Choosing a jointing compound is not just a case of picking whichever tub is on the shelf. Get the wrong one for your paving and you risk a finish that stains, weeds that push through, or a colour that clashes with the stone you have just spent a weekend laying. Joint-It makes two ready-to-use ranges, Joint-It Simple and Joint-It Elite, and while they share the same core promise of a weed, frost and power-washer resistant joint once cured, the differences between them matter more than they first appear.
Both ranges are brush-in, ready-to-use compounds that need no mixing and can be applied in wet or dry weather, so neither leaves you waiting for a dry spell before finishing a job. The real decision comes down to what you are laying the paving on, how large the area is, and which colour palette suits the space. This guide walks through the practical differences between joint it simple and joint it dynamic style compounds so you can pick the right bucket the first time.
Joint-It Simple vs Elite: Side by Side
Here is how the two ranges compare on the things that actually affect your project.
| Feature | Joint-It Simple | Joint-It Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | 20kg buckets | 12.5kg tubs |
| Suitable surfaces | Porcelain paving | Porcelain paving and smooth natural stone |
| Colour options | 4 colours: Neutral, Grey, Dark Grey, Black | 3 colours: Fawn, Dove Grey, Midnight |
| Application | Brush-in, no mixing, wet or dry weather | Brush-in, no mixing, wet or dry weather |
| Weathering and resistance | Water-permeable, weed, frost and power-washer resistant once cured | Weed, frost and power-washer resistant once cured |
| Finish | Practical, hard wearing finish | Smooth, premium finish |
On paper the two ranges look similar, and in many respects they are. Both are genuinely ready-to-use straight from the tub, both cure to something that laughs off a pressure washer, and both keep weeds and frost damage at bay once fully set. The differences that matter come down to surface compatibility, pack size, and colour.
When to Choose Joint-It Simple
Joint-It Simple is the more straightforward of the two ranges, and its name is well earned. It is a brush-in, ready-to-use jointing compound sold in generous 20kg buckets, ideal for covering a larger porcelain patio without opening a second or third tub halfway through the job.
Simple is available in four colours: Neutral, Grey, Dark Grey and Black. That range covers most of the porcelain shades sold in the UK, from pale contemporary slabs through to the deep charcoal and black porcelain that has become popular on modern patios. Because it is water-permeable, rainwater drains through the joints rather than pooling on the surface, and once cured it resists weed growth, frost heave and the battering of an annual power wash.
In short, reach for joint it simple 20kg when:
- Your paving is porcelain only, with no natural stone in the mix
- You are jointing a larger area and want fewer buckets to manage
- You want a straightforward, no-fuss compound without needing to think about surface compatibility
- Your colour scheme fits within Neutral, Grey, Dark Grey or Black
You can browse the individual colours, including Joint-It Simple Grey, Joint-It Simple Dark Grey and Joint-It Simple Black, to see which shade best matches your slabs.
When to Choose Joint-It Elite
Joint-It Elite is built for one job that Simple cannot do: jointing natural stone. Where Simple is formulated for porcelain paving, Elite is suitable for both porcelain and smooth natural stone, which makes it the only sensible choice if your patio includes sandstone, limestone, or any other natural stone surface.
Elite comes in 12.5kg tubs, a smaller pack than Simple's 20kg buckets, and gives a smooth, premium finish that works particularly well on the refined surface of natural stone. Like Simple, it needs no mixing, can go down in wet or dry conditions, and resists weeds, frost and power-washing once cured.
Elite's colour range is different too, built around three tones: Fawn, Dove Grey and Midnight. These shades are designed to complement the warmer, more variegated look of natural stone as well as porcelain, so even if your project is porcelain-only, Elite is worth considering when Fawn, Dove Grey or Midnight suits your scheme better than any of the Simple colours.
