How to achieve a professional finish with porcelain paving

Can I get a curved edge on porcelain paving?

Curved edges are an all-important element of many great garden designs. But some people think that these can’t be achieved with porcelain. However, cutting on a curve is straightforward if you have a handheld grinder with the correct blade and are confident using it. Always let the weight of the tool do the work and never force it or it will crack.

Alternatively, bespoke cutting services are available so your paving is ready to install. We are happy to arrange bespoke cutting on any of our porcelain paving products.

How do I get a level surface?

Porcelain tiles naturally have a very slight high point in the middle. This is usually unnoticeable, but it becomes more obvious the longer the tile and the narrower the joints. This can be unsightly and a trip hazard. To avoid this, start by dry laying your tiles on a flat surface. If it looks like your lippage is excessive, (for example with larger tiles like 900×600 or 1200x600mm) always use a third or quarter bond to keep your surfaces nice and level. A stack bond like that pictured can also work well on large format porcelain tiles.

You can also use a tile leveller, like the Flat-Pro Twist-It system which not only levels your tiles, but helps you achieve a consistent 4mm joint-width.

Do I need full colour-bodied porcelain?

If your porcelain is full colour-bodied, the body of the tile should look a similar colour to the surface. This means that if you end up with the odd chip, it shouldn’t be too obvious. The alternative (on lower budget products) is a glazed finish where the tile will be a different colour under the surface.

What grout do I need for porcelain?

How you joint your paving will make a huge difference to the overall effect. A crisp finish to your joints is especially important when they are narrow and have a rectified edge like porcelain. Using tile spacers can help you to achieve precision joints.

We find pre-mixed grouts like Fugapave are ideal because they are easy to apply and are fine enough for 5mm joints and flexible enough to withstand a bit of movement. They usually comes in a choice of colours. Some jointing compounds can be suitable for porcelain if you’re using a permeable sub-base, but may not give quite such a smooth finish.

How many tiles should I order?

We always recommend ordering 10% extra to allow for cuts and wastage. With porcelain tiles, it’s also a good idea to buy what you might need for any future changes you or your customer might want to make. This is because there can be very slight colour and size variations between different batches, so you’ll get the best match from the same batch.  It’s a good idea to ask your supplier for the batch number of your porcelain order so you can check this if you order again.