Expectations of natural stone paving
Natural stone cannot be beaten with its beautiful colours and characteristics that only nature can create. The finished effect of the completed project is stunning, however if you examine each piece of stone at close range, you will see what may be perceived as imperfections, however these are actually part of the character of the stone, the manufacturing process or the journey the stone has taken to get to you and it's important to embrace these as part of the beauty of a natural product. Allowances should be made in the quantity purchased if personal choice means that natural characteristics are considerere undesirable.
Typical characteristics are as follows:
Colour VariationThere is a good chance of colour variation between slabs with natural stone, especially with sandstone paving, although some ranges such as grey sandstone are less prone to colour variation than some of the other shades. It's possible that one pack of stone will have a mix of colour tones whereas another pack may be plain coloured between the slabs and this is why it is always recommended that all packs are mixed when laying to ensure an even and varied selection of tones across the entire area. The variety of colours seen or not seen as the case may be, is purely down to the natural features of the stone and cannot be guaranteed either way. Colour variation tends to be more significant when the stone is wet whereas the stone will be more pastel toned when dry. With most natural stone and especially sandstone and limestone, the colour of each range is determined by the quarry from where the stone originates. Depending upon the area in the quarry from which the stone is taken will determine the predominant colour tones at that particular moment in time. It is quite typical in sandstone to see pink, lilac, buff and grey tones appear sporadically even though the predominant shades may be different. In limestone, it's possible to see copper tones and occasional white veins amongst other shades. It is quite usual to see a mix of shades in all types of natural stone and we describe the predominant shades that would usually be typical with each range of stone, however it is always possible that other colours may be seen.
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Mineral ContentNatural minerals can appear as various markings within the stone including veins, crystallisation, fossil imprints and random patches. Examples of these include: |
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Surface & EdgeThe surface and edge finishes of natural stone will sometimes contain small chips, dips and raised areas, blemishes and minor imperfections on the surface or edges which can either occur during the manufacturing process or will form part of the natural features of the stone. Sawn edge paving slabs may contain irregularities which are often caused by the cutting blade hitting a larger mineral within the stone. This is not a fault with the product and once laid will have minimal impact.
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DimensionsNatural stone will always have a variation on dimensions and thickesses in accordance with British Standard BSEN1341:2012 and as a result of manufacturing tolerances. For this reason, it is necessary to build margin into joints between paving slabs, and make up thickness variations within the bedding mortar. |
Once laid, any individual markings or natural characteristics of stone are barely noticeable as the overall effect of having a natural stone patio with its beautiful array of colours, some subtle, some vibrant and the gentle blend of textures that merge seamlessly with the nature in your garden are what makes the biggest impact.