The Premium Patio Choice for Leicester Homes — Built to Last Decades
Prices from £110/m²
100% FREE quote & AI garden designPorcelain has become the most popular patio material for Leicester homeowners — overtaking Indian sandstone and natural limestone as the go-to choice for anyone who wants a stunning outdoor space with virtually zero ongoing maintenance. Premium Landscapes installs porcelain patios across Leicester and the wider Leicestershire area, using premium-grade frost-proof porcelain on a fully compacted sub-base with flexible jointing.
Frost-proof and weatherproof: Porcelain is fired at extremely high temperatures, making it non-porous and completely impervious to water. It won't crack in frost, stain from leaves or algae, or degrade in the persistent wet of a Midlands winter.
Zero maintenance: Unlike sandstone which requires annual sealing, or timber which needs staining and oiling, porcelain needs nothing except an occasional wash. It looks the same in year 20 as it did on installation day.
Stain-resistant: Red wine, oil, rust, moss — porcelain resists all of them. For families with children and pets, this is a significant practical advantage.
Large-format slabs: Porcelain is available in large formats — 600×900mm, 900×900mm and 1200×600mm — that create a clean, uncluttered surface with fewer joints. This makes a patio look bigger and more contemporary than smaller natural stone formats.
Colour consistency: Unlike natural stone where every slab is different, porcelain offers consistent colour across the whole patio — important for homeowners who want a precise, controlled aesthetic.
We supply porcelain from leading UK distributors in a wide range of styles:
The most popular choice across Leicester — clean, modern and suits both new builds and updated period properties. Available in light grey, mid-grey and deep charcoal in matte and silk finishes.
Warmer, lighter tones that suit south-facing gardens and properties with light brick or render. Creates a Mediterranean feel in Leicester's summer months.
Textured surfaces that replicate natural slate or quartzite. Adds visual depth and hides minor surface marks better than smooth finishes.
Wide-plank porcelain that replicates timber decking boards — the warmth of wood without any of the maintenance. Popular for combining patio and decking areas into a unified surface.
Warm buff and honey tones that give the look of Indian sandstone with none of the porosity or staining issues. Popular in traditional Leicester gardens.
| Project Size | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Small (up to 20m²) | £2,200 – £3,500 |
| Medium (20–40m²) | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| Large (40m²+) | £6,500+ |
Prices include full excavation, compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, porcelain installation on a sand/cement bed, and flexible jointing compound. Steps, walls and edging features are quoted separately.
The most important thing about a porcelain patio isn't the slab — it's what goes underneath it. Leicestershire's clay soil is notorious for movement, and porcelain laid on anything other than a properly compacted sub-base will crack, rock or sink within 2–3 years. We excavate to a minimum of 150mm, lay a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, and use a sand/cement bed with flexible jointing compound rated for UK freeze-thaw cycles on every installation.
We've relaid porcelain patios that other contractors installed incorrectly — it's one of the most common jobs we're called in to remedy. Getting the sub-base right the first time is not optional.
| Excavation depth | Minimum 150mm (deeper on Leicestershire clay subsoil where required) |
| Sub-base | MOT Type 1 crushed limestone, compacted in 75mm layers to a minimum 100mm finished depth |
| Priming | Porcelain slabs back-primed with a porcelain bonding slurry to ensure full adhesion to the mortar bed |
| Mortar bed | Full, solid mortar bed (semi-dry mix) — no spot-bedding; eliminates hollow spots and future cracking |
| Fall / drainage | Minimum 1:80 gradient away from the dwelling; linear drain or ACO channel on enclosed patios |
| Jointing | Flexible polymeric jointing compound rated for UK freeze-thaw cycles — not standard mortar |
| Edge restraint | Concrete haunch to all perimeter edges; no unsupported slab overhangs |
| Feature | Porcelain | Sandstone |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Virtually none — wipe clean, no sealing | Annual sealing recommended; absorbs oils and algae |
| Frost resistance | Fully frost-proof (vitrified tile) | Some grades susceptible to spalling in hard frosts |
| Appearance | Consistent colour and texture, contemporary | Natural variation, warm/traditional character |
| Slip resistance | Specify R11 or textured finish for wet areas | Naturally textured — generally good grip when wet |
| Cost (supply & install) | From £90–£140/m² | From £75–£120/m² |
| Lifespan | 30+ years with correct installation | 20–25 years with maintenance |
See also: Sandstone Patios Leicester · All Patio Options · Patio Cost Guide 2026
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