Porcelain patio advise

[dba7108]

Ive picked up 2 samples of 60 x 60 patio slabs. They are both from BQ, The single whitish slabs are 30 each while the darker ones are 25 for pack of 2. Any idea if the quality differs? The more expensive seem to be slightly rougher cut while the darker ones are smooth on the edges.

[beedj]

Maybe stating the obvious but these are fundamentally different - dark ones are porcelain, light ones are granite

Personally I wouldn’t buy anything like this without seeing them

[dba7108]

Is granite a better product? Advice appreciated ! Thank you

[39sl]

Granite is a natural stone and porcelain is manufactured.
This means you’ll get the slight natural stone variation between granite slabs with porcelain much more consistent.

Granite is slightly porous so does require sealing where porcelain generally can be maintenance free, albeit they will
All need cleaning

Finally, natural stone can be more expensive than porcelain but you need to ensure you are happy with the porcelain slabs if that’s your decision…there are a lot of very budget porcelain options and some are not great.

We chose porcelain but it’s a personal choice as always.

[dickymint]

39sl said:

Granite is a natural stone and porcelain is manufactured.
This means you ll get the slight natural stone variation between granite slabs with porcelain much more consistent.

Granite is slightly porous so does require sealing where porcelain generally can be maintenance free, albeit they will
All need cleaning

Finally, natural stone can be more expensive than porcelain but you need to ensure you are happy with the porcelain slabs if that s your decision there are a lot of very budget porcelain options and some are not great.

We chose porcelain but it s a personal choice as always.

Most cheaper granite tiles/slabs are reconstituted

[xx99xx]

dba7108 said:

Is granite a better product? Advice appreciated ! Thank you

What's your definition of 'better' when it comes to patio slabs?

[dba7108]

I'm not sure really what is more durable and stain resistant? The porcalin ones look very neat and clean.

[m3jappa]

The porcelain should be easier to keep clean. although sometimes that silver granite is really good quality and cleans up like new. The Bradstone slabs likely to be decent.

However, go to a builders merchants, you will get those granite way cheaper. Or have a look at London stone.

[dba7108]

Do porcalin slabs chip easily? My sample has 3 chips in it already I can't think if they were like that when I put them in the car

[m3jappa]

They will chip very easily until they are laid, quite a nightmare tbh. once all grouted up they are very resilient. If you have any exposed edges these can chip if hit with things like a mower/knocked.

[Lynch91]

We went porcelain. They are at both the front and back of our house, so get plenty of footfall, they seem to be standing up to the abuse. And as they are smooth, you can happily walk on them bare foot in the summer!

As mentioned above though, don’t buy from B&Q, go to your local builders merchants and you should save a decent chunk.