Quarry tiles - Quarry tiles

[VictorianDream]

Hi, This is my first post, so here goes!
My property is a Victorian terrace. In the front garden, we recently did some gardening and took up a small number of 6" x 6" x 1" quarry tiles in red, black and buff. They appear to have been in a typical victorian diagonal chessboard like pattern. We'd really like to put back a path in the garden in the same style to be true to the character of the property. BUT I have some concerns about quarry tiles. The websites I have looked at and a conversation with a man at a reclamation yard seem to suggest quarry tiles are best for indoor use and not outside as they are susceptible to frost, and could crack and wear. What do the paving experts out there think? Ideally, I'd like to be able to source some hardy pavers that are frost resistant in at least black and red, but they need to be square cut at about the 6"x6" size with sharp edges. This would allow us to recreate the look of the past with modern pavers. I can't seem to find anyone who stocks this kind of pavers on the net. Please help - any advice gratefully received! Thanks.

[lutonlagerlout]

there are hundreds if not thousands of homes in my home town (luton) with quarry tiles on their doorsteps
if the originals were there for 100 years why not?
LLL

[matt h]

my last property had quarry tiles over the entire patio, and they were only resealed every five yearswhether they needed it or not... i set the missus on them!:D

[Tony McC]

Diagonal chessboard pattern? 1" thick? These sound like diamond stable pavers rather than quarry tiles. Are they owt like this....

[matt h]

the ones i had were plain faced, 6inch square, and laid like draughts board. very hardwearing and nice finish

[VictorianDream]

Hi - Thank you for your replies. No, the picture provided is not of the tiles I had in mind. Rather, i think Matt H has the right idea - ie. quarry tiles (6" x 6" x 1" thick) , smooth, different colours, usually red and black tiles, laid out in a diagonal pattern. Any further thoughts? Thanks Again.

[Tony McC]

You can get the clay tiles from people such as Dreadnought, Dennis of Ruabon, and possibly Michelmarsh.

Proper quarry tiles are 9-12mm thick. The 1" (25mm) blocks are not really quarry tiles, but pavement tiles.

[matt h]

cheers gaffer, mine were probably not quite an inch thick, but they were well set in mortar over a good bed of concrete, so never gave me any probs. wish my patio at this 'new' house was the same.... some cheapskate has done crazy paving with broken concrete slabs... next years project i think..,