Bradstone indian paving - Which supplier to choose

[wingcommander]

My landscaper is recommending Bradstone indian natural stone paving for my new patio, mainly as it is the best value buff paving from the local builders merchants.

Compared to the Stonemarket Trustone that I like the look of (in their catalogue) it doesn't appear any different, but the cost is much less for the Bradstone.

Is the Bradstone paving just as good quality?

[surreyhillslandscapes.com]

It all looks fantastic in the brochure! I would say no, it's good stone but I've found the stonemarket to be of much better quality.

[Rich H]

Can't say I've noticed any difference but many good BM's have their own wholesale supply and are cheaper than buying through the 'big names'. There are ethical considerations with Indian Sandstone as well as quality and economy.

The only one I don't like to lay is Pavestone. Massive variability in thickness (15-65mm in the last batch) makes it slow to lay as you can't get into a rhythm and I've experience quite a lot of delamination with some of their stuff.

[Tony McC]

Mr Pavestone will, of course, claim that you are the exception, Rich, and not the rule, but then, this is the same Mr Pavestone that, without fail at every Glee event, promises to arrange a guided tour of his factory or his facility in Belgium or some new yard he's bought.

No variability in that: he never delivers!

[Rich H]

The last circle I had from them (chosen by my client who knew better than me) had one ring which had been saw-cut! And not quite right at that! Plus all the slabs in that ring were the same colour. Very frustrating.

[James.Q]

after years of using one supplier for my indian sand stone but with no checks on ethics decided to use bradstone supplied by my local bm . sorry i did bigger variation in thickness plus very few tend to be square or the same size . today has been a struggle but at least i have a clear concience :p

[James.Q]

a total pain in the arse bradstone truely hope i got a bad batch if this is the quallity they offer this is the first and last time

[Tony McC]

If you're really pizdov with the Bradstone-supplied flags, get on to your supplier and insist they arrange for someone from Bradstone to come to site and inspect the problem.

It's all well and good us whingeing when we get served shoddy goods, but the truth is that most major suppliers rarely see the goods they sell, and unless they get feedback from those of us at the mucky end of the business, they'll continue to believe their sales figures, which they interpret as representing "satisfaction with quality" and not just pounds in the bank. If more contractors complain when unhappy, this will put pressure on suppliers to ensure the paving they send out really is up-to-scratch.

To be fair to Bradstone (and many of the other major suppliers) they genuinely want to supply a quality product, but unless they get that all-important feedback from the end-users, they can only rely on the worthless opinion of the BMs, their own suppliers back in India, and their sales figures. Similarly, if you find that one particular product or supplier is better-than-average, then let them (and us!) know. Positive comment is just as important and the brickbats.

[lutonlagerlout]

i contacted global stone regarding the massive variation in their walling blocks (for this read tumbled quarry waste)

to say i was mugged off would be an understatement, "well it is a natural product ,sir and we cannot guarantee sizes exactly bla bla bla"
heh no problem,i just wont buy or recommend your product any more , and without return customers ,you dont have a business.
same as us fellas

but to give balance to my moaning ,i would like to reiterate how HAPPY i was with stonemarkets cottage bricks
great looking bricks and nicely sized

LLL