Black / dark patio paving

[tlg]

At the rear of my house I have an area which currently has basic grey paving slabs which were put down by the house builder. I would like to replace these with something a bit smarter.

Having looked around I really like the look of the black or very dark paving available. I originally looked at slate but apart from the cost I am a bit concerned how well it will age and look in a year or two. I have also looked at black limestone which seems to be slightly cheaper and looks to stay darker longer.

I have seen black limestone available in patio packs which is normally made up of several different size slabs to make a random pattern, ideally I would prefer large slabs all one size laid in a stretcher board pattern.

Can anyone offer advice on how I can achieve the look I am after? Is there an alternative to slate or limestone which will acheive the look I want at less cost or hassle?

[mickavalon]

If cost is an issue, then your going to have to go either dyed concrete or Black Limestone. Depends on where you are but I'd bet the Limestone will come out cheaper. You will, however, have to seal the Limestone, as it fades pretty quickly to a charcoal Grey colour.
Our supplier will do single sizes if we ask, so try your local merchants and see what they'll do.

[tlg]

If cost is an issue, then your going to have to go either dyed concrete or Black Limestone. Depends on where you are but I'd bet the Limestone will come out cheaper. You will, however, have to seal the Limestone, as it fades pretty quickly to a charcoal Grey colour.
Our supplier will do single sizes if we ask, so try your local merchants and see what they'll do.

Thanks, I suspected the limestone may work out a bit cheaper. Struggling to find anywhere local that can do it other than the Marshalls product from somewhere like Jewson.

Any recommendations of merchants (or paving contractors) to try, I am in North East so ideally County Durham or Tyne & Wear area.

[Gordon@stone-cellar (UK)]

Good quality slate properly sealed will be fine - I have seen stuff down for years and it still looks good. What sort of are are you looking to cover?

[tlg]

Good quality slate properly sealed will be fine - I have seen stuff down for years and it still looks good. What sort of are are you looking to cover?

The area is around 30 square metres.

[Gordon@stone-cellar (UK)]

Can do slate as follows:

Project Packs (which cannot be split) consist of :

17.79m2 of 600 x 600mm – 24 no.
600 x 295mm – 35 no.
295 x 295mm – 34 no.

Thickness: 18-23mm

£408.28 plus vat and delivery

Just to give you a guide - let me know if you want a delivery quote

[London Stone Paving]

[quote="tlg"]I have also looked at black limestone which seems to be slightly cheaper and looks to stay darker longer [quote="tlg"]


Black limestone will not stay darker for longer. Its a known fact that it fades to a charcoal/milky colour after 12 months. You can seal it to keep it dark but this will need re-doing every twelve months and is not guaranteed to achieve the result you are looking for.

Slate will cost a bit more than limestone but in my opinion does not need to be sealed, so willl probarbly cost the same as the black limestone if you factor in the extra cost of sealing the black limestone

[rab1]

Gordon, please dont post costs of your products here as this site is purely to help others, its not a marketing tool.

If you want to give rough guides too general costs feel free but directly selling is not what this site is all about.

The Boss (tony m) started this site to help the public, not sell to them. :;):

[tlg]

After looking at different options, we got a quote for Bradstone Textured Paving in Blue / Black, however when they have started work on the patio and dropped off a sample the flag is a light grey colour, practically white rather than the dark colour shown in the brochure. I am aware that variations can occur between whats in the brochure and in reality but this is such a massive difference.

Has anyone got any experience with this product being vastly different to the advertised colour?

Would wet look sealing the product help darken it?

[Carberry]

Products can and often do look different in person than they do in catalogue, that's why they have some sort of disclaimer in the catalogue and any decent landscaper will tell you to see the stuff in person before deciding.

Wet a slab. If it looks closer to what you envisioned then sealing it will help.

[tlg]

I went to B&Q and picked up a single slab to compare - the slabs were very different colours when put side by side. The contractor has now realised that the sample they have provided was the wrong colour and not what we asked for.

Hopefully now resolved, but thanks for your reply.