Indian Sandstone
or Indian rock paving, is currently the UK’s most popular form of natural paving for the patio market, It is extremely durable, affordable, and also available in an incredible array of colours and finishes that make it a very ideal option for any indoor/outdoor space, garden or driveway. This style of paving also goes by the names Indian Rock, Pumice, Boulder, Rock and Slate. It also comes in a huge range of different thicknesses and sizes, which allow it to be used for a large variety of projects.
One of the major pros of using Indian sandstone is that the various textures are extremely flexible and can suit most applications. In addition, they come with a wide range of different finishes meaning that you can use it in any environment.
Indian sandstone is one of the most popular varieties of natural stones used in construction due to its durability and attractive characteristics. It was first considered as an alternative to marble when it began appearing on construction sites. Since then it gained popularity because of its versatility as a natural stone. These qualities make sandstone highly resistant to wear and tear and its unique appearance has endeared it to the eye of many architects and designers.
Indian patio paving is extremely popular since the mid 1990’s. It’s a unique form of natural stone, which is quite frequently utilized for patios, walkways and other outdoor areas. As the title implies, Indian patio paving slabs are usually imported from India. When you buy these pieces, you must take care to choose a good quality Indian sandstone paving so as to make sure that the stones will be of good quality. You have to look out for stones which are well finished with good porosity and are free of blemishes. You will need to ensure that you buy these stones from a supplier who deals in only good quality pieces.
There are two major attributes of good quality Indian sandstone paving slabs which you should look out for: good water absorption and good heat conductivity. The good water absorption characteristic of this kind of slab is important because it helps you to prevent the accumulation of moisture on the patio slabs. You will also need to check the presence of good heat conductivity characteristic because it is important for you to ensure that your patio or garden area remains well ventilated. Most of these stones retain warmth very well and they help to keep your garden area warm in winter and cool in summer.
If you’re looking for tips on how to install Indian sandstone pavers in your garden, you’ve come to the right place. In fact, Indian sandstone is popular around the world for its beauty and versatility. It can be used for everything from driveway entrances to walkways and even patios!
The installation of indian sandstone patios will not only enhance the beauty of your patio but also will enhance its functionality. Installing sandstone patios involves a lot of skill and if you have decided to install sandstone patios on your own, then you will have to take into consideration the level of expertise that you possess.
If you are attempting to install yourself please see a step-by-step guide to laying a sandstone patio follow the instructions below:-
Step 1 Clean the area you have chosen to lay your patio by removing any type of foliage, and any unwanted stones or materials. Then level off the soil.
Step 2 Choose the type and colour of Indian sandstone you would like to use on your patio. Purchase smoother, lighter flags, with the most even edges.
Step 3 Make a cement-bound bed all over the area where you will lay the flags. Make a 10:1 ratio of grit sand and cement with water. To make 1 ton of mixture, use 950 kg grit stone with 100 kg of cement and.5 kg of water, as semi-dry works best. The bedding layer should be ideally 35 to 50 mm thick. At 35 mm depth, 1 ton of mixture covers 14 square meters, while at 50 mm depth, it covers 10 square meter of area.
Step 4 Now lay the sandstone onto the cement-bound bedding. If the flags are fairly small and light, you should be able to lay them with your hands. For units larger than 450 X 450 mm, use specialist paving tools and lifting aids. Whilst laying the sandstone, you can align either the bottom edge or the leading edge, however you must make sure it remains tight to the preceding flag.
Step 5 Next join the flags with each other by using mortar on the receiving edges of each sandstone flag while laying them, the process is called buttering. Make mortar by mixing 4 units of building salt with one unit of ordinary Portland cement; mix until you can not differentiate the colour of sand and cement anymore then add water and plasticiser. The water and plasticiser must be added a bit at a time and then thoroughly blended until you have reached the desired consistency.
Step 6 Within four hours of the laying the pavement you will need to start the pointing process, this is so that the joints still have reasonably fresh mortar within them from the buttering process. The pointing will ‘top-up’ the buttered mortar to form a solid mass in between. Use small pointing trowels to fill the gaps and trim any excess. Polish the mortar after filling all the gaps by running the edge of the pointing trowel at a s light angle along the top of the filled joint. Alternatively you could also use a V-shaped pointing trowel.
Step 7 Place a cautionary sign or caution tape around the parameter of the patio. To prevent anyone from either walking or driving on the patio for at least 48 hours after laying the flags. Afterwards wash the patio and lay a row of attractive cobble setts on both sides and decorate with plants.
Or if you wish please get in touch for a no obligation quotation and let us do the heavy lifting.
You could also check out our other driveway ideas and styles.
