Grey Porcelain Paving Slabs

Jurassic Azure Porcelain Paving actually translates to Blue Paving; these predominantly grey paving slabs have a lovely, unique, blue tint to them, which make them a very different range of garden paving slabs for your home. Grey is always a colour we get asked about when it comes to patio paving stones, as they are very neutral as well as modern for contemporary houses and gardens.  

How to Lay Porcelain Paving Slabs

Lots of our customers choose to install their own garden patio to save on costs and to challenge themselves to a new, garden DIY project. Whilst we would normally recommend an experienced, professional Landscaper to carry this work out, if you are confident in your landscaping/DIY skills, and have all the necessary equipment, you may be able to complete this yourselves.

Firstly, take a look at your garden and work out the exact area in which you want to lay your paving slabs. Some things to consider are whether this area is under a tree, whether the area has adequate drainage, and how much of your garden you want to be covered in porcelain paving, which is not porous. 

Once you've scoped this out, you can measure this area, going by the width multiplied by the length, allowing an extra 10% for any off-cuts and areas with curves or difficult edges. To work out how much paving you need, you can then use our helpful paving calculator which will indicate the amount of paving you need to buy. 

Next is the fun part - choosing your desired porcelain or Sandstone Paving slabs! We have many ranges of each on display at our Ferndown, Bournemouth and Dorchester depots. We have every colour and pattern you could think of, as well as a mixture of shapes and sizes to meet all of our customers' needs.

Once you have purchased your paving, mark out the desired area with some string or spray paint. Paving can be laid straight onto a surface such as concrete, or if you need to dig the area up, we recommend digging to a depth of 100mm, to allow for the sub-base and paving. You'll need a sturdy Landscaping Spade for this and then a Spirit Level to ensure a nice, even ground.  

Add your hardcore aggregates; a material like MOT Type 1 limestone would be perfect. This ideally needs to be added at a depth of 50mm to ensure a stable base for your paving slabs. Use a Rake to get a fairly even surface area, and then use a Wacker Plate to compact this sub-base down. As an option, you can add a further 30mm of Hardcore Aggregates and compact down again, which will give you further durability.

Now you can add a 25mm layer of mortar bed on top of your sub-base. This can be made using washed grit and cement or sand and cement. Lightly water your mortar bed so it's fairly moist, and rake over again; checking the area is level with your spirit level. 

It's now time to lay your paving slabs! Our paving slabs are very heavy so ensure you're comfortable with the weight, or ask a friend for help with this part. It's good practice to lay the patio stones at a slightly angle of 1/60, to allow rain water to run off quite easily and prevent flash flooding.

Use a Primer for the reverse side of the porcelain tile, then place your first paving slab at the highest point of the patio, working from one corner to another. Try to leave at least a 3 - 6mm gap between the paving slabs; we have handy spacers you can use to ensure these gaps are nice and consistent. 

When you are placing your paving stone, use a Rubber Mallet to tap these down into place. Repeat these steps for the rest of your paving, ensuring you're checking the levels of your patio. 

Once your mortar bed has dried out completely (this usually takes a few hours), you can start to join the paving together. You can make your own mortar mix with materials we sell; it’s simply 4-part sand to 1 part cement, however, the best that we sell is the Azpects easyJoint Select range. Pick a colour that best suits your paving and decide whether you want a contrast or for it to blend in seamlessly. 

Follow the instructions given on your jointing compound, it usually involves a hose pipe, lots of watering, and an extra pair of hands. You'll also need a stiff broom to sweep away the excess. 

Once the paving is laid, simply wait for the jointing compound to set and there you have it, your own garden patio! There are no further steps after this, just ensure you're sweeping it regularly and jet washing it as and when you wish.  

Best Garden Ideas and Inspiration

If you want a helping hand in choosing the right garden feature for you, check out our Garden Visualiser! This free, online tool lets you upload a photo of your garden - or you can use one of our templates - and then you can see what our Porcelain Paving, Sandstone Paving, Composite Decking or Decorative Stones looks like in your garden.

Click Here to use the Garden Visualiser Now   

Buy With Confidence

• Our paving can be purchased in quantities of 5 square metres.
• Please enter the amount of 5 sqm you need (for example 20sqm would be 4 x 5sqm). 
• All of our paving comes in crates which can be easily placed into a van or into a garden using a hiab lorry.
• You can choose a free collection from one of our Depots or fuss-free, home delivery.

A Service You Can Rely On

• Our trustworthy service offers prompt delivery to any area in the UK
• Stone Zone is a family-run business that has been well-established since 1998
• Our knowledgeable customer advisors can help you with your purchase
• We pride ourselves on offering a range of affordable garden supplies 

Sample slabs are available in-store, please ask a customer advisor.