Natural Sandstone Paving
Transform your garden with the medley of colours found in our natural Indian sandstone which offers the charm and appeal that only a natural stone can offer! With beautiful variations in colour throughout, each paver features its own unique tones formed naturally over thousands of years, promising your garden or patio a finish filled with character! Choose from a naturally riven surface texture or a smooth, sawn & honed option to find the right style of garden paving for you! All of our natural sandstone slabs are designed for exterior use and will stand the test of time for a patio that will last for decades!
Riven or Sawn & Honed? What’s the difference?
A riven surface is created naturally when the stone is split along its layers, providing a truly authentic finish. This process leaves beautiful natural variations in texture throughout the surface of each slab, meaning that no paver is exactly the same, one of the main appeals of Riven Sandstone Paving! Each natural sandstone slab features hand-dressed edges which add to the organic look to create a timeless appeal to any traditional design. This style of natural Indian sandstone is suited to traditional settings and is a great alternative to Yorkstone, whilst also working out to be less expensive!
Tumbled paving is treated by passing the slabs through a slowly rotating drum. This process smoothes off the edges, corners and surface of the slab to give the stone a slightly aged look that will blend seamlessly into any space as if it had already been there for years. When tumbling a riven stone, the variations in the surface texture of the slabs remain but any harsh variations are smoothed off, resulting in a lightly riven texture that is much smoother to the touch and giving the stone a long-established appearance. Tumbled paving is perfect for a traditional patio design with the slightly worn effect adding to the character of the space. The process of tumbling the slabs will also make them less porous, so the stone will not absorb as much water, or any other liquids for that matter, making them much easier to maintain and less susceptible to staining!
Sawn sandstone is sawn straight off the block rather than being split naturally. The sawn slabs are then cut down to size and the top surface is honed or sandblasted, creating a smooth finish with a slight sheen. Our Smooth Sandstone Paving is sawn on all 6 sides, meaning that the 4 edges are also straight and machine-cut with a smooth finish to complete the contemporary look and offers an entirely different appeal to riven sandstone with more pronounced patterns and colours. Our sawn sandstone has a level of natural slip resistance and, as long as the paving is maintained, the stone will retain its grip underfoot. We advise taking the usual care and precautions when walking on the slabs when wet, but the slabs are not known to be slippery and are designed specifically for outdoor use.
What is Calibrated Sandstone Paving?
The term ‘Calibrated’ means that the slabs have been cut to a consistent thickness. Calibrated paving is easier to lay than a non-calibrated stone as it eliminates any large variations in thickness between each slab. Our Riven Sandstone Paving is calibrated to 22mm and our Sawn Sandstone is calibrated to 20mm and an allowance should be made for +/- 5mm.
Natural Sandstone Paving Colours
Indian stone paving is available in a wide range of colours ranging from the neutral cream or grey tones in our Sawn Mint and Kandla Grey Sandstone to the range of earthy browns and greens in our Autumn Brown and Raj Green Sandstone. If you’re looking for something a little more vibrant, Rippon Buff and Rainbow Sandstone feature some more eye-catching colours and our Fossil Mint Sandstone offers beautiful natural fossil detailing, formed over thousands of years! For more information on each style, read our Quick Guide To Indian Sandstone Paving Colours!
Sealing Natural Sandstone Slabs
It’s generally advised to seal natural sandstone slabs to help prevent staining, as well as helping to prevent the growth of any moss or algae. You may want to consider sealing your slabs if your stone is light in colour, as any stains will be more visible, but sealing is not compulsory and there are plenty of options that will provide various results! Some sealants will simply seal and protect, whereas others can even be used to enhance the colour of your slabs. Sealing your paving will also help to protect against other general wear such as fading which can sometimes occur over long periods. As for when to apply a sealer, there are no specific guidelines and most landscapers will have their own tried and tested methods. Some people choose to seal their paving slabs before laying to prevent any staining during the laying process and others prefer to leave their stone unsealed for up to a year, allowing the sandstone to weather naturally first. To find out what is best for you, we always advise speaking to a local tradesperson who will be able to assess the needs of your project. You can find out more about Sealing Paving Slabs on our blog!
From The Blog
Find out more about Natural Indian Sandstone paving and discover the full range of options available to you, as well as the different benefits of each!
Contact Us Today
If you have any questions or would like a free quote, one of our experts would be happy to help! Speak to a member of our team on 01206 700 599, or email us at [email protected].
