Buff Porcelain

Transport yourself and feel like you’re holidaying on a Greek island, from your own back garden, courtesy of these gorgeous, buff coloured porcelain tiles.

Buff porcelain paving slabs are incredibly stylish tile with a light colour palette and stone-effect surface – perfect for creating a contemporary space without losing 100% of the natural feel of an outdoor area.

Yes, more practical than pale natural stone. Buff is a light colour, so dirt and tyre dust are more visible than on grey, but porcelain does not absorb anything, so what lands on it washes straight off. A buff sandstone drive would hold those marks permanently; buff porcelain does not. The warm tone also hides dry dust and leaf debris better than a bright white. Our buff ranges start at £31.98 per m² for Cathedral Beige 90 x 60cm.

No. Porcelain absorbs almost no water, so engine oil, diesel, petrol and brake fluid sit on the surface instead of soaking in, even on a pale slab. Clean them off with hot water and a degreaser or a pressure washer and the colour comes back unchanged. 

Our Silver Granite cobbles are the hardest-wearing edge and the cool grey gives a clean contrast against warm buff. If you want a closer tonal match, our Masso Grey and Stone Rock White porcelain edging comes in 100 x 16cm lengths from the same material as the paving, though these are thinner and better suited to a border than a trafficked kerb. For a strong dark frame, Kota Black limestone cobbles work well. 

Yes, noticeably. A light buff reflects far more daylight than grey or anthracite, which lifts a drive overshadowed by the house, a fence or trees. Porcelain holds that advantage long term, because the colour never dulls or greens the way pale sandstone does in shade. Algae can still grow on any damp surface, but it sits on top of porcelain rather than in it, so a wash removes it completely. Good drainage matters more in shade than anywhere else.

Buff works best with warm brickwork: red, orange, multi-reds and yellow London stock, where it picks up tones already in the wall. It also suits cream or white render and stone cottages. Where it works less well is against cool grey brick or dark grey render, which can leave the buff looking yellow by comparison; grey or anthracite porcelain is the better call there. If in doubt, hold a sample against the house in daylight before ordering.

No. Porcelain is frost-resistant and chemically stable, so rock salt and de-icer will not pit, bleach or discolour it, and there is no sealer for salt to break down. Salt can leave a white powdery residue on the surface, which rinses off with clean water. Be careful of what sits around the drive though, as salty run-off damages lawns, planting and some natural stone. Sweep loose salt off rather than letting it wash onto borders.

All our outdoor porcelain has a slip-resistant stone-effect surface rather than the polished glaze of indoor tiles, but within that the ranges vary: Cathedral Beige and Vesuvio Beige have a more pronounced texture, while Portland Ice and Colosseo Cream are smoother and more uniform. On a driveway, more texture means better grip for tyres and feet in the wet, and it disguises dust and scuffing. Smooth finishes suit a sheltered patio better.