Anyone used real stone for a patio?

bainbridge · 5 Jan 2021 at 17:57

I'm choosing slabs and Indian sandstone looks nice, but at 22mm thick is this liable to crack? Patio will be at the far end of the garden, no cars on it, not a thoroughfare.

I've spoken to friends who have tried saving a few Bob by getting dyed cast concrete slabs and then regretted it afterwards.

Any comments welcome.

200sols · 5 Jan 2021 at 18:25

20-25mm is standard for Indian stone. It is laid on a full mortar bed and isn't liable to crack no. Go for a hard sandstone, stay away from the soft ones like mint, rainbow, teak etc..

GW1970 · 5 Jan 2021 at 18:43

Definitely go for full mortar bed and you won’t go wrong

kinetic747 · 5 Jan 2021 at 19:44

We've had an Indian stone patio down for 10 years and no cracks.

bainbridge · 5 Jan 2021 at 20:54

Thanks for replies, going to do a full mortar bed.

@200sols the slabs I've been looking at are just the ones you described, which evidently are soft. What are the harder varieties called?

200sols · 5 Jan 2021 at 21:02

bainbridge said:
Thanks for replies, going to do a full mortar bed.

@200sols the slabs I've been looking at are just the ones you described, which evidently are soft. What are the harder varieties called?

Kandla grey and raj green are some of the best, rippon buff and autumn brown are worth looking at as well.

bainbridge · 6 Jan 2021 at 10:58

200sols said:
Kandla grey and raj green are some of the best, rippon buff and autumn brown are worth looking at as well.

Thanks, the missus likes the Kandla grey

pp111 · 6 Jan 2021 at 14:58

I always put a foundation of concrete. I know it sounds nuts but actually compared to the cost of the stone, it's really just a bit time consuming rather than expensive. It's a pleasure to work with and really does stop the stones shifting or cracking.

200sols · 6 Jan 2021 at 17:41

pp111 said:
I always put a foundation of concrete. I know it sounds nuts but actually compared to the cost of the stone, it's really just a bit time consuming rather than expensive. It's a pleasure to work with and really does stop the stones shifting or cracking.

You still need a sub base though or the concrete will sink. The full mortar bed is like concrete anyway.

baz178 · 6 Jan 2021 at 19:20

SBR mixed with cement into a slurry painted on back on a full mortar bed. 3:1 mix with SBR in mix also.

pp111 · 6 Jan 2021 at 22:50

200sols said:
You still need a sub base though or the concrete will sink. The full mortar bed is like concrete anyway.

Absolutely. I just prefer to do it that way.

bainbridge · 7 Jan 2021 at 08:31

Thanks everyone. With regards to drainage, it's 20m2 (7m X 3m) at the far end of the garden, I was intending to put a French drain in front of it with a little strip of decorative gravel at the top

Any other suggestions?