I think it depends on your property and what goes best with the house. You will have more joints for weeds to come through and for pointing to deteriorate with cobbles, so that's a consideration. The cobbles are smaller and harder to walk on, whereas the sandstone gives larger flatter areas. Sandstone has it's own problems depending on which type you go for, and, there are quite a few. You can get honed sandstone, which is flatter than the non-honed, providing you with better joints. We have Indian Sandstone ( unhoned ), looks great but the pointing is a mare due to the uneven nature of the stone, but looking at the fossils in it and the different colours is great. Nothing will stop the algae though, so you will need to jet wash.................ours has been treated withe everything you can throw at it and it still has to be done at least twice a year. I don't think it's just us, as, our next door neighbour also has sandstone, a different type to us, but they jet wash as much as we do.

Try pressure washing them first to see it you like them cleaned up. If you do want to change the look you can acid etch them or stain them- there are lots of how to videos online but basically you need to clean the slabs with a degreaser, apply your stain with a roller (or acid with a spray and 8-24 hours later a neutralizer), and then seal the finished product. There are options at the DIY store or online- personally I would be looking to buy a combined stain and sealer designed for concrete slabs.

You'll all be familiar with porcelain - perhaps your grandmas' old china teacups? Well, the porcelain we're talking about couldn't be further from that old tat (sorry Gran)! This is porcelain-like you've never seen it before; stylish and highly durable with a range of distinctive colours. Using these sophisticated porcelain paving slabs you can completely transform your garden space and reclaim your home's balance! Recognizing it's time for change Some people haven't upgraded their patio paving slabs since the 70's and still have concrete patio slabs, just take a look outside and you'll see, they don't age well! Maybe you've never noticed your garden patio slabs changing, but it can creep up on you over the years. What was once a glowing garden may be dirty, neglected and full of weeds! Unless you've already renovated your garden patio paving slabs with quality paving stones, it's likely your garden badly needs a facelift. The sheer variety of styles in porcelain paving makes it extremely unique, what's more, each style caters to different a look, so you're sure to find the perfect style for your dream garden! How about Anthracite black, with a dark matt finish and alluring subtle bluestone pattern? Or perhaps our Hammerstone Beige will captivate you with its charming sandy aesthetic? and Hammerstone Grey, as well as Hammerstone Nero, These are but four of the many distinct styles in our porcelain paving range – there are almost too many styles choose from! Like natural stone, but Turbo-charged! Non-slip, scratch-resistant and extremely strong; Porcelain paving takes the style and feel of natural stone paving and turbo-charges it so that you can enjoy maintenance-free living! Porcelain paving slabs are made from natural materials such as clays and minerals, which enrich it with a charm that artificial paving completely lacks. As a non-porous material, porcelain paving slab doesn't soak up water, meaning it's far more robust and hard-wearing that paving stones; as the years go by, the advantage of this quality will become evident. Balance is generally hard to achieve when it comes to choosing the right materials for your home interior and exterior garden, but Porcelain paving combines the positive qualities of various natural materials, and to top it off, is the most durable flooring material, full-stop. Don't believe us? Check this out: "Tests at Consumer Reports found porcelain paving to be the most durable type of flooring, resistant to scratches, dents, and moisture. These 20mm outdoor porcelain tiles are also very easy to clean. Glazed ceramic and porcelain slabs require very little maintenance, though other types need more." Why does durability matter? Have you ever bought beautiful natural stone paving slabs, only to watch its colour slowly fade due to weathering? You'll be glad to know the style of these porcelain paving slabs will be well preserved. Persistent rain, frost or heat aren't enough to damage this durable material – British weather may be unpredictable, but one thing you can predict is that the character and charm will last! We absolutely love our range of natural stone paving slabs, but if you're looking for something with a similar feel that definitely won't require extra care to preserve, porcelain paving is made for you. The perfect choice for Kitchens, Bathrooms and even Living rooms Waking up to a kitchen with the feeling of vitrified porcelain paving slabs under-foot is simply divine! It's a foolish thing to think that these tiles belong only in the garden; in fact, one could argue that porcelain tile works even better indoors. Our darker styles of Porcelain impart sophistication and charisma that cannot be rivalled by other flooring materials. In other words, porcelain paving slabs are way out of their league! The task of interior design can be a total headache…. That's why we recommend working from the floor up. The flooring you choose is without a doubt the foundation to your home's atmosphere – wood and other natural materials are known for their charm, but before long the annoyance of damage and wear creeps in! Naturally, the environment inside a home is no challenge to Porcelain – flooring material that can keep up with your crazy antics (spilt drinks, heavy furniture etc. Not a mark!). If you're someone with busy family life (kids running around, causing havoc!) then you'll need a durable flooring material that can withstand the ins and outs of life. Porcelain tiles also look great in bathrooms; sometimes the awkward and outdated flooring materials people have in their bathrooms leaves us in a state of shock! Like natural stone, Porcelain tiles are the natural choice for bathrooms, not only because it's water-resistant (hello, bath mats aren't going to soak up everything!), but also the charm that it can give to a space like this is remarkable. Crafted with precision, ready to install Porcelain paving is manufactured with special clays that are kiln-fired to a temperature of 1400 degrees, and then ground and polished to ensure that each tile has sharp, perfect edges. The perfectionist approach taken in manufacturing these slabs means that you'll have no complications when laying them, indoors or outdoors. Also, rectified edges and consistent 20mm thickness ensure that every slab meets flawlessly – no awkward raised edges (and no trip hazards!). Nothing has been left to chance. Despite being affordable, our Porcelain paving does not compromise on quality at all. Get inspired and transform your garden for Spring! Porcelain paving makes sense as the ideal choice for garden patio – it's tried and tested by thousands of our customers. Right now is the perfect time to pursue your garden goals; spring is approaching, so now is the time to bring your garden BACK TO LIFE! We love inspiring homeowners to take control and tackle their messy gardens because we know the effect their transformed green space will have on their family. The garden is the place to play, breathe fresh air and experience nature; all children remember times spent outdoors, and we all love a relaxing drink outdoors on warmer days, so having a garden to be proud of is something that benefits adults and children alike. You can explore a wide range of affordable, quality paving slabs materials on our website including sandstone paving, limestone paving, smooth paving slabs.

I know you can get concrete dye but don't think it would work going that colour way. You could do it with masonry paint and once it's dry, seal it with a concrete sealer on the top which should help keep it more durable. We stained our top concrete patio (used to be a shed base!) in a charcoal dye with sealer mixed in. Lasts maybe a year or so depending on traffic. You could also get a motif pattern and mix it up ie do cream base with a darker pattern on it so when it fades it will look more vintage. Then seal it. Almost like a rug effect?