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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:08 pm
by SAMMIE
I'm about to get my patio done and am really struggling to choose between cardon grey slate paving and york green indian sandstone. Can any one give me advice on why I should or shouldn't go for one or the other slab.
I want to make a good decision so the patio stands the test of time and I dont hate it in five years time.
At the minute I think the slate looks great but I'm worried it could date, whereas although I really like the indian stone I wonder if perhaps its a little predictable (ie a gentler word for boring).....
There lies my dilema for laying my patio ...... ???
Any help in selection would be very much appreciated, especially if you know any pros or cons to either stone! Thanks
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:37 pm
by local patios and driveway
In my mind indian sandstone will become like crazy paving, so much of it about it becomes old hat and over done. Woodchip? Crazy paving? Same ilk
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:21 pm
by lutonlagerlout
exactly my thoughts LPAD :;):
however remember that what you pick you will be living with for the next 20 years sammy
LLL 
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:31 pm
by London Stone Paving
There are a couple of things to consider with slate.
1. It will scratch more easily than sandstone and the scratches will take longer to weather out because of the denser nature of the slate.
2. Also if you opt for slate, make sure your contractor knows what they are doing. Slate is a lot less porous than sandstone and as such does not bond as easily (make sure they use a bond bridge), especially at this time of year when cold snaps are very likely
in terms of durability there is no reason to choose one over the other. Both will be very hardy stones, well suited to our climate.
kind of agree with LPD about Indian sandstone but if you are creative with your pattern, or go for a single size slab then you can easily distinguish your patio from the rest. Personally think Raj Green (York Green) is one of the best stones ever to come from India. it is very hardy and will give you no maintenance problems.
Go for whatever you like the look of the most as your the person who has got to live with it
Steve
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:58 pm
by SAMMIE
Thanks for the great answers! I'm replacing crazy paving and increasing the patio size at the same time. On this basis I'm def swaying towards the slate as do think the indian sandstone could go the same way as the crazy paving, but then I do have two small boys to consider & I am now a little hesitant about the scratchability of slate.....
am I over thinking this??? Problem is I like both stones equally but for different reasons. One for the look the other for the softer finish.....
BTW on the subject of cold snaps, is my contractor ok to lay a patio if the weather freezes up? Sorry for the crazy questions I am completely green to this patio laying!
Thanks again for your help!
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:41 pm
by specialbranch
I did a couple of jobs for some fancy designers over Alderley Edge, and Bramhall way last year and both had crazy paving, she said they are back in vogue!! At the moment I am trying to sway my clients onto the Grey Multi/Silver Birch indian stone colourway and a coursed laying pattern to try and set my jobs apart. I get sick of doing 5 size random patios in Autumn brown etc.
Your contractor shouldnt really lay and especially not point if it gets very cold,At the moment I tend to get the flags down then we cover the whole patio in 4" sheets of Kingspan and leave it for a few days to cure, seems to do the trick.
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:32 pm
by Pablo
I'm not sure that Sandstone is on borrowed time I think some colours maybe but if you want affordable durable natural stone flags then you've got little choice. The problem is that it's image suffers from not being installed well and a lot of folk don't consider how it compliments the house and don't use a contrasting trim. The day when fossil mint is discontinued will be a joyous one indeed. I agree with LSP Raj Green is my favourite followed closely by Grey I'm not a fan of slate paving I feel the colours and texture is not a natural looking surface for the UK and it can also be really slippy. Real crazy paving cut by hand not a saw and with few large joints never fell out of fashion because it never was in in the first place it's to classy for that although I've received a few drawings recently with it specified but they always change their mind when they see the cost. Bust up flags crazy paving was fashionable and will hopefully never rear it's ugly head again. Some of the best looking paving I've ever laid has been crazy usually in Quartzite but sometimes in basalt which given the right house is just sublime. With basalt you spend so long dressing it you're lucky to lay 6m a day and 10m is good going for properly laid quartz so thats where the cost ramps up.
And by the way my sister inlaw who designs bar and hotel interiors says demand for woodchip paper increasing now that sh#t's not even close to being funny.
