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If you're looking for a unique patio that looks good but is also practical and durable, Indian sandstone paving can be a great choice. Here at Terraform Driveways, we can help you to create the perfect patio using high-quality and ethically sourced Indian sandstone.
As the name suggests, Indian sandstone is a natural stone that has been imported from India. The reason why Indian sandstone paving slabs are in such high demand is that they create a unique finish due to their interesting colour palettes and tonal variations.
Sandstone is a type of stone that consists mainly of quartz that has been compressed over millions of years. It also, however, contains some of the minerals that surround the quartz.
Because India is such a huge and geologically diverse country, the minerals that are compressed with the quartz vary quite significantly depending on the region in which the quarry is located. And it is this that creates the characteristic colour variation that you will see in Indian sandstone.
This colour variation is great news for you because it means that you can find the perfect colour for your garden that is both eye-catching and modern.
The colours within each stone are always combined in unique and beautiful ways that will make the paving look naturally beautiful.
Stone that is red or pink means that there is some iron oxide mixed in with the quartz. When they are dry, these paving slabs are a vibrant pink, plum and orange in sunlight but, when wet, they give a more earthy and warm tone to your outdoor space.
Popular red stone colours include:
Grey sandstone usually has some clay or silt mixed into it. They are silvery grey or porcelain with some darker tones mixed in and they give a modern and contemporary look to your garden.
Popular grey stone colours include:
Brown sandstone gives a warm and rustic feel to your garden. If you are worried about your pets or small children getting lighter coloured stone paving dirty, a brown shade can be a good choice.
Popular brown stone colours include:
If you want a polished finish to your patio, ivory or cream coloured Indian stone can work. Your garden space will look modern and sophisticated all year round.
Popular ivory and cream stone colours include:
Rainbow Indian sandstone paving is truly unique and eye-catching. It has a rich red iron oxide vein running through it creating a variety of swirls and patterns on every slab.
Indian sandstone paving is a popular choice amongst homeowners and landscapers alike, and it is with good reason. They are affordable and come in different colours and tonal variations, but they are also a practical choice of stone paving.
Indian sandstone is a strong natural stone. The paving slabs are impact-resistant once they have been laid so you don't need to worry about the stones getting damaged. They are long-lasting and hard-wearing so will happily sit in your garden for many, many years looking just as good as the day they were placed.
Indian stone is naturally porous. This means that it allows the moisture from the rain to soak all the way through. And doing so prevents the paving stone from becoming weak, cracked, or damaged due to moisture. A must when it comes to the great British weather!
Indian sandstone paving is very easy to maintain. Because of its durability and porous nature, you can simply clean it off with a pressure washer.
There is no denying that Indian sandstone paving looks attractive. It is colourful, patterned, and striking and can elevate the look of your entire garden area.
Sealing the paving slabs on your patio means applying a water-resistant coating to prevent moisture from getting into the slabs.
You don't have to seal Indian sandstone paving. It is a natural stone that can handle moisture easily, even in the wettest weather. With that being said, some people do choose to seal their Indian stone paving. If you have chosen a lighter-coloured Indian sandstone, for example, you may choose to apply a sealant. Any growth of moss or algae in the paving will be more apparent against the lighter colour.
Similar to other types of natural stone, there is a variety of cutting techniques that can be used with Indian sandstone.
If you want a modern and sophisticated style for your outdoor spaces, sawn Indian stone paving can be a great choice. The stone is cut using heavy-duty saws and then coarsely polished to give a semi-smooth appearance that looks modern and stylish.
Riven Indian stone is essentially the opposite of sawn. Rather than polishing out the stone's natural roughness and texture, it embraces it. The stone is hand cut using chisels, leaving grooves and texture in the stones. This gives it a raw and traditional look which can give your garden a rural and warm feel.
Tumbled Indian stone has been placed into a tumbling machine. This is a rubber drum that contains rocks, sand, and water, and that tumbles in a similar way to a cement mixer. The materials inside wear down the sharp edges of the sandstone as it tumbles leaving it soft, worn, and with something of a chalky appearance.
Calibrated Indian sandstone refers to its thickness. Calibrated Indian sandstone paving has been artificially and precisely cut using diamond cutting machines to ensure the thickness is identical for each stone slab. Calibrated stone paving can be much easier to lay because, as long as the base technical levels are flat, the paving will be too.
Calibrated sandstone can come in various thickness levels, ranging from around 18mm to 25mm. As a rule of thumb, the more weight that the sandstone will bear, the thicker it should be. So you would need thicker sandstone for a driveway than you would for a garden area.
There is a lot of choice with Indian stone paving. Everything from the colour to the thickness, to the style of cutting to whether it is hand cut or machine cut, can be varied. Another factor to consider is whether the sandstone has been ethically sourced.
There are still some issues surrounding child labour, unfair compensation, and unsafe conditions in some quarries that mine sandstone. Thankfully, it is relatively easy to find Indian sandstone paving that is sourced from quarries that follow ethical practices.
Indian stone paving can indeed look luxurious and expensive but there are lots of Indian sandstone options that are very affordable.
Many people make the comparison between Indian sandstone and Yorkshire stone because of their similarities, with the latter being a notoriously expensive choice. The great thing about Indian sandstone paving is that it can give you a very similar look while also being reasonably priced.
And while it can be a less expensive option, you still get the same high quality and durability that you would with more expensive paving choices. Not to mention how eye-catching and attractive it looks too.
If you have decided that Indian sandstone paving is the best option for your patio, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We are Indian sandstone pavers who can work with you and your ideas to create the perfect outdoor area for your needs, and that looks great too.
Sandstone has ridges that add to the character and also make it less slippy than other materials like limestone. Sandstone also has a much broader range of colours available than other materials.
Indian sandstone paving slabs are popular because they are uniform in appearance, formed from nature itself and are easy to lay in large numbers. They offer a clean modern look that suits most brick types used to build houses and so matches well.
If it is constantly in direct sunlight then some fading will occur but this will only make the design look better with age and will also be minimal.
Despite Indian sandstone not being as durable as materials like granite it will still last for decades with most residential usage.
Even if you seal a sandstone patio it will still have algae and mildew forming on it so it is not necessary. You can buy special bleaches, algaecides, oil & rust removers in most DIY shops if you choose to do so.