Stone is among the most nuanced and luxurious paving materials. It comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes and it extremely durable and versatile. There is a stone for any paving situation, however it can be expensive to purchase and install. Many factors come into play when deciding what stone to use and how to properly utilize it including thickness, roundness, and effects of water. So, it is essential to thoroughly analyze all the stone options before making a decision.
Sandstone is one of the most popular stones for garden paving. It is tough enough for any application but easier to cut and work with than granite which lowers its cost. Sandstone is available in many shapes and colors and is easy to come by in large quantities. Every piece of sandstone will have color variation with occasional blotches of contrasting colors in every piece. Gravel provides an attractive texture for informal landscapes, short term paving solutions, and gardens built on limited budgets and is easy to install. However, gravel can often become weedy and unstable underfoot. The best way to avoid these issues is to use sharp, angular, unsorted gravel as it will interlock and settle to form a firm surface. To prevent footing issues, ¼ inch minus gravel should be used as larger gravels can shift noticeably.
Slate or flagstone is visually appealing and has a unique soft texture and subtle color palette. The qualities that make this slate easy to shape into relatively flat pieces can also limit the stone’s durability as a paving material. Heavy rainfall and freeze/thaw cycles can cause the slate to flake and chip. The resulting surface can puddle in wet weather and freeze over winter. In terms of durability, granite is the best option for paving material. It can be used in formal outdoor spaces and is sold as cubes or brick shaped pieces.
Granite offers the widest color choice of all paving stones and the greatest hardness and durability. This also makes the granite difficult to quarry and work making it one of the more expensive paving stones. Colorful granite is used more as economical paving rather than patterns or decorative edges. Limestone is very fine textured so it takes on a distinctive, velvety finishing when it is cut for paving. The color is not as diverse as granite or sandstone, it is usually more evenly colored and its fine grain makes it easy to cut into all shapes. When using this material, pitting and excessive wear over time can be caused from damage from acid rain.
Sicilian Building is here to help you pick the right stone for your home or commercial projects. We can get you any color and style your heart desires. We are Brooklyn’s stone experts. We look forward to hearing from you!