Brand Information

Global Stone is an industry-leading supplier of premium natural stone paving. The company takes pride in selecting all of their natural paving by hand to ensure that it is always of the highest quality. Selected by experts, their stone is used by architects, landscapers, gardeners, designers and homeowners across the country. Global Stone believes in providing their customers with a beautiful variety of stone products that look good today, tomorrow and for years to come. Their product range has grown from a simple collection of paving options to cobble sets, circles, features, fountains and benches in a spectrum of stone types and styles.

Material Information

Natural Stone Characteristics:

All natural stone products are unique and will vary in colour and texture, often showing distinctive markings, minor imperfections and may include mineral deposits such as iron and quartzite. Edges may be handcut or sawn and may include slight irregularities such as chips and blemishes either from the manufacturing process or as part of the natural make up of the stone. Sizes are nominal and may vary. Some paving manufacturers include the pointing allowance in the individual slab sizes whereas others include the pointing allowance in the overall pack coverage. The product images shown are as accurate as photographic processes allow and may appear differently in accordance with lighting conditions and screen calibration in addition to the natural variation occurring between batches. Images may not be a true representation of a particular product size, use or laying pattern. Descriptions provided offer a combination of the manufacturer's and our own opinion of the product's characteristics and features.

Sandstone Description:

Sandstone is a type of sedimentary rock formed of gritty sand grains and is available in a variety of colours. Sandstone paving is available in a range of different textures, often relying on secondary processing to achieve these finishes.

- Smooth, Sawn Sandstone This sandstone has a level, smooth surface and most often, machine cut edges to give an simple appearance suited to modern, contemporary styles. The surface texture is smooth to the touch (honed) and is usually also produced in a calibrated thickness where the variation in the thickness of the slab is kept to a minimum to ease laying.

- Textured or Sandblasted, Sawn Sandstone This sandstone has a level, but textured, lightly stippled surface and most often, machine cut edges to give an simple appearance suited to modern, contemporary styles. The surface texture feels like sandpaper to the touch and provides non-slip qualities. It is usually also produced in a calibrated thickness where the variation in the thickness of the slab is kept to a minimum to ease laying.

- Flamed, Sawn Sandstone This sandstone has been sawn flat on the surface, but then, hot wax is poured onto the stone and burnt off. This causes the softer minerals to melt away, leaving an attractive subtly rippled surface. This paving is ideally suited to contemporary styled designs, however would work equally well where a softer, riven surface is desired. This paving is generally calibrated in thickness and therefore, easier to lay.

Sandstone Colours:

Sandstone is available in a wide range of colours, some subtle and some vivid. The ranges comprise of a selection of core colours combined with subtle contrasting shades, and the balance of shades can vary between batches of even the same stone due to different seams in the stone quarry occurring over time. The colour intensity increases when the paving is wet. Most brands offer the same range of colours with slightly different names. BE AWARE that not ALL sandstone is the same quality - some unknown brands may not have been tested for suitability in the UK climate and may crack during cold weather.