Riven Paving Slabs
The natural colours and tones of our riven slabs offer the charm and appeal that only natural stone paving can offer! Beautiful variations in colour throughout will ensure that no slab is exactly the same and each paver features its own unique blend of tones and textures formed naturally over thousands of years.
Our riven slabs will stand the test of time even in harsh weather and are suited to the British climate to offer a robust and long-lasting paving option, helping to retain grip underfoot and stay looking their best all year round!
What is Riven Paving?
The term ‘riven’ refers to the surface texture of the stone, created naturally when the stone is hand split along its naturally-formed layers. This provides a truly authentic finish and the process leaves beautiful natural variations throughout the surface of each slab, meaning that no paver is exactly the same!
Each of our riven slabs features hand-dressed edges which add to the organic look of the stone which particularly suits this style of Indian paving 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 which smoothes off the edges, corners and surfaces of the slab to give the stone a slightly aged look that will blend 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 gives the stone a long-established appearance.
Not only does the slightly worn effect add to the character of the space, but the process of tumbling the slabs will also make them less porous, making them much easier to maintain and less susceptible to staining!
What is Calibrated 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 to save you time and money on the laying process. Our riven stone is calibrated to 22mm in thickness and an allowance should be made for +/- 5mm to cover natural variations in the surface of the stone which give the riven paving its characteristic look.
Sealing Riven Paving
It’s generally advised to seal riven paving slabs to help prevent staining, as well as helping to prevent the growth of any moss or algae, 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 slabs 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 stone 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!
Order A FREE Sample
We offer FREE Samples which allow you to see and feel the stone before ordering, so you can be sure you are making the right choice! Our free sample service will allow you to feel the texture of the slabs and see an example of the colours and tones within the stone. You will also be able to see some great examples of the natural variations that you are likely to see within the stone in the images on each product page.
Contact Us Today
Find the answers to our most frequently asked questions here. Alternatively, to speak to a member of our team, contact us on 01206 700 599 or [email protected].
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