Outdoor porcelain paving has become one of the fastest-growing product categories in UK landscaping. Its combination of stunning looks and near-zero maintenance has made it the go-to choice for modern garden projects. Here’s the complete guide.
What Is Outdoor Porcelain?
Outdoor porcelain tiles are fired at extremely high temperatures (around 1200°C) from refined clay. The result is an incredibly dense, hard tile with:
- Water absorption rate below 0.5% (virtually impermeable)
- Hardness rating of 7–8 on the Mohs scale
- Frost resistance: rated F Class for UK outdoor use
- UV stability: colours don’t fade in sunlight
Popular Porcelain Ranges at DNS Stones
Contemporary Series
Avenue Grey, Avenue Dark Grey, Avenue Tortora — sleek, large-format tiles in neutral tones. Perfect for modern homes and new builds.
Stone-Effect Series
Kandla Grey Porcelain, Hammer Stone range, Ground range — porcelain designed to capture the look of natural stone with none of the maintenance.
Wood-Effect Series
Wildwood Grey, Wildwood Light Grey, Grove range — realistic wood-grain porcelain in plank format. All the warmth of timber with none of the maintenance.
Premium Marble-Effect Series
Memorable Blanc, Memorable Gris, Memorable Taupe — luxury marble-look porcelain with subtle veining. Perfect for high-end residential projects.
Laying Outdoor Porcelain
Outdoor porcelain requires a different approach to natural stone:
- Full bed mortar — not spot bedding (no hollow spots)
- Flexible adhesive mortar (not traditional sand:cement)
- Minimum 3mm joints to allow for thermal movement
- Non-porous surface means it can be slippery when wet if incorrectly specified — always check the R rating
Cleaning and Maintenance
One of porcelain’s biggest advantages is how easy it is to maintain. No sealing is required. Clean with any neutral pH cleaner and a mop or pressure washer (max 120 bar). Algae and moss don’t take hold on a properly installed, non-porous porcelain surface.
DNS Stones stocks 30+ porcelain paving ranges, all at trade prices for landscaping and paving contractors. Request samples or a quote.
Ready to source natural stone direct from the manufacturer? DNS Stones supply trade buyers across the UK with premium stone at factory prices.
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