How to Select the Right Sandstone for Paving

Sandstone pavers are a perennial favorite for all types of locations. Sandstone pavers are not only natural, strong, weather resistant and beautiful to look at, they can be counted on to bring a classic look to any area of ​​the home or commercial establishment such as hotels and event centers. Sandstone pavers can also be used to create a homey, earthy look for cottage-style gardens and to create inviting, inviting residential driveways and pool surrounds.

Due to the nature of its formation, sandstone is a very hard stone that can be cut into pavers in a range of colors from shades of red and gold, to veined with black, gray and white. In fact, sandstone can be purchased in so many different shades, how do you know which one will be the right selection for your paving needs?

To help narrow down your dazzling array of options, here’s a quick rundown of the main colors and the construction types where they’re best used:

dark brown: Dark brown or chocolate colored sandstone gets its unique, rich appearance due to its high iron oxide content. It is an excellent choice for exterior paving due to its ability to camouflage marks and stains and can be found in a variety of different surface finishes, including sawn and polished.

Grey: Gray varieties are typically bluish-gray to light grey, with some very dark gray options available. The gray color arises from the silica calcite that has formed between the quartz grains, cementing them together. Due to its neutral tones, gray sandstone is extremely versatile.

Yellow: Yellow sandstone is an ideal choice for paving properties by the sea or next to saltwater pools. Its particular compositional qualities make it especially resistant to acid erosion and saline wind damage. Like all sandstones, it is very porous and therefore suitable for very humid places.

Beige: The light beige and white varieties are one of the most widely used ranges due to their classic appearance and elegant light gray or purple ‘veins’ which become visible when the stone is wet. Extremely strong and durable beige sandstone, making it the best choice for use in paving.

Red: Red and hot pink sandstone is particularly smooth and soft due to its uniform grain size and can be found in natural, sawn, or polished surfaces. Although durable and highly weather tolerant, its soft nature makes it better suited for ornate and carved detailing rather than paving.

Rainbow: If none of the above shades sound right for your paving needs, rainbow may be the answer. Rainbow sandstone gets its stunning color from a unique combination of quartz and other naturally occurring minerals. Its range of shades can include violets, reds, browns and teak depending on the percentage of each constituent mineral.