Smooth, sawn limestone paving is the new contender in the contemporary paving popularity stakes and is now available in either dark, almost black shades or buttermilk colours in a smooth or lightly sandblasted finish. Limestone offers less colour variation than sandstone and offers colours that are generally not seen in the sawn sandstone product ranges. The following images show examples of the sawn limestone paving products now available.

This fabulous midnight paving is a top of the range limestone as it is sawn and honed, giving a smooth finish (which is unusual for limestone) suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Travertine paving is the classic contemporary paving stone used in Italian villas and was used in the construction of the Colosseum. The general colour palette of travertine is cream, warm tan and beige and the stone markings often include subtle swirls, similar to walnut wood. Travertine is smooth to the touch having been honed to enhance the colour and it often has a pitted surface which may be filled if preferred. Travertine paving is often used as an interior stone and it is a common attribute in contemporary styling to continue the same theme through to the outside of the home.

Travertine paving from Paving Superstore may be used to cover walling ensuring a uniform appearance that blends seamlessly with the patio area. Marble paving is a similar stone to travertine, but without the pitted surface and its colour tones contain silver and greys.

Whether you are looking to creating a whole new driveway or simply wish to convert the front lawn area so that you have an additional parking area for occasional use, but would like it to look good the remainder of the time, grass paving grid systems are an excellent choice. They offer a reinforced grass area or overspill car park/driveway, which ensures permeability by allowing rainwater to soak back into the land below.

As the Government has outlined that ”planning permission is now required to lay traditional impermeable driveways that allow uncontrolled runoff of rainwater from front gardens onto roads, because this can contribute to flooding and pollution of watercourses”, these paving grids offer a wonderful alternative to traditional block paving driveways.

Grassguard from Marshalls offers the benefits of a driveway while retaining the garden look. A permeable grass grid for domestic hardstanding areas providing a sustainable alternative to traditional block paving, maintaining the environmental benefits of a natural grassed area.

We also sell Grasspark from Pavestone which is a permeable paving grid which allows the grass to grow through whilst providing hard standing suitable for parking cars and vans, yet at the same time keeping the area essentially grassland.

Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock formed mainly from calcium carbonate. This is often as a result of the accumulation of shell, coral and algal matter. It is a very practical and durable stone that can be easily maintained, making it very popular and much loved. Limestone’s colour can vary from white or cream to tones of grey’s and blue’s.

Limestone paving has a textured feel and a gently undulating surface, but without the riven texture found in standard sandstone. It is available in a standard finish and occasionally, an antique or tumbled finish where the surface and edges have been smoothed to create an aged appearance. Its colours are far more consistent across each slab than sandstone.

A paved driveway can really enhance the look and value of your home as well as creating a stylish parking area which is easy to maintain.  With a variety of colours it is possible to find stone paving to complement the period and styling of your home. You can create a multicoloured or monotone finish with the paving stones laid in a standard or decorative form.

For further ideas and options, please visit our website.

Please note that “from 1 October 2008, the Government will introduce changes to the General Permitted Development Order, making the hard surfacing of more than five square metres of domestic front gardens permitted development only where the surface in question is rendered permeable. Use of traditional materials, such as impermeable concrete, where there was no facility in place to ensure permeability, requires an application for planning permission.”

Full details on the “Guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens” is available from the Communities and Local Government and Environment Agency.

Smooth, sawn sandstone paving is used extensively in the design of clean, crisp contemporary styled gardens as its neutral colour pallet with soft, subtle hue variations blends seamlessly with other natural materials such as the rich mahogany tones of hardwood decking and the smooth tactile texture of tumbled, sea-worn pebbles. The matt, often slightly textured surface of the sandstone does not attempt to compete with other bolder features within the design; preferring to simply form an elegant back-drop to the garden.

Smooth, sawn sandstone paving is generally available in neutral shades of cream and soft beige, peach and warm brown and silver to mid greys. The surface is smooth and level and often includes a sand-blasted finish to increase non-slip properties.