If you’ve spent any time researching garden paving, you’ve almost certainly come across “Kandla Grey” and wondered why the same name seems to describe two very different products.
One is a natural stone quarried in India. The other is an engineered porcelain tile made to look like it. They share a name, a colour palette, and a massive following in the UK, but they are not the same thing, and they are not interchangeable.
When a patio becomes somewhere you regularly relax, entertain, and spend time with family, choosing the right paving material becomes much more important.
Pick the wrong one, and you could end up with a patio you’re resealing every couple of years or driveway that cracks under vehicle weight, when you expected something fuss-free.
This guide covers the key differences between Kandla Grey Porcelain and Kandla Grey Sandstone in appearance, sizes, durability, maintenance, and overall value, giving you the information you need before comparing samples in tile showrooms or speaking to paving suppliers.
Kandla Grey Porcelain
Kandla Grey porcelain is a vitrified paving tile engineered to replicate the look of Kandla Grey sandstone while significantly reducing the level of maintenance required The manufacturing process fires the tile at extremely high temperatures, producing a material that is incredibly dense, barely absorbs water, and holds up well in freeze-thaw conditions without any sealing.
Where the sandstone gives you organic character, the porcelain gives you uniformity. Every tile in a batch looks the same, which makes planning a layout straightforward and gives the finished result a clean, precise appearance. The rectified edges mean tighter joints and sharper lines.
Homeowners looking to buy Kandla Grey porcelain paving slabs are often drawn to its low-maintenance nature, consistent appearance, and suitability for contemporary outdoor spaces. According to James Calloway, an Outdoor Living and Interior Design Consultant, homeowners are increasingly looking for materials that create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces while requiring minimal ongoing maintenance. As he explains,
“Porcelain has genuinely transformed outdoor living spaces. For clients who want that seamless flow from the kitchen out onto the terrace, with materials that stay beautiful without constant upkeep, porcelain delivers. It lets people actually live in their outdoor space rather than manage it.”
Things to know before you buy Kandla Grey Porcelain Paving Slabs:
- Vitrified engineered tile with very low water absorption
- Consistent colour and surface texture across the batch
- Frost and stain resistant as standard
- No sealing required
- High anti-slip rating suitable for year-round outdoor use
- Rectified sawn edges for tighter, more modern jointing
Porcelain Sizes and Best Uses
| Size | Thickness | Best For |
| 1200x600mm | 20mm | Larger open patios, contemporary gardens, indoor-outdoor schemes |
| 900x600mm | 20mm | Standard choice for most residential patios and terraces |
| 900x600mm | 16mm | Covered areas, lighter-use patios, more budget-conscious projects |
| Mix-size porcelain pack | 20mm | Layouts that avoid the uniform grid effect |
| Porcelain cobbles and edging planks | Variable | Finishing details, pathway borders, transitions |
- For Contemporary Gardens and Larger Patio:
If you’re working with a larger patio area and want a more architectural result, the 1200x600x20mm format reduces the number of grout lines and creates that expansive, flowing look that works particularly well in contemporary gardens.
- For Standard Residential Patio
The 900x600mm size in Kandla Grey Porcelain is the one most installers will recommend for a standard residential patio. The 20mm thickness comfortably handles foot traffic, garden furniture, and the general demands of outdoor living.
Kandla Grey Sandstone
Kandla Grey Sandstone is a natural indian sandstone that has been Britain’s best-selling paving stone for well over a decade. It’s quarried in Rajasthan and takes its name from the region and its distinctively cool colouring: a blend of silver, slate blue, and soft grey tones that vary from slab to slab.
Texture and Aesthetics
That variation is genuinely what people love about it. No two slabs are the same. The lightly riven surface, formed by splitting the stone along its natural grain, gives it a texture you can see and feel underfoot. It looks like it belongs in a garden rather than something you ordered off a website, and it tends to get better with age as it weathers in.
Things to know before you buy Kandla Grey Indian Sandstone Paving:
- Natural stone quarried in Rajasthan, India
- Lightly riven surface with hand-dressed edges
- Cool blue-grey tones that vary naturally across slabs
- Needs sealing before use and periodic resealing to protect against staining
- Available in riven, sawn-and-honed, and sawn-and-flamed finishes
Sandstone Sizes and Best Uses
| Size | Thickness | Best For |
| 900x600mm | 20mm | Patios and terraces, the most popular all-round choice |
| 600x300mm | 40mm | Driveways and areas that take vehicle weight |
| Mix-size patio pack | 18mm | Traditional layouts with varied slab sizes |
| Setts and cobbles (200x100mm) | Variable | Borders, feature areas, and driveway edging |
| Coping and steps | Variable | Garden steps, raised bed edging, wall capping |
- For Garden Patio
The Kandla Grey Sandstone Paving Slabs in 900×600 size are what most people choose for paving a garden patio, and it’s easy to see why. It covers ground well, works in both grid and running bond patterns, and the proportions look right whether you’re working with a small town garden or something more generous.
