Sandstone and Limestone are two of the most popular choices of garden paving and are often the first port of call when it comes to choosing the right Indian stone paving for your garden or patio.

Below, we’ll have a look at the differences between Sandstone vs Limestone to help you make the right decision for your project the first time around and point out a few key things to consider when making your choice of patio paving.

Versatility

Sandstone

Typically, Sandstone paving offers more design options than Limestone when it comes to colour and texture, making it a more versatile choice of garden paving and opening up your design options from subtle greys and creams to vibrant multi-coloured stone!

Sandstone is available in a wide range of colours and sizes to suit any design. Choose from our variety of size options from large format 600×900 slabs, right up to mixed-size Patio Kits.

See our Quick Guide to Sandstone Paving Colours, or learn more about each option on our Product Spotlight page.

You can also see some of our favourite customer images below for some inspiration on how Indian Sandstone could fit into your patio design!

Limestone

Our Kotah Black Limestone is also available in 600×900 and a mixed-size Patio Kit and as well as being a popular choice for regular use within patios and pathways, Limestone paving is also often used for interiors and is a great choice for kitchens!

The dark tones within the natural stone paving offer a bold finish for an eye-catching design and when used for interiors, Limestone is much less susceptible to fading and will need a little less upkeep than when used outside. The dark stone is also great at hiding any accidental spills!

See some of our favourite customer images below!

Riven or Sawn & Honed? What’s the difference?

Sandstone and Limestone are both available with a naturally riven surface texture, with our Sandstone paving also available in a smooth, sawn & honed option.

Naturally Riven Finish

A naturally riven surface is created naturally when the stone is split along its layers, providing a truly authentic finish. This process leaves natural variations in texture throughout the surface of each slab, meaning that no paver is exactly the same, one of the main appeals of Riven Paving!

Each riven slab features hand-dressed edges which add to the natural, organic look and feel of paving to create a timeless appeal to any traditional design. This style of Indian stone paving is suited to traditional settings and is a great alternative to Yorkstone, whilst also working out to be less expensive.

Smooth, Sawn & Honed Finish

Our smooth, sawn & honed sandstone paving is sawn straight off the block rather than being split naturally. The sawn slabs are then cut down to size and the top surface is honed or sandblasted, creating a smooth finish with a slight sheen.

Our Smooth Sandstone Paving is sawn on all 6 sides, meaning that the 4 edges are also straight and machine-cut with a smooth finish and a bevelled edge to complete the contemporary look. Sawn sandstone paving offers an entirely different appeal to riven stone and features more pronounced patterns and colours for a modern appeal.

Both our Sandstone and Limestone paving options are calibrated, which means that the slabs have been cut to a consistent thickness. Calibrated paving is easier to lay than a non-calibrated stone as it eliminates any large variations in thickness between each slab, removing the need to take this into consideration during the laying process. Our Riven Sandstone and Limestone Paving is calibrated to 22mm and our Sawn Sandstone is calibrated to 20mm. An allowance should be made for +/- 5mm.

Durability & Maintenance

Sandstone

As a natural stone, Sandstone has been in existence for thousands of years before being quarried for paving, something which is easy to forget when it comes to considering the durability of the stone!

Sandstone Paving is suited to the British climate and will withstand harsh weather without being susceptible to damage and all of our products are designed for exterior use, with riven surface textures helping to retain a little extra grip underfoot. Our Indian stone paving is also frost-resistant, helping to keep your paving looking its best all year round!

Any natural stone will need some level of maintenance and sealing the slabs will help prevent excess water from seeping into the stone which will help to prevent staining and the growth of moss and algae. You may want to consider sealing your stone, especially if you are choosing a light sandstone, as this will help to prevent any staining. Sealing Black Limestone Paving will also help maintain its striking dark tones.

Limestone

It is widely acknowledged that black limestone paving will gradually fade to grey over time and this is due to a chemical reaction with the slightly acidic rain that we have here in the UK. Natural UV light will also play a part in causing black limestone to lose its colour and gradually turn more of a steel grey.

The rate at which any fading can occur is really down to the amount of acid rain and direct sunlight that the stone will see, as well as other factors such as the use and level of footfall.

Sealing your Limestone will always help to prevent excessive fading and there are a number of specialist products available which will restore original dark colours to the slabs.

Sealing any stone is not compulsory and there is a wide range of sealing products available which will provide various results. Some sealants will simply seal and protect, whereas others can be used to enhance the colour of your slabs.

Find out more about sealing your paving and get some great tips & tricks from our Advice Section!

Restoring Faded Limestone Paving

Any fading will be a little more noticeable within a strikingly dark stone such as our Kotah Black Limestone Paving and the good news is that there is a range of products available which can help to restore faded limestone paving back to its original, bold colour.

Find out more about Restoring Faded Limestone Paving!

See Our Full Sandstone Paving Range

See Our Limestone Paving Options

Still Not Sure? Order A FREE Sample!

With the choice of finishes, it can be hard to come to a decision on which is the right style for your project. This is why we offer our customers FREE Samples, allowing you to see and feel the stone before ordering so you can be sure you are making the right decision! Our free sample service will allow you to see an example of some of the textures and tones that you’re likely to see within each crate.

Contact Us Today!

If you’d like any quotes or have any questions about Sandstone Vs Limestone products, we would be happy to help!

You’ll find the answers to our most frequently asked questions here and if there is anything else we can help with, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01206 700 599 or support@nustone.co.uk.