Limestone Paving

Limestone Paving Leeds

Limestone paving compared to Sandstone

Limestone is another naturally occurring stone and as with most of the others is formed over many years by being subjected to heat and pressure. It is known as a sedimentary rock which means its basis was the sediment accumulated at the bottom of shallow marine waters. The main mineral ingredient of limestone is calcite, which itself is created from a mix of microscopic organisms and small creatures with skeletons and shells.

It is hardwearing and long lasting and naturally provides a great non-slip surface when wet due to its textured surface finish, yet is quick drying too. It is less porous than sandstone which means it is more durable. This difference is also noticeable in its finish. Limestone will feel smoother compared to the more textured finish of sandstone, so this will come down to personal preference of what sort of surface finish you are after.

Limestone Paving in Leeds

Subtle blue limestone paving
Charcoal limestone paving

Limestone Paving Options

Like many of the other natural stone pavers limestone and sandstone come in a variety of sizes and shapes allowing a mix of sizes to be used to create a patio or paved area. A number of manufacturers will also provide bullnose and cover finishes providing a softer curved corner edge, ideal for steps.

When comparing the options between limestone and sandstone whilst both a strong and durable sandstone is slightly more porous. You will be able to feel underfoot and see subtle differences in the outer surface texture. Limestone will be smoother, especially if comparing to a sawn finished or sand blasted sandstone. You may be looking for a rougher finish and if so generally sandstone will provide more options in this respect.

Regarding colour options limestone will have a large range of grey variants, some leaning toward a silver or blue shades along with some which have a golden, buff colour. For Sandstone as well as having a large number of grey shades the bulk or shades will be based off a buff or golden colour. Generally there will be more shades and styles of sandstone paving but with either limestone or sandstone the option to mosaic different shades, as is often done with Indian stone can be done just as effectively with these paving slabs.

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Looking after Limestone Paving

Most natural stones can last perfectly well without sealing - sealant manufacturers, unsurprisingly will tell you otherwise. However, if you want to protect the visual appearance of your paving, then sealants will make cleaning more effective and will keep your paving stones looking better for longer - protecting them from fading, spill staining and making it much harder for dirt to engrain itself into the microscopic porous gaps, which run from the surface through the whole of the paving block. 

Always choose a sealant for your particular stone, ideally applied soon after you have you paving installed. It is it is relatively easy to do yourselves. A number of sealants instructions will suggest waiting 8-12 weeks after installation, other suggest doing it before pointing! However almost all will advise applying it on a dry day. Being weather dependent makes it awkward to schedule this particular service in, so as mentioned whether for limestone or sandstone simply brushing a sealant into you patio yourselves should be a simply task which will also give you an indication that this is quite quick and simply when it come to reapplying again in the future.

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Frequently Asked Paving Questions

  • Can you paint patio slabs?

    The brief reply to the question is yes. However, if you are thinking of repainting your outdoor patio rather than replacing it you truly ought to not try to do this on a tight budget - which may seem counterintuitive but it will be counterproductive.

    Top-quality acrylic based paints would certainly be best. However, you must understand that to provide resilience these paints will certainly require to be applied heavily and also in numerous coats with a brush or roller. Also, they should be allowed to completely dry normally for a couple of days, so please inspect the forecast prior to starting this course of action. These paints are often designed for warehouses for marking safety routes so the colour options may also be a little unnatural for a garden environment. 

    With a painted patio - remember this is just a layer and will undergo table and chair bumps and scrapes. It may give a band-aid approach to boosting the look of your patio for a little while but once the paint starts to chip away attempting to overpaint once more will certainly not look great!

  • Can you lay patio slabs straight onto grass?

    Of course, you can simply lay a paving piece on any surface area however you need to think about what will be completed effect. If you just intended to use a few slabs simply as a stepping rock then with a little sand and a little work with a spade you could level the ground to place a paver that can be stepped on without wobbling for a while. However, if you are intending on utilising chairs, tables, bar-b-ques you really should set your paving slabs into an effectively-prepared sub-base, which will certainly provide a strong, flat base for your pavers to then be fixed onto a mortar base. This will prevent weeds from showing up via paving joints and also ensure you do not have loose or unsteady paving stones.

  • Which is better for a patio area - decking or paving?

    Clearly, an installer who only does one of these will persuade you down that particular path. However, there are some scenarios where one may have the edge over the other. One of the main ones being the budget you are working with.

    As a quick comparison - especially against wooden decking a patio made up from any of the slab options we have covered will be stronger, and as a result, last longer and require less maintenance. However, if you want to have a large single level social area and have a garden on a steep slope decking will offer a more cost-effective solution. The decking can be laid on a frame, which can simply be build up from the lower end of the slope. To do the same for a paved patio will require much more death moval and supporting walls to be constructed so will be more costly. 

  • Can the same paving slabs be used for a driveway?

    Yes - certain types of paving can also be used for a driveway so you can have consistent paving from the front of your house down the sides and to your back garden patio. 

    Not all pavers will be suitable but granite setts and driveway grade Indian stone would be perfectly good choices for this.

  • What's the best way to clean a patio

    Clearly, this will depend on how dirty your patio is and whether or not staining has taken place.

    For regular quick and easy cleaning simply mixing a cup of washing up liquid in a bucket of warm water and brushing this across your patio with a firm bristled brush is suitable for all types of pavers. 

    Pressure washing can be used for most pavers but this can remove sealers - although thoroughly cleaning this way will be good preparation for re-sealing when dry. with a pressure washer you should be more careful near the joints as high pressure can damage and dislodge jointing. If this does happen it is best to apply some jointing compound to prevent this from becoming an area for weed and algae growth. There are many options on the market, many of which can simply be brushed into the gaps so no DIY skills requried.

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