What type of paving do I want for my patio?

[Imthenoisyneighbour]

I honestly don’t understand the pros/cons of the different types available.

Do I want porcelain, concrete, sandstone….something else?

I don’t want standard square slabs and want either dark grey/black or as pale as possible and that’s all I know

I don’t know either. But I’m avoiding porcelain as I think they’ll be too hot to walk on in summer. Ours is south facing though, might not be a problem in other directions.

I've picked slate as my house is part slate. But it's not done yet so I don't know if it's a bad idea!

Ohh I like the idea of slate but hadn’t even considered it as an option. That makes it harder not easier to narrow down

most important is to have a good solid base under it

dug out and filled with MoT (crushed stone) and whacked down.

the digging can also keep it below the DPC in your house.

I also like it to have a perceptible fall so water will run off so it can drain away. It will stay cleaner and less likely to get mossy. Flat paving may hold puddles

Don't get anything with sand in the joints, it will get mossy and come out when you try to clean it.

I’m trusting my builder to sort the ground prep but from what they’ve told me they’re doing as you’ve said @PigletJohn.

I just need to get on and order some slabs or there’ll be nothing for them to lay when they come to do it

get a written spec of the work they are going to charge you for

compare it to "pavingexpert"

And when the work is being done, go out with your tape measure and see how deep they dug, and look to see if they are using MoT or a skipful of mixed builders rubble.

I went with dark grey sandstone, it lasted the summer before it turned much much lighter 🙈. Really wished I'd gone with light porcelain.

this is not mine, but I very much lke it. The bricks prevent the slabs or base spreading outwards or being undermined by digging or water.

the slabs are laid on mortar on a whacked MoT base. The DPC is two bricks above the finished surface.

So does it not really matter what material of slab I go for then and it’s the prep that’s more important?

Do not get porcelain!!!! Just cleaning the bloody thing this afternoon, if you water a pot ,it shows , every last mark shows . Was told you can’t stain it … big fib ….

prep is most important, whatever you go for.

what goes on top is your personal choice

I went for Indian Sandstone. Mine is clean and bright (with a good fall on it)

My neighbour went for the same, but his is black with dirt and algae because it was laid flat and does not drain (it is also loose round the edges because laid on sand)

I had Indian sandstone laid in the garden of my last house, it looks exactly like this (although this is not my garden), and was very hard wearing and non-slip. I sold that property last year, and miss my lovely landscaped garden so much.

I'm in this process . Have discounted sandstone as it marks. Not keen on shiny porcelain. Thought about composite but has rat hotel issue . So am thinking bricks ...

Porcelain is non-pourous so you won't get moss, algae, lichen growing on it, looks ultra-modern and although you can clean it to look like new it does need cleaning often to look like new if used a lot.

Sandstone is a natural stone and porous so although it can go green with algae, a spray of patio magic or wet & forget twice a year will resolve that. Also when wet the colours change to different red, brown grey hues. Some people would say you can seal sandstone, my view is definitely don't. A good sandstone doesn't require it.

We have sandstone down for 2 years, once it was down and I read about cleaning it I thought I made a mistake in not getting Porcelain, but now I am glad that we went for sandstone. I prefer the more natural look.
Can't advise on slate or limestone, but I think they are harder work.

When choosing paving for your patio, you will find many options like concrete, porcelain, brick and composite materials. However, natural stone is often the best choice for beauty and durability. You can opt for Limestone and Travertine in light shades such as beige or cream. They are popular because they stay cool underfoot, making them perfect for year-round use. These stones are tough enough to handle medium to heavy foot traffic and weather changes while adding timeless elegance. The soft tones and natural textures make these stones ideal for creating a patio that's stylish and functional for everyday living.

I had Italian sandstone in my favourite house and it was fabulous. I had the joins sealed so I didn't have weeds.

I've got brick and slabs here from the ex owner and they are both a nightmare, although they are old.

Pathclear is quite good for weeds, it leaves a film on the joints that prevents new seeds germinating.

If you disturb the film by pulling out or scraping, you have to do it again. So clean up first. It lasts for months so you might need to do it about twice a year.

Has anyone used Westminster stone, they do a composite concrete paving which I’m looking at

good advice, but the previous post was 3 1/2 years ago.

LOL, read more like an AI generated advert to me