- For Driveway Paving
For driveways or any surface that takes car weight, you want the 600x300x40mm. The extra thickness is there for a reason and it’s not worth cutting corners on that.
Kandla Grey Porcelain vs Kandla Grey Sandstone: Comparison
| Feature | Kandla Grey Sandstone | Kandla Grey Porcelain |
| Appearance | Natural variation, every slab unique | Consistent colour and texture across tiles |
| Durability | Strong but edges can chip | Very hard, resistant to chips and surface scratches |
| Frost Resistance | Absorbs moisture so sealing is essential | Naturally frost resistant due to low water absorption |
| Maintenance | Needs sealing on install and periodic resealing | Low maintenance, occasional wash down is enough |
| Slip Resistance | Riven texture gives good natural grip | High anti-slip rating as standard |
| Installation | Hand-dressed edges, more forgiving on joints | Rectified edges need precise bed preparation |
| Value Over Time | Lower upfront cost, ongoing maintenance expenses | Higher upfront cost, minimal ongoing spend |
Both materials are well suited to the British climate when installed properly. The key difference is what they ask of you. Sandstone requires more ongoing attention. Porcelain requires more care and precision during the installation itself.
Which One Should You Go For?
It genuinely comes down to what you want from the space and how much time you’re prepared to put into it.
| Use Case | Recommended Option |
| Traditional cottage | Kandla Grey Sandstone |
| Modern Open Plan Terrace | Kandla Grey Porcelain |
| Driveway or Vehicle access | Kandla Grey Sandstone 600x300x40mm |
| Pool surround or wet area | Kandla Grey Porcelain |
| Garden path | Either sandstone for character, or porcelain for easy care |
| Steps and edging | Kandla Grey Sandstone coping and step options |
| Feature areas and border detail | Kandla Grey Sandstone cobbles and setts |
To put it simply, if you want a patio that feels rooted in the garden and you’re happy to seal it every few years, sandstone is a genuinely rewarding material to live with.
If you want something you can pressure wash and forget about, porcelain is the easier long-term option.
To Wrap Up
Both products share a name and a colour palette but they serve different needs. Kandla Grey Sandstone suits anyone after natural character, traditional appeal, and a patio that develops personality over time. Kandla Grey Porcelain suits anyone who wants a clean, contemporary finish with minimal upkeep built in from the start.
Before you order, it’s worth getting samples of both. The difference in texture, weight, and how they actually look in natural light is far more obvious in person than on any screen, and for something you’ll be looking at every day for the next 20 years, a few days’ wait for samples is well worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does porcelain paving fade in sunlight?
No. Porcelain paving does not fade in sunlight. The colour runs through the full body of the tile rather than sitting on the surface, so UV exposure has no effect on it over time. This is one of the main reasons porcelain holds its appearance well for decades, even on fully exposed south-facing patios.
Will sealing Kandla Grey sandstone change the colour?
Yes, it can, depending on which sealer you use. A colour-enhancing or wet-look sealer will visibly deepen the grey tones and give the stone a richer finish. A matt or natural-finish sealer will protect it with far less visual change. Many homeowners prefer the deeper look, but if you want to keep the stone close to how it arrived, go for a natural finish product. Always test on a spare slab before committing to the full area.
Which looks more natural in a British garden?
Kandla Grey sandstone looks more natural. The riven texture, hand-dressed edges, and variation from slab to slab create an organic feel that sits naturally alongside planting, timber, and brick. Porcelain has improved significantly and some ranges are very convincing, but it still generally reads as more manufactured and uniform.
Which paving lasts longer in the UK climate?
Both can last several decades when installed correctly. Porcelain has a practical advantage in freeze-thaw conditions because its very low water absorption means there is minimal moisture inside the tile to expand and cause cracking in cold weather. Sandstone is also durable, but its longevity depends more heavily on sealing and maintenance. If left unsealed and exposed to winter moisture, it will weather more quickly.
Which one offers better value for money?
Sandstone is usually cheaper upfront, while porcelain tends to work out more cost-effective over time. Sandstone typically has a lower purchase price per square metre, but you need to account for sealing products and periodic resealing. Porcelain has a higher initial cost but very little ongoing maintenance. Over 10–15 years, the total cost often balances out, so the better value depends on whether you prefer lower upfront cost or lower long-term upkeep.