Article

Best patio materials for SW London gardens

By Alfie Edwards 31 March 2026 6 min read

A patio is one of the bigger commitments in any garden, and the choice of slab is the bit that gets debated most. The right answer depends on your budget, the look you’re after, and importantly the conditions in this part of London, which are wetter and shadier than most patio brochures assume.

Here’s how I think about the four main options.

Indian sandstone

The popular choice in SW London for good reason. Warm, riven texture, and the colour palette (raj green, mint, modak, kandla grey) suits the typical Victorian, Edwardian and inter-war housing in this area.

Pros: Best value of the natural stones. Looks right with most house styles. Easy to clean.

Cons: Stains slightly over time, especially in shade where algae takes hold. Will need a jet wash and a fresh jointing compound brush every two to three years.

Best for: Standard rear gardens where the patio gets at least some afternoon sun, and where you don’t mind a light maintenance routine.

Per m² fitted: £140 to £190 in 2026.

Porcelain

The premium option. Porcelain slabs are made of fired clay, so they don’t absorb water and they don’t fade. They’re harder than natural stone, and they almost never stain.

Pros: Almost zero maintenance. No fading, no algae stains, narrow joints that are easy to keep weed-free. Longest lifespan of any patio material I work with.

Cons: Costs 30 to 40 percent more than sandstone. Trickier to lay (requires a slurry primer on the slab base, and very accurate substrate prep). Some ranges look slightly artificial up close.

Best for: Shaded gardens (where natural stone would algae over within a year), modern extensions, or anyone whose first priority is “I don’t want to think about it again for fifteen years”.

Per m² fitted: £190 to £260.

Granite

Harder than sandstone, more uniform in colour, and ages predictably. Granite has a slightly more contemporary, polished feel than sandstone without going as far as porcelain.

Pros: Long lasting. Looks the same in fifteen years as it did when it was fitted. Tough surface that handles foot traffic well.

Cons: Costs more than sandstone. Cooler tones (silver, dark grey) which suit some houses and not others.

Best for: Gardens that want a slightly more contemporary look without going for porcelain, or houses with grey-toned brickwork.

Per m² fitted: £170 to £220.

Concrete and reconstituted stone

Modern concrete slabs are far better than they used to be. The good ranges (Marshalls, Bradstone) are made with the same forming and finishing as natural stone and look surprisingly close from a metre away.

Pros: Cheapest option that’s still acceptable. Very consistent in colour. Cuts cleanly.

Cons: Will fade slightly over years (usually about 15 percent lighter after five years). Some ranges have a vibrancy that natural stone doesn’t, which can read as artificial.

Best for: Tight budgets, larger areas where the cost difference adds up, or as a courtyard surface where you don’t need anything special.

Per m² fitted: £100 to £150.

What about climate?

SW London is wet for at least four months of the year, and most rear gardens have at least one shaded section. Two implications:

Drainage matters. Whatever the slab, the patio must slope away from the house at 1:80, and there should be somewhere for water to go (a soakaway, or a linear drain at the lowest point).
Algae is a fact of life on porous slabs. Sandstone, granite and concrete all algae over in shade. A yearly clean prevents it building up. Porcelain doesn’t algae the same way because it doesn’t absorb water.

If your patio site is north-facing or under heavy tree cover, I’ll usually steer you towards porcelain even if it costs more, because a sandstone patio in deep shade will need cleaning twice a year and will look tired by year three.

What about the house?

The slab should suit the house. A general rule:

Victorian or Edwardian terrace: warm, riven sandstone (raj green, modak)
1930s semi: lighter sandstone (mint, kandla grey) or porcelain in a stone-effect range
Modern extension: porcelain in a clean grey or beige, or granite
Cottage or country house: Yorkstone if budget allows, otherwise sandstone in mellow tones

This is a default, not a rule. Plenty of clients have done the opposite and it’s worked.

A short version

Best value: Indian sandstone
Best long-term: porcelain
Best on a budget: concrete (the better ranges)
Best for shaded gardens: porcelain, no contest
Best contemporary look without porcelain: granite

For an itemised quote on any of these, see the patios page or get in touch.