Choose Elite when:
- Your patio includes smooth natural stone, either on its own or alongside porcelain
- You want the smooth, premium finish Elite is known for
- Fawn, Dove Grey or Midnight is the colour tone you are after
- You are working on a smaller area where a 12.5kg tub is a better fit than a 20kg bucket
Take a look at Joint-It Elite Fawn, Joint-It Elite Dove Grey and Joint-It Elite Midnight to compare the three shades against your stone.
Colour Guide: Joint-It Simple
Simple's four colours are designed to sit neatly alongside the most common porcelain paving tones on the market.
Neutral
A soft, mid-tone shade that works as a safe middle ground across most porcelain colourways, particularly where the paving itself has a mixed or speckled finish.
Grey
A classic, versatile grey that suits the pale grey and silver-grey porcelain slabs found on the majority of modern UK patios.
Dark Grey
Joint-It Simple Dark Grey is the choice for anthracite and slate-toned porcelain, giving a joint that reads as a natural extension of the paving rather than a contrasting line.
Black
Joint-It Simple Black is designed for black and near-black porcelain paving, where a lighter joint colour would stand out and disrupt the clean, uniform look many black patios are chosen for.
Colour Guide: Joint-It Elite
Elite's palette leans into the warmer, more natural tones associated with stone paving.
Fawn
Joint-It Elite Fawn is a warm, sandy tone built to complement buff and honey coloured natural stone, tying the joint colour into the same warm palette as the slabs themselves rather than fighting against it.
Dove Grey
Joint-It Elite Dove Grey is a soft, pale grey that suits light coloured natural stone and pale porcelain alike, giving a gentle, understated joint line rather than a stark contrast.
Midnight
Joint-It Elite Midnight is Elite's deepest tone, a near-black shade for dark natural stone or dark porcelain where a bold, defined joint is the look you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix Simple and Elite on the same patio?
You can, though it is worth thinking through why you would want to. If your patio is porcelain throughout, there is no practical need to use both ranges, since Simple already covers every porcelain colourway you are likely to need. Where it does make sense is on a mixed project, for example a porcelain patio with a natural stone step or border, where you would use Elite on the natural stone section and either range on the porcelain, matching colours as closely as possible across the join.
Which Joint-It range is better for natural stone?
Elite. Joint-It Simple is formulated for porcelain paving only, while Elite is suitable for both porcelain and smooth natural stone. If any part of your project involves natural stone, Elite is the correct choice rather than Simple.
Is Elite better quality than Simple, or just different?
It is different rather than better. Both ranges are ready-to-use, both need no mixing, both go down in wet or dry weather, and both resist weeds, frost and power-washing once cured. The distinction is surface suitability and finish, Elite covers natural stone as well as porcelain and gives a smooth, premium finish, while Simple is built specifically for porcelain and comes in a larger 20kg pack. Neither is a compromise version of the other, they are simply matched to different jobs.
Do Simple and Elite cure and perform the same way once installed?
Yes. Once cured, both ranges offer the same practical performance: they resist weed growth, stand up to frost, and can be cleaned with a power washer without breaking down. The differences are in the surfaces they are approved for, the pack sizes they come in, and the colours available, not in how durable the finished joint is.
Final Recommendation
If your patio is porcelain from edge to edge, Joint-It Simple is the straightforward, practical choice, particularly on larger areas where the 20kg bucket goes further. Pick Grey or Neutral for the most common porcelain shades, Dark Grey for anthracite and slate tones, or Black to match black porcelain paving without a contrasting joint line.
If natural stone features anywhere in your project, or if the warmer Fawn, Dove Grey or Midnight tones suit your scheme better than anything in the Simple range, Joint-It Elite is the one to use. It handles porcelain just as well as Simple does, but it is the only option of the two that is also approved for smooth natural stone.
Either way, you are getting a ready-to-use, no-mix compound that goes down in wet or dry weather and stands up to weeds, frost and the power washer once it has cured. Browse the complete Joint-It collection to compare every colour across both ranges before you buy.
