Sandstone suppliers

[adedudeman]

Hi! We're looking at getting Indian sandstone flags to build a patio (32 sq metres), and I'm concerned about trying to find a reputable supplier. The only supplier I can find in our area (Bristol) is Bowland Stone, and they are considerably more expensive than anywhere else I've found on the internet. I'm willing to buy from a company over the internet if they're known to be good. I know you seem to be a fan of Rock-Unique, but do you have any information on Chiltern Paving (who seem to be quite big, but I've seen no mention of them on this website), or The Slate Company, or Fairhurst Stone? Thanks! Oh, and great website, I've learned huge amounts to help us with this project!

[mouldmaker]

Don't buy blind through the internet. Go and see what you're paying for. Quality, thickness and colour can vary tremendously. would you buy a carpet online? Yet you expect your paving to last longer than a carpet.

[guypb]

I also live in Bristol and am doing a 36m2 patio next week.

I had a similar problem when I felt I was being taken for a ride by Bowland Stone.

My research lead me to 4 places - Global Stone, Rock Unique, JW Stone & Brick and Wells Reclamation.
The first 3 were reasonably cheap for Indian Sandstone, but you had to add £160 delivery!!

We finally plumped for Wells Reclamation a) because we could visit it and see what we were getting b) I managed to negotiate free delivery c) if we ever need any more due to extensions or breakages, I can at least pop down to Somerset and get the odd slab. Total cost was some £200 cheaper than Bowland were quoting.

I was VERY tempted by the internet, and with more haggling I could have got more of a bargain - but I have sold out for peace of mind.

BTW - where are you getting your sand & mortar etc. from?

[adedudeman]

Hi, thanks for the info, I'll check out Wells Reclamation! I never had a reply from Global Stone, I've just realised. We may go to High Wycombe this weekend to check out Chiltern Paving, it's only 100 miles I guess.

I haven't decided where to get the aggregates from yet, any good leads on this? I've had a bit of a look around, and figured I'd contact some local builders merchants for prices,such as Kellaway Building Supplies...

[guypb]

Kellaway are the cheapest between them & Travis Perkins & Jewson.

[Tony McC]

I don't think it's fair to say I'm a "fan of Rock Unique". They sell quality stone at reasonable prices and work in what is without doubt the busiest part of the country. They often get suggested because so many enquiries hail from that part of Lower Britain, but if someone in, say, Blackburn, were to ask, I am far more likely to suggest Stonescape in Wigan, and if it's someone in Dudley, then Midland Slate & Tile.

I'm more than aware of what impact haulage can have on the price of flagstones, and it's always a better option to buy from a local supplier than one on the other side of the country, but there are now so many suppliers of the imported sandstone flags that I just can't keep up with them all. I do provide a lengthy list of supplier on the Stone Paving Suppliers page, and I'm always happy to check out new recommendations.

I do not promote some suppliers at the expense of others. I try to be as even-handed and impartial as is humanly possible. RU, Global, Midland, Stonescape, Butterfields, BBS, Natural Slate ... they're all good and it's impossible to say one is always better than another. None of them pay me to say this and none of them pay me a comission for sending trade in their direction. However, with the bulk of the population living within 40 miles of London Village, those suppliers serving that area will inevitably receive more mentions that a supplier in, say, Inverness or, in your case, Bristol. C'est la vie!

[adedudeman]

Thanks for that; yes, I wasn't trying to say you promote a particular supplier, just using 'fan of' to indicate that you seemed to regard them as an example of a place that supply good quality product!

I've located a couple of (non-hideously expensive) local suppliers now, through all kinds of imaginative internet searches, and I'll be going to check one of them (Stone and Slate, in Bath) out this coming weekend. I'll post my results!

[adedudeman]

Just to let anyone interested know, I visited Slate and Stone a couple weekends ago and ordered from them today. Good prices, seemed like good quality stones too.

[lee]

Hi peeps, I live in Bath, and Have used slate and stone before, they have good quality materials and a good selection of sandstone, however...

The only problem for me is that they sell only patio packs, bearing in mind that I live and work in a 'Heritage City', I WANT to choose my own sizes as the tradition of Bath is stretcherbond.... I don't think I will be laying some patterned pack in a 1million plus property!

But as far as gripes go, there not bad otherwise!

Other places we source from are.... in my favorite order

you have to find the phone numbers yourselves!

NO1 Dave @ Walcot reclaimation £21-22 per SQM
NO2 Richard @ Frome Reclaimation £21-25 PSM
NO3 Stone and Gravel Supplies (Bath) £19-21.99 PSM

Please add VAT to them and delivery if required
There is Anywhere between 11 and 13 square meters per crate as we have found when ordering..

I also recommend, with exception of walcot rec as there 100% trustworthy, to see the slabs before you buy, i have found with some suppliers, that no by there own fault, during transportation some of the slabs can get damaged! and also check colour etc!


We also purchase from a company in reading, but thats my little secret! there cheap!

[adedudeman]

I was able, with Slate and Stone, to order precise quantities of each size of stone I wanted, so didn't have the problem you refer to! I wasn't sure if I'd be able to or not, but they were fine with it...

[lee]

I was able, with Slate and Stone, to order precise quantities of each size of stone I wanted, so didn't have the problem you refer to! I wasn't sure if I'd be able to or not, but they were fine with it...

Hi ya, you are right, but I have been told (this week)that there policy has just been changed as there getting left with some sizes that no-one wants.

It Maybe a little different if you pre-order.... if we pre-order it, it usually means we want alot of sandstone....in-turn we wont purchase from them as they wont give the prices we are use too.
We have used them alot recently, there open Sundays and were busy!


Anyway, I am glad you have got what you were lookingfor m8, get some piccys up of it once your Terrace is laid!