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Porcelain Patios

Porcelain Patios in Peterborough

A level, well-drained porcelain surface that stays clean and holds its finish through wet winters.

  • Anti-Slip Rated
  • Itemised Quote
  • Full Dig-Out Available
Porcelain Patios carried out by a professional patios

Done Right First Time

Where porcelain patio jobs go wrong, and how to avoid it

Shallow Base Depth

A base laid too thin on clay ground compresses under load, causing slabs to rock and joints to crack within a season.

Surveyed Base Depth

The aggregate base depth is set after a ground survey, not guessed, clay conditions in Peterborough typically need a deeper Type 1 layer.

Overlay on Weak Base

Laying porcelain over an existing patio without checking the base transfers any movement straight into the new slabs.

Base Inspection First

The existing surface is assessed before any overlay is considered; a full dig-out is specified wherever the base is unsound.

Poor Drainage Fall

Falls set incorrectly during laying leave standing water on the surface or direct runoff toward the house wall.

Fall Set at Screed Stage

Drainage gradient is built into the screed bed and checked before slabs go down, it cannot be corrected once the surface is laid.

Wrong Surface Grade

Smooth porcelain with no anti-slip rating becomes hazardous in wet weather, particularly on north-facing or shaded patios.

Grade Specified Upfront

The anti-slip finish rating is confirmed before slabs are ordered, matched to the patio’s aspect and expected wet-weather use.

Scope of Work

What a porcelain patio installation covers

From a full dig-out on a new build plot to replacing tired slabs on an established garden, the scope varies, here is what each element involves.

New Build Garden Patio

Full sequence from bare ground: dig, base, screed, slab, joint.

Replacement Patio

Old slabs lifted, base assessed, new porcelain laid to correct falls.

Anti-Slip Porcelain Finish

Textured surface grade selected for wet or shaded outdoor use.

Jointing & Grouting

Joint spacers set during laying; grout applied after screed cures.

Slab to Screed

Porcelain patio installation from dig-out to finished joint

Porcelain is unforgiving of a weak base, any movement in the sub-base will crack or lift the slabs within a season.

Request a Survey

Installation starts with a full dig-out to the correct depth for the ground conditions. On Peterborough’s clay-heavy soil, a compacted aggregate base layer is essential before any screed bed is laid. The depth of that base is not a fixed number, it is determined by what the survey finds beneath the turf.

Porcelain slabs are laid on a screed bed with joint spacers to maintain consistent gaps. Grout is applied only after the bed has cured. Wet East Midlands winters make anti-slip finish ratings a practical consideration, so the installer confirms the surface grade before ordering slabs.

Drainage fall is set during the screed stage, not corrected afterwards. The finished surface must slope away from the house at a gradient that clears standing water without creating a noticeable tilt. New build gardens across Peterborough typically need the full sequence, dig-out, base, screed, slab, joint, from bare ground up.

Why Choose Us

Why request a porcelain patio survey in Peterborough?

Porcelain demands precise groundwork. Here is what every survey covers before installation.

Itemised Quotes, No Surprises

Dig, sub-base, screed and paving are quoted as separate line items so you see exactly what each stage costs.

Ground Survey Before Any Work

A site visit assesses soil conditions and existing base before a single slab is ordered or a price is fixed.

Local Knowledge of Clay Ground

Installers familiar with Peterborough’s clay soil specify the correct base depth rather than applying a standard figure.

Anti-Slip Grade Confirmed Upfront

Surface finish rating is agreed before slabs are ordered, matched to the patio’s aspect and wet-weather exposure.

Drainage Checked at Every Stage

Falls are verified at screed stage and again once slabs are down, before grouting seals the surface.

A completed patios job at a house
A finished patios project

How It Works

From first enquiry to finished patio

Request a Survey

  1. 01

    Describe Your Garden

    Tell us the size, what is down there now and how the ground drains, so we can schedule the right survey.

  2. 02

    Survey & Itemised Quote

    A site visit assesses the base and drainage falls, and leads to a quote broken down by dig, base, screed and paving.

  3. 03

    Installation & Handover

    Work runs from dig-out through to grouted, finished slabs, with drainage fall and surface level checked before sign-off.

Pricing Estimates

Typical Porcelain Patios Prices

JobTypical cost
Small porcelain patio installation£1,500-£2,000
Mid-sized porcelain patio installation£2,000-£3,200
Larger porcelain patio installation£3,200-£5,000
These prices are estimates and often vary with the condition, size and scope of each job. Message or call us for a free, no-obligation quote.
See all prices

Common Questions

Porcelain patio questions answered

  • Is porcelain a good choice for my patio?

    Yes, porcelain is one of the most practical outdoor paving materials available. It is frost-resistant, virtually non-porous, and does not stain or fade the way softer stones can. It handles heavy foot traffic and outdoor furniture without marking, and the surface stays consistent in colour year after year.

  • Will a porcelain patio be slippery when wet?

    Outdoor porcelain slabs are manufactured with a textured surface specifically to reduce slip risk when wet. The key is choosing a slab with an R11 slip rating or higher, which is the standard recommended for external use. A smooth or polished finish is not suitable outdoors and should be avoided.

  • Can porcelain slabs go over my old patio?

    Laying over an existing surface is only viable if the old base is structurally sound, level, and has no drainage problems. In most cases, the existing patio is lifted so the sub-base can be inspected and corrected. Laying over a failing base transfers those problems to the new surface and shortens its lifespan.

  • What is involved in laying porcelain patio slabs?

    The process covers excavation, compacting a hardcore sub-base, laying a sharp sand or mortar bed, cutting slabs to fit the layout, and pointing the joints. Porcelain requires a full-bed mortar fix rather than spot bedding, because its low porosity means it will not bond reliably on a partial bed.

  • What is included in the job, such as digging out, the base and edging?

    A full installation typically includes excavation to the required depth, disposal of spoil, a compacted hardcore sub-base, a mortar bed, the porcelain slabs themselves, and jointing. Edging restraints, steps, or drainage channels are usually quoted as separate line items so you can see exactly what each element costs.

  • What does a porcelain patio cost?

    Guide prices run from £1,500-£2,000 (Small porcelain patio installation) to £3,200-£5,000 (Larger porcelain patio installation). The slab itself is a significant part of the material cost, so the range you choose has a direct effect on the overall figure.

  • Will there be any hidden costs once the work starts?

    A detailed written quote should cover all foreseeable work. The one area where additional costs can arise is ground conditions: if the excavation reveals unstable or waterlogged sub-soil that needs extra hardcore or drainage, that is flagged before proceeding rather than added to the final invoice without notice.

  • How do I know the finished patio will sit level and drain properly?

    Porcelain patios are laid with a fall of around 1 in 80 away from the house, which is enough to shed water without being noticeable underfoot. The sub-base is compacted and checked for level before any slabs go down. Where drainage is a known issue, a channel drain can be incorporated into the design. See Patio Drainage & Levelling for more detail.

  • Which areas do you cover for Porcelain Patios?

    We cover Porcelain Patios in and around Peterborough, including Hampton, Werrington, Bretton, Orton, Yaxley, Whittlesey, Glinton, Eye and Stanground. If your area isn’t listed, send us a quick message to check.

Tell Us About Your Patio

Describe the garden, what is down there now and how it drains, and we’ll schedule a survey and quote it properly.

Request a Survey