Suppliers - Natural sandstone

[sako]

Hi all i am new here i would just like to start by saying what a helpfull site this is oh and a superb book too.
My first question is,i have an area of 20sqm to pave and i am thinking of using natural sandstone paving but dont know which supplier to use.The ones i have seen selling this stone is bradstone and marshalls.Which would you say sells the better quality stone between the two? Also is their anything i should be aware of when purchasing this type of paving to avoid getting poor quality.I am in cumbria.
cheers.

[Tony McC]

The stone is virtually identical.

Avoid very cheap offers and be careful if buying over the internet - it's much better if you can get to see the stone before you hand over any money.

Some of our Cumbrian compatriots might be able to suggest local suppliers of worth.

[stapleme]

hey there i bought some last week and needed it quick and had tobuy over the net.. i found simplypaving wasnt bad.. pricewise and acyual stone was great 30m2...but it can be hit and miss at times when u cant actually see it!!
cheers

[sako]

Thanks for replies.I am currently building some steps leading down to the area i intend to pave with i think riven sandstone and would like it all to match,so would it be ok to use the riven sandstone paving as the steps?? it's just most of the sandstone paving i have seen has a tapered edge and wondered if this would cause any problems/look ok.Cheers.
sean.

[seanandruby]

That will be fine. dont forget the over hanh them 25/30ml

[Tony McC]

There's a page on step building

Anyone have any good photies of steps built using Indian Sandstone/limestone as the tread?

[lutonlagerlout]

any chance of the phone numbers of the lads that do steps for £40?
i'll be a millionaire by xmas
methinks the prices are a bit tight there guv'!!
LLL

[sako]

So would i be correct in saying that most of the riven sandstone paving from suppliers such as marshalls and bradstone is about 25mm thick? In the marshalls catalogue it says from feb of this year all haworth moor paving will be 25mm thick,i haven,t seen the haworth moor stuff yet.
Also what thickness would you say is too thin for patio?

[Tony McC]

I just checked those prices and the date that page was written - 1998! I've stripped out any mention of price.

Too thin for a patio? 18mm or less.

[sako]

Going to have a look at paving in next couple of weeks to see what is available.Has anyone seen the heritage range of paving from marshalls? and do you think this type is the best copy of natural sandstone paving?
If i could get a good copy of the natural stuff i may change my mind and save a few quid.

[lutonlagerlout]

i am a big fan of millstone paving from stonemarket
it isnt cheap but does look authentic and lasts well in my view

regards LLL

[Tony McC]

The top four "copies", in no particular order...

a) Old Lancashire by Westminster Stone
b) Chancery by Marshalls
c) Old Cathedral by Bradstone
d) Millstone by Stonemarket

[sako]

Tony thanks for reply.Have you seen the heritage range by marshalls if so what do you think? Also is £22.00a sq/m for marshalls haworth moor paving a good price?
cheers sean.

[lutonlagerlout]

does that £22 include VAT and delivery?
whenever i get asked for marshalls products the price is normally a bit on the steep side but it is better quality and it is ethically sourced (whatever that means)
if it includes VAT and delivery then its a great price
most of the four above copies cost around £25-30 a M2
the only thing i would say is that with the good copies you can get bullnosed flags for the steps,and walling to suit
IME the sandstone walling is very poorly sized and a right pain in the neck to lay
LLL

[Tony McC]

Heritage is what I would consider to be a mid-range product. It's not bad, and far superior to most other buget-medium price products, but it's nowhere near as realistic as those I mentioned previously.

22 quid per m² for Haworth Moor is a good price as long as....

1 - it includes VAT
2 - it includes VAT
3 - it is genuine Marshalls' sourced Haworth Moor and not some scumbag pretending it's Marshalls' stone.