How Porcelain Is Installed

The base

Excavation to around 200mm, compacted MOT Type 1, then a concrete or full mortar bed. Porcelain must never be laid on sand or on spot dabs — the slab will ring hollow and eventually crack.

Slurry priming

Every slab has its back primed with a slurry bond before it is set. Porcelain is non-porous, so without a primer there is nothing for the mortar to grip. Skipping this is the most common cause of lifting slabs.

Setting and falls

Slabs are set individually to a consistent joint width with a fall of around 1:80 away from the house. Levels are checked continuously rather than at the end.

Jointing and cleaning

A flexible external jointing compound is worked into the joints and cleaned off immediately — porcelain shows residue permanently if it is left to cure. The terrace is then left to gain strength before use.

Common questions