Porcelain Patios
in Ely

Built to Last on Fenland Ground. Family-run paving and roofing across Ely, Cambridge and Cambridgeshire

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Ely and Surrounding Villages

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Porcelain Patios in Ely from Champion Construction. Specialist priming, flexible adhesive bedding, proper MOT Type 1 sub-base and drainage falls for Fenland clay ground. Frost-proof, low-maintenance finish from a local team. Call 07443 843 610 for a free quote.

What's Covered on This Page

Why Porcelain Is a Better Material for UK Patios Than Alternatives

Why It's So Important That Porcelain Patios Are Installed Properly

Why does Ely's Fenland Soil Need an Even Stronger Sub-Base than most areas?

Fatal errors on the substrate that lead to early porcelain patio failure

Setting up Your Porcelain Patio Job the Right Way

Explore Our Other Patios Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Get Started?

Looking to Have a Porcelain Patios Installed?

Speak to Champion Construction for a free quote on a properly prepared porcelain patios in Ely, Cambridge or the surrounding villages.

Call: 07443 843 610

Why Porcelain Is a Better Material for UK Patios Than Alternatives

We lay tons of Indian sandstone patios around Ely and surrounding villages. Lovely material, no doubt. But there’s plenty that porcelain can do that natural stone just can’t, particularly when it’s faced with a Fenland winter.

With a water absorption rate of below 0.5 per cent porcelain is, by the measure of the British Standards Institution, frost-proof. And what does that mean to you? That it won’t crack when temperatures drop or flake away after a hard freeze. Since natural stone absorbs more moisture it’s much more prone to frost damage with time, especially around Stretham and other low lying areas by Ely that stay wet for days and weeks at a time.

Here are some other issues that you’ll get with other materials after a few years:

Indian sandstone gets staining from leaves, algae and spilled drinks. Porcelain doesn’t stain.
Concrete slabs fade in colour over time. Porcelain retains its appearance because the colour is throughout the tile.
Block paved patios often settle unevenly when laid on clay. Porcelain on a decent base remains flat.

The kind of homeowner who asks us to lay a porcelain patio has probably already researched other options. They might know a neighbour who got their sandstone patio looking green after just one winter or they’ve been up scrubbing concrete slabs every spring and have had enough of it.

Porcelain just doesn’t do that to you. The surface is so dense that it’s really hard for algae and moss to gain a foothold, and they wash away easily. When it’s time to hose it back to its original appearance you don’t need to use a seal or any sort of cleaning agent.

It won’t fade in the sun either, which matters given that flat Cambridgeshire terrain gets a lot of UV exposure in both summer and winter. For a thorough overview of how porcelain compares to other paving materials, this guide to porcelain paving pros and cons from Homebuilding & Renovating covers the key considerations in detail. Porcelain patios that we’ve put in across Ely over the last three or four years have remained flawless, which you don’t necessarily get with other materials. A pretty good material choice if you’re after something that looks good and stays that way.

Why It's So Important That Porcelain Patios Are
Installed Properly

Most of the time people think laying porcelain patios involves the same process as laying most other slabs. This just isn’t the case. Because porcelain is non porous, standard cement simply won’t stick to the slab. Get the method wrong and your slabs will lift within a year. Not just on occasion, but more often than not. You can read more about our wider approach to patio installation in Ely on our main patios page.

Here are the steps that we take to lay a porcelain patio:

The first step is to excavate and clear the patio area. So we remove the turf, slabs or whatever else is covering it. As a rule, we dig out to a minimum 200mm and often more below finished level, subject to what we find. As the ground around Stretham and the surrounding villages is clay, it retains water, so we always check the drainage falls first of all before we begin.
Lay and compact the sub-base. A minimum 100mm of MOT type 1 is laid in layers, and this needs to be fully compacted. It won’t be seen by anyone, but this is the step that decides whether the patio lasts. A solid sub-base will prevent movement and cracking of the patio in the future.
Apply priming slurry to the back of each porcelain slab before it is laid. Porcelain will not take up moisture, so it needs priming on its underside to allow the adhesive to grip it. If the slabs are not primed, that’s the most likely reason a porcelain patio may fail.
Bed each slab on a flexible tile adhesive. We do NOT use sand and cement. We only use a good quality, external, flexible tile adhesive. Each slab will be buttered with mortar, then set and tapped level.
Joint the porcelain patio slab using a jointing compound specific for porcelain. We don’t use standard jointing compound as it simply won’t bond to porcelain edges. Instead, we use a jointing compound that is weatherproof, flexible and designed for outdoor use. It stays together, and stays put.

