As a patio material, stone is currently unmatched in terms of its natural and organic beauty. It also comes in numerous colors and textures. In addition, it works well with a slew of different architectural styles. Fortunately, stone is available in many areas of the country as pieces of rough flagstone as well as tiles, which are cut and manufactured in standard thickness and dimensions.
In terms of hardness, stones very much vary as their firmness depends on the area where they were collected as well as the specific geological forces, which created them. For instance, a specific form of sandstone is similarly resistant to scratches as marble. However, other stone types could be easily dented with your fingernail.
The manners in which stones absorb water also vary. A highly porous stone is able to easily absorb water. When the weather is cold, water then freezes and expands thereby causing damage to the stone. Take note that stones, which possess a low water absorption rate, are actually stronger and durable. They also last a lot longer when located outdoors. Such stones therefore make great materials when you decide to create stone patio designs. As much as possible, ask your dealer about a stone’s durability, porosity and hardness prior to purchase.
One stone patio design is flagstone. This refers to various types and regional forms of natural and flat stones, which are acquired from quarries or broken in single pieces of numerous shapes, sizes and thickness. Most common types of flagstone are sandstone, granite, bluestone, limestone and quartzite.
Specifically, flagstone that is termed split-face or cleft-face possesses a rough and uneven surface as well as a rustic appearance. Meanwhile, honed-face flagstone is one that has been machine-smoothed and so has a look that is quite refined – albeit a tad rougher compared to tile or concrete.
Unbelievably, flagstone comes in a slew of colors. In addition, flagstone acquired from various quarries is capable of exhibiting different tones and hues. Flagstone therefore is an ideal partner for outdoor wicker patio furniture. Do make sure that you combine this with complementary outdoor pillows. Be aware that you need to fork out a high price for natural flagstone as its price could be quite expensive compared to concrete or brick. Patio flagstones vary in size from six inches to two feet across and are usually half an inch to two inches thick.
Stone tiles are another stone patio design you can use. Essentially, any stone type could be shaped and cut via machine as according to standard thicknesses and sizes in order to produce stone tiles. Slate tiles and tumbled marble are the most popular stone tiles. Limestone, sandstone as well as granite are easily available in uniform thickness and dimension. Again, expect to fork up a lot of money for stone tiles, as these require hard labor in order to be cut.
Be aware that stone, similar to most tiles, could not be directly set on a sand dry-fit bed as sand is very flexible and the tiles could eventually crack. As much as possible, stone tiles need to be set on a concrete base. In addition, spaces in between tiles need to be filled using grout. Solar patio lights similarly need to be installed in a manner that will not cause it to tumble over.
Pebbles and rocks is another stone patio design you can utilize. Other forms of stones, which occur naturally in the environment, include rounded pebbles and river rocks. Such stones are actually smoothed by water as well as glacial movement. Unbelievably, such rocks are very much durable, cheap and resistant to moisture. Unfortunately, due to their circular shape, they do have the tendency to cause some problems when utilized on the surface of a patio.
Overall, stone patio designs vary and your choice is highly dependent on your preferences, budget and the unique structure of your patio.
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