Terrace made of porphyry?

Hello dear forum community,

quite boldly, I would like to begin my first post here in the forum right away with a question.

We want to pave our terrace with natural stone, and obviously, slabs made of porphyry and sandstone are particularly popular.

As a layperson, I ask for your advice. What do I really need to pay attention to, or which natural stone would you recommend based on your experience?

Respectfully yours
-Hermann

Hello,

just as important as frost resistance for terrace slabs is the surface of the stone (slip resistance). One should not use stones with polished surfaces as they pose a slipping hazard when wet.


Properties of porphyry are high compressive strength, abrasion resistance, acid resistance; in addition, the stone has a long service life.
Not every porphyry is frost-resistant, depending on the quarry location.

Sandstone is generally frost-resistant but not resistant to de-icing salt.
Durable, long-lasting, and good thermal conductivity are further properties.
However, sandstone is usually very susceptible to stains.

so I would also advise against sandstone, especially because it wears out very quickly

I am also here in the forum for the first time and want to get something off my chest.

And actually, one should not only pay attention to slip resistance but also to the cleanliness of natural stones.
A drink can quickly spill or a greasy sausage may slip off the plate, then you have a problem if the stubborn stains cannot be removed.

I decided back then on concrete patio slabs. Due to their color, the concrete patio slabs are designed in a Mediterranean style and look similar to natural stones.
Furthermore, the concrete patio slabs are considerably cheaper than natural stones.

Maybe I could help
Regards
Dennis