It is a lengthy process and it takes longer to install porcelain slabs than it does to install Indian sandstone. The fact is, it is the only way to get a patio that will survive Fenland winters without breaking or lifting.

Champion Construction is a family-run business, run by Danny and his son. From the first site visit through to finishing, all work will be dealt with directly by them. There is no call centre and no sub-contractors turning up on the day for a porcelain patio installation. If you are thinking about porcelain or a new patio in Ely then we would be happy to give you advice on the most suitable patio for your garden.

If you need advice on whether to use porcelain for your patio, please call Champion Construction on 07443 843610 to arrange a free quote.

Why does Ely's Fenland Soil Need an Even Stronger Sub-Base than most areas?

I would like to start this section by saying that we at Champion Construction pay attention to the ground beneath the patio every single day, and most people don’t.

The ground around Ely is heavy clay, and in certain areas the water table sits high. This is the nature of building in the Fenland, which means the clay will move. It will expand when wet and shrink when dry. Particularly around Stretham and the lower lying areas, this is true, and water will come very near to the surface.

If porcelain patio slabs are laid on an inadequate sub-base in this area they will move, they will rock and there will be gaps and cracks in the pointing. There are jobs where I’ve lifted and re-installed porcelain patios in Stretham that were only two years old due to poor preparation on the sub-base.

So, what would the recommended sub-base installation consist of and what steps would I need to take? Here are the steps I take for every porcelain patio installation that we do:

Dug out to a minimum of 200mm and often more below finished level, depending on what we find.
Provide a compacted layer of MOT type 1 hardcore about 100mm to 150mm deep.
Compact in layers with a plate compactor to avoid any soft spots.
Bed with the appropriate mortar mix for porcelain.
Prime the reverse of the slabs with a slurry coat for bonding.

That last one, the priming, is a critical step, one people routinely forget. Porcelain is non-absorbent unlike natural stone so the mortar cannot bond to it without this slurry coat and it will eventually pop out. That is the reason for every failed porcelain patio in Ely we’ve seen.

With a flat open environment around here, water needs somewhere to go and quickly. All our patios have a fall for drainage away from your home. Get the base and drainage right, and the rest of the patio is good for decades.

Champion Construction is a father and son business that’s been operating around here for years. We never assume what the ground will give us. We dig it, assess what we have, and lay a foundation properly. That’s the only way a porcelain patio lasts on Fenland clay.

Thinking About a New Porcelain Patio in Ely?

Talk to Champion Construction about a porcelain patio built properly from the ground up, with the right base, levels and drainage for local Fenland conditions. Call for a free quote.

07443 843 610

Fatal errors on the substrate that lead to early porcelain patio failure

We’re frequently called out to rectify porcelain patios that someone else has installed. Too often the problem starts below ground.

The main mistake? Inadequate sub-base installation or skipping it entirely. Porcelain slabs will not bend, they won’t flex. If the substrate shifts under the tiles, they crack or joints crack open. For us in Ely, that means working with heavy clay soils that move with changing weather. Lay a poor sub-base on Fenland clay and it won’t be long before problems appear, usually in the first winter. We put down at least 100mm of MOT type 1 hardcore, compacted in layers, and go deeper where the ground demands it. That’s the key to a stable patio.

Some other typical failures are below:

Incorrect adhesive/mortar used. As porcelain is not absorbent like natural stone, a regular sand and cement mix will not adhere to it. For exterior tiles, a flexible tile adhesive and frost proof mix is required.
The back of the tiles was not primed. As porcelain is not absorbent, a slurry primer coat to the reverse is required for the adhesive to stick to the tile. This ensures the tiles do not lift within months.
Incorrect drainage falls. A flat patio will trap water. Slabs get very slippery if water is left on them. All our patios have a fall away from the home.
Bad quality of jointing. Cheap grouting will wash out over time. A resin-based jointing compound costs more but will hold fast for many years, even through a wet Cambridgeshire winter.

On one job a short drive from here, a homeowner in Stretham had a previous installer lay his porcelain over a concrete slab. There was no primer on the adhesive and no drainage, and within six months the tiles were becoming loose. All that for nothing. Porcelain patios, when installed correctly, can remain in excellent condition with virtually no maintenance. It is the installation that makes or breaks them. Champion Construction is the business of Danny and his son. Neither will cut corners on a patio as their name is on the line on every job in Ely. If the patio’s foundation is not right, the job is a disaster.

Setting up Your Porcelain Patio Job the Right Way

Most of the customers calling us from around Ely to discuss the benefits of a porcelain patio have probably already done some research themselves. They’ve seen images online or, if they’re lucky, even one down the road at a neighbour’s place in Stretham. They know what they want, they just need to know how to get it done.

This is how it works:

You contact us on the telephone or by text. Tell us what you’re thinking about and the area of the patio. A photo of the area will help. Don’t overthink it.
We pay you a free, no-obligation visit to inspect the ground, look at access, discuss the patio options with you, and measure accurately.
We then provide you with a written quote within a couple of days. No pressure, no need to chase us. Take your time.
When you are happy, you can book in the work on a day that suits you. Often, we can get work booked in only a few weeks from the date we first speak.

This visit is critical, more so than customers think. Ground conditions in and around Ely can differ from one house to the next. Sometimes you may be in clay soil and sometimes on soil that will have drainage issues. It can take a few months for the soil to dry completely after prolonged rain. We can’t tell you about the sub-base depth needed or whether more drainage is required without looking at the area ourselves. We see two different ground conditions in two gardens at opposite ends of the road every single week.

We can also discuss the pattern and the dimensions of the slabs. Different sizes, colours and finishes of porcelain are available. Some will replicate natural sandstone or granite, some have a more modern look. Whatever you like and suits the look of your home. We can bring samples along for you to compare against your house brickwork so you can see exactly how the colour will look rather than guessing what it may look like.

We never rush people into a decision. Champion Construction are a family business run by myself and my son and it is always possible to deal directly with me on site, ask a question and get a direct response. No call centre staff or door salesmen.

Interested in getting the ball rolling? Call Champion Construction on 07443 843610 for a free quote.

Explore Our Other Patios Services

Patio Repairs

We lift and re-lay loose, sunken or uneven slabs, sorting the base and falls so the repair holds properly.

Learn more

Block Paved Patios

A neat, practical choice for garden spaces, with strong edging, proper falls and a finish that is easy to live with.

Learn more

Indian Sandstone Patios

Natural stone with warm tones and individual character, ideal if you want a patio with a more traditional garden feel.

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about porcelain patios services in Ely

Will porcelain slabs crack in a Fenland winter?

No. Porcelain has a water absorption rate below 0.5 per cent, which means it meets the British Standards Institution definition of frost-proof. Around Ely and low-lying areas like Stretham, the ground stays wet for weeks at a time. Natural stone absorbs that moisture and can crack or flake when temperatures drop. Porcelain does not. That is one of the main reasons we recommend it to homeowners in this part of Cambridgeshire.

Why does porcelain need a different installation method to other paving slabs?

Because porcelain is non-porous, standard sand and cement will not bond to it. If a contractor lays porcelain the same way they would lay Indian sandstone, the slabs will lift within a year. We prime the back of every slab with a slurry coat, then bed each one on a flexible external tile adhesive. We also use a jointing compound made specifically for porcelain. It takes longer than laying sandstone, but it is the only method that holds.

Why does the sub-base matter more in Ely than in other areas?

The ground around Ely is heavy clay, and in places like Stretham the water table sits close to the surface. Clay expands when wet and shrinks when dry. That movement will rock and crack a patio laid on a thin or poorly compacted base. We excavate to a minimum of 200mm and lay at least 100mm of compacted MOT type 1 sub-base. We have lifted and re-laid porcelain patios in Stretham that were only two years old because this step was skipped.

Does a porcelain patio need sealing or special cleaning products?

No. The surface is dense enough that algae and moss cannot get a grip, and whatever does settle on it washes away with a hose. You do not need a sealant or any cleaning agent to keep it looking right. Indian sandstone needs annual sealing and can still go green after one winter. Porcelain does not stain, does not fade in the sun, and does not need the same upkeep. A hose down is genuinely all most Ely homeowners need.

How long does it take to install a porcelain patio?

A typical garden patio in Ely takes longer to lay than an equivalent sandstone patio, usually by a day or more depending on the size. The priming, flexible adhesive bedding, and specialist jointing compound all add time. We also check drainage falls before we start, which is worth doing given the clay ground conditions here. We would rather take the extra time and get it right than rush a job that then lifts in the first cold winter.

Who actually carries out the work on the day?

Danny and his son carry out all the work themselves. There are no subcontractors and no call centre. If you speak to us when booking, you will see the same faces on site. For a job like a porcelain patio installation in Ely, where the preparation and method matter as much as the finish, that consistency makes a real difference to the end result.

Looking at other patio options? Take a look at our Patios Services in Ely

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