Which natural stone to choose for the flooring of your terrace?

Natural stones are often used in gardens and especially in the form of terrace slabs. They are very different from each other due to the rock used, its origin, the way they are cut or even installed.
Suffice it to say the number of possible renderings is almost infinite. This allows you to match natural stone to any type of garden andget a customized solution.

In this article I will not give you a geology lesson, it would not be of any interest. Rather, I will introduce you to the different rocks and colors possible, the existing finishes and the ways of making these natural paving stones.

The different natural stones for exteriors

The type of rock chosen and its origin determine its color, associated with the cut of the slab, we will know the result we will obtain and therefore in which style of gardens, modern or rustic, it will adapt best.

Schist/slate

Slate, which belongs to the schist family, is available in different colors: from gray to black, through blue and purple, up to green!

This stone is also composed of grooves the surface is naturally quite flat but it can have the disadvantage of being slippery.

Slate slabs are found in different shapes: square and rectangular with regular size facilitating installation and giving a modern appearance (the sides are, in this case, sawn to obtain the desired calibration) or more rarely with natural shapes (rectangles, inexact triangles) which will look best in more rustic gardens or for creating Japanese steps.
Finally we also find it divided into large rectangular platesideal for creating a path in a lawn or in combination with light gravel.

Slate is a rock that is well suited to Japanese atmospheres. Since other elements of the garden are present in this stone, such as posts, we can create continuity between the different components of the garden.

Granite

Granite is a very hard rock. It is found in quarries in France, although it is increasingly imported from Asia.

We are available in everything shades of greylighter or darker and some have similar colors yellow and pink.

Granite slabs are in most cases sawn to obtain regular, rectangular or square shapes, thus giving a modern, sober and intelligent appearance.
Whatever the color and origin, the stone will have a speckled appearance.

Sandstone

Sandstone is distinguished from other rocks by rather soft touchvery pleasant if you want to use it for a terrace where you will walk barefoot.

Sandstone from France It has matching colors from pink to red to gray depending on the region of origin. But we are using more and more imported sandstone, especially in from Indiathat allows you to have a wider color palette. This rock has the particularity of having many nuances within the same batch, this means that there will be color differences from one slab to another. It should therefore be avoided if you want a uniform color over the entire surface of your terrace. With this rendering we will get rather a old style.

In addition to slabs, sandstone is easily found in the form of pavers, ideal for combining driveways and terraces.

Quartzite

Quartzite is a hard rock with shiny reflections very appreciