]

Watching as similar considerations! Do you have a porcelain one in mind? Be interested to see. We have these in mind www.concepttiles.co.uk/categories/details/porcelain-tiles but keen to find others to consider. Sorry not to answer your question/

[redhat]

Ive been looking at these

www.alistairmackintosh-porcelain.co.uk/inside-outside-porcelain-tiles-alistair-mackintosh.html

Either the sahara or the sliver grey quartz

[CointreauVersial]

Jeez, the amount of moss on my (stone) patio - a ceramic one would be like a skating rink!

And don't shiny surfaces show every leaf and crumb? DSis is constantly buffing her shiny kitchen floor.

[redhat]

Aesop which tiles have you gone for?

[redhat]

They're not shiny cointreau and the moss won't grow because the tiles are not porous (in theory)

[redhat]

Plus there's no/minimum gap between the tiles and so no space for weeds to push up either (in theory!)

[redhat]

www.primaporcelain.co.uk/out2-porcelain-paving

Also been considering these but they only seem to do square slabs

[AesopsMables]

We went to see prima porcelain but was not that impressed. Quite small tiles, quite dull with no character in them and those pivots make them sound like walking on decking.

[redhat]

Show us ya tiles aesop

[AesopsMables]

www.stonewood.uk.com/products/tiles/fusion-sabia/

Hope the link works

[dulwichquine]

We've just completed our patio using porcelain tiles. Same colour as kitchen tile, off white/grey but with a natural finish to stop us slipping. Looks stunning however, it is a nightmare to keep clean, esp the grouting. We have quite a large area with tiles covering the access to side passage of house. We are going to have to put tarpaulin down or something every time we want to do the garden beyond. Don't go for light tiles!!!

[AesopsMables]

dulwichquine I thought about the cleaning also and that is why we decided to put black limestone paving down the sides of the house with dark grey grout.

[redhat]

Hmm, thats certainly worth keeping in mind. I hadn't though keeping it clean would be any more difficult than a lighter stone.

Just off to see some tiles in person.

[slicedfinger]

A friend of mine did this last year. Despite being so called non slip they are treacherous when wet and they need mopped daily because even the cat walking over it with muddy paws leaves a trail. If you have a housekeeper they do look great though. I'm glad we went with stone personally.

[CiderwithBuda]

Not sure if it's the same thing but we had something similar I think in a rented house when we lived in Bulgaria. Now I will admit we got a lot more sun than in the uk but the glare off it was horrendous. And it need washing down regularly.

[redhat]

Been to see some tiles and Im now more confused than ever I think. The guy in the shop specifically said don't use very light tiles outside because they will show every footprint. Im not entirely sure how that is any different from light coloured stone though.

[CointreauVersial]

Redhat - a shiny surface is a lot less forgiving than matte, and smears are easily visible when the light bounces off it.

Personally, although it looks good, I think very polished/smooth patios best suit small/urban gardens where there won't be a lot of mud and mess, but if it's what you want, and you don't mind putting a bit of effort into keeping it clean, then go for it!

[redhat]

The surface isn't at all shiny cointreau and its textured so it isn't particularly smooth either.

I do think you might be right about best suiting small patios though. Ours is just over 120 square metres (wraps around two sides of the house) and is in woodland.

[ilovetosleep]

We have matching porcelain tiles running from kitchen to patio. They are dark grey textured stone effect. We are ripping them out and starting again! They were put in about 8 years ago by previous owners and despite officially being indoor outdoor tiles, the out door ones have faded, the surface seems to have worn away (no sealing required apparently but not the case) and they look rubbish in comparison to the identical tiles indoors. Bonus is they don't grow moss, but they are a nightmare to clean ( I suspect it was the Karcher pressure washer that removed the top layer) and always look filthy. Not sure if any other patio would be any different though - gardens are grubby places!