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:10 pm
by SAMMIE
Thanks Special branch i used to live in Cheshire and I can well imagine the designers who are bringing back the crazy paving....I also have an avocado bath suite that was also "in vogue" but that too will be replaced as soon as I've got the money together! Neither our my personal style but as the designers say someones trash is always someone elses treasure!
I will look at the grey sandstone you mention but I keep looking at images of slate patios online and I think I'm going to go for it. Feels like I'm not playing it safe with my stone selection but I think that's why I like it........
:;):
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:31 pm
by SAMMIE
Thanks Pablo, sounds like you know your stuff and I'm sure the crazy paving you talk about is beautiful, I think I have seen this sort of style in Europe but yes I'm sure that type of crazy paving is way out of my budget.
I'm now a little concerned about the slippyness of the slate but all the grey sandstone I look at either seems too light or not consistent enough in colour. My brickwork isnt very nice to be honest - orange/brown colour and why i am little hesitant of the Raj Green, although it's a beautiful stone I wonder if the inconsistent colour will clash with brick work and I'm better just going for a block grey. Also some of the area that is being paved doesn't get much sun and so I'm worried about sun bleaching some of the sandstone unevely.......and I couldnt agree more with you about the mint colour...pass me a bucket! Again that is my personal opion and not to be taken very seriously.... 
Any advice very gratefully recieved - Thanks!!
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:48 pm
by Pablo
I would suggest sticking with a darker colour like the Green or grey ( the grey is usually very uniform for a natural product) but trim it with a brick or sett that matches your house that way it has some continuity. Maybe break it up with some planting pits against the walls I'm not a fan of matching the main body of the paving to closely to the house as long as something within the paving does then it works.
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:36 pm
by lutonlagerlout
sand stone setts in a contrasting colour look good
I am not a big fan of slate unless its a very contemporary house,a yuppie house if you like
the most important thing is to buy the best stone and the employ the best contractor you can afford
now is not the time to pay a grand less for cash ,and it only lasts 2 years
cheers LLL
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:45 pm
by SAMMIE
Thanks Pablo & LLL, you're putting me off the slate but for very good reasons! Can you recommend a darker grey sandstone then as my contractor told me to look at monsoon black but i don't like the yellow that sometimes comes up in some of the slabs, and the castle grey is ironically too grey...
BTW I have seen his work and met a coupleof reference clients and it all seems good, and its not a cash job....it's all above board...but I had I posted here earlier I may have contracted you LLL as I am very local to Luton
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:09 am
by London Stone Paving
The Monsoon black does have a lot of colour variation and its also very riven.
I dont think there is sandstone available which is less grey than the kandla grey sandstone. I would strongly reccomend that you go and take a look at these products before you buy as they will look a lot different in the flesh than you imagine.
if you are put off slate by the slippiness, then dont be. We've never had any negative feedback about slate being too slippy.
LLL, i would have to disagree with you about slate being only suitable for contemporary designs. I've seen it laid loads of times at victorian style houses and it is very complimentary
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:03 pm
by SAMMIE
Thanks LSP & LLL. It's good to sound out different opinions, I think as they are both natural products they both look good, there lies my dilema, but as you mention I do need to take into consideration the brickwork of my house and setting.
So I have just gone and got samples of the raj green & blue black slate. Ironically at the yard I was prefering raj green on the floor display as the slate looked filthy and I was put off by the amount of potential work to keep the slate clean??
But now I'm home I'm back on the slate again as just think it is a bit more vibrant and subtle at the same time. The raj green looks very pale in situ??? Think I'm going a bit mental with this but I honestly want it to last 20 years plus, it's not like painting a room that you can change easily!
Anyway I will sleep on it again and make a decision tomorrow.
Thanks for all your info, it's been very helpful
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 5:04 pm
by lutonlagerlout
the world would be a boring place if we all agreed on taste eh steve?
remember all those blue fences that groundforce advocated 10 years ago?
big fad at the time but they all look a bit tatty now
provence yes , the shires no ,for blue fences
same with paving,but I have to say that natural stone wins every time over concrete products
dont worry too much sammy, its better to ask the questions etc now now than rush in
LLL