Porcelain has dominated the premium patio market for a decade — but the seamless resin bound patio is catching up fast. Both are excellent; here's when each wins.
Underfoot feel
Porcelain is cold, hard and unforgiving on bare feet in July. Resin bound is warmer, softer and grippy — the difference is dramatic when children are running around.
Joints and pointing
Every porcelain patio has hundreds of mortar joints that need repointing at 8–12 years. Resin bound has zero joints — nothing to fail, nothing to weed.
Drainage
Porcelain requires falls of 1:80 and edge drainage to prevent puddling. Resin bound drains through the surface, allowing near-level patios that don't visibly slope away from the house.
Cost
A quality installed porcelain patio typically costs £180–£240 per m². Resin bound sits at £170 per m² + VAT. Roughly equivalent — the decision is aesthetic and practical, not budget-led.
Where porcelain wins
Contemporary sharp-edged designs with a clear rectilinear grid, or where a specific single-format tile look is essential. Both surfaces can co-exist beautifully in one garden.
