How Much Does a Porcelain Paving Patio Cost?

Garden patios have long been one of the most popular ways to create a space in the garden for family and friends to enjoy.  Whether you prefer garden parties with 30 noisy friends, or just some relaxing ‘me-time’, a well-designed and properly installed garden patio can bring many years of joy.

There are many different paving options when it comes to creating a garden patio, and one of the top choices in recent times is Porcelain Paving, which is becoming increasingly popular due to it’s stunning aesthetics, minimal maintenance, and excellent durability.

As a result, this is a question we are often asked at Ovaeda: – How much will it cost me to create a Porcelain Patio?

If you are considering creating a new garden patio with porcelain paving, or you want to refurbish an old patio, you’ll likely be wanting to know what this will cost you.  In this article, we’ll look at the following questions you’ll need to consider when planning a porcelain paved patio, which all have an impact on the cost:

Whether you are considering creating a new garden patio with porcelain paving, or you want to refurbish an old patio, there are a few Key Factors which affect how much a Porcelain Paving Area will Cost.  In this article, we’ll look at the factors you’ll need to consider when planning a porcelain paved patio, as they all have an impact on the cost:

How Much Does a Porcelain Patio Cost – Key Factors

1. How much do Porcelain Paving Tiles cost?
2. What size of Patio are you planning?
3. What are the different installation methods for Porcelain Paving?
4. Should you use a professional or install your porcelain paving yourself?

Once you’ve done your homework on these key points, you’ll have a much clearer picture of what it is going to cost to create your porcelain paving patio!

How much do Porcelain Tile cost?

By this we mean how much will the actual tiles cost, which is most likely the first thing you will have thought of when asking what porcelain paving will cost you.  Well, as with pretty much everything, there are products available at every price point in the market, but remember that cheapest does mean best; in fact with porcelain, cheapest often means worst!  So look out for the following with the cheapest tiles:

• Poor calibration of tile size and thickness, even 1-2mm of difference will make installation difficult and spoil the finished result
• Very plain finishes and textures, or poor imitations with the stone and wood effect options
• Large, deep recesses on the back of the tile. This saves the manufacturer raw material, but reduces the strength of the tile. So whilst the overall tile thickness may be 20mm, deep recesses will make the tile lighter and reduce its strength
• 10mm thick porcelain tiles being sold for external applications. We would normally advise against using 1cm thick porcelain being used in external applications.  To learn more, why not read our article about tile thicknesses

If going for the cheapest option is your thing, and potential drawbacks do not worry you, you will probably be able to find porcelain paving imported from China or India for as low as £25 – £30/sqm including VAT.  At the high end of the market, and if money is no object, you can get porcelain paving for as much as £75 – 80/sqm, and this is likely to be absolutely top quality with very large ranges of colours and finishes.  By way of comparison, our prices at Ovaeda range from £35 – £65 per sqm, with a wide range of colours and finishes available.  Browse our porcelain paving and order some free samples for delivery within 48 hours!

What size patio are you planning?

Garden patios vary in size, and would normally be governed by the size of the garden and what you plan to use your patio for.  As a rule of thumb, try 10 - 20% of the overall garden size, this will give a good steer; so if you have a generous size garden of say 400sqm, you would be looking at a 40-80sqm patio.  However, this is entirely up to you with what you feel works with your garden, and you will likely want to know more about the costs before deciding on how big to go!  So, let’s look at the main factors that influence the cost per sqm of patio…

What are the different installation methods for porcelain paving?

There are two methods to consider for installing porcelain paving:

• Mortar bedding – This is the traditional method for installing porcelain paving and would still be used in over 90% of projects. Laying porcelain tiles with this method involves creating a suitable sub-base (with retaining walls required if area needs height building up), priming the underside of the tiles, creating the correct mortar mix, and bedding the tiles onto the mortar. Please note this is not an install guide, it really isn’t just as simple as this!  But we’re just pointing out the main factors which contribute to the cost.  Bearing in mind the variables at play here, you can expect the materials required for this method to cost in the region of £20 – £60 per sqm for a relatively straightforward application, or £50 – £100 per sqm for a more complex application requiring retaining walls etc
• Dry install paving subframes & pedestals – A relatively new method of installation, which involves supporting the porcelain tiles a) directly onto adjustable pedestals, or b) onto a rigid aluminium subframe which sits on pedestals. Learn more about aluminium paving subframes and pedestals and the benefits.  Likewise, there are variables which affect the exact cost of this method, but expect a pedestal/subframe system to cost you in the region of £10 - £25 per sqm for a simple pedestal installation, or £50 - £100 per sqm for a more complex subframe system up to 1m high with steps etc.

Should you use a professional or install your porcelain paving yourself?

This one will make a big difference to the costs!  However, you need to really think this one through; whilst you can save money with DIY, porcelain paving requires skill and competence to install – if you find Ikea furniture a challenge, you might want to at least consider using professional if you are going with the mortar bedding method.  However, the subframe and pedestal method might be worth considering if you are proficient at DIY.  As a guide, the comparative costs for professional installation against DIY are:

• Professional installation £100 - £175 per sqm
• DIY installation £0 (but remember to consider what your time and effort is worth!)

So, how much will a porcelain paving patio cost me in total?

So, now we’ve looked at the main cost elements to creating a porcelain paving patio area, let’s bring it all together and work out how much it’s likely to cost in total, using a typical porcelain garden patio of 25sqm as an example

If you choose to install it yourself:

• For a simple flat low-height area that doesn’t need initial preparation (for example overlaying an old patio), using a very cheap porcelain tile @ £30 per sqm x 25sqm = £750, and a pedestal installation method @ £15 per sqm x 25sqm = £375. Therefore a total cost of £1145 or £45 per sqm
• For a more complex patio at approx. 500mm height, with sloping ground that needs to be overcome, using a good quality mid-range porcelain tile @ £45 per sqm x 25sqm = £1125, and an aluminium subframe & pedestal system @ £75 per sqm x 25sqm = £1875. Therefore a total cost of £3000 or £120 per sqm

If you choose to use a professional to install:

• For a simple flat low-height area that doesn’t need initial preparation (for example overlaying an old patio), using a very cheap porcelain tile @ £30 per sqm x 25sqm = £750, and a pedestal installation method @ £15 per sqm x 25sqm = £375. Add the professional installation cost for 2 days work for 2 men @ £300 per day per man = £1200. Therefore a total cost of £2345 or £95 per sqm
• For a more complex patio at approx. 500mm height, with sloping ground that needs to be overcome, using a good quality mid-range porcelain tile @ £45 per sqm x 25sqm = £1125, and an aluminium subframe & pedestal system @ £75 per sqm x 25sqm = £1875. Add the professional installation cost for 3 days work for 2 men @ £300 per day per man = £1800. Therefore a total cost of £4800 or £192 per sqm

As you will see, there are large variables affecting the cost, but whilst the lowest cost might be attractive, it is important to consider each of these carefully.  The lowest cost option regarding product is only possible in certain application for example a flat roof terrace or an existing patio overlay – most patios will be significantly more complex in nature than this.  And when considering DIY or professional installation, be sure to be realistic and not underestimate what is involved in installing these products to a quality standard, and the time and effort that is required.

To discuss your ideas or get an accurate quotation for your garden project, get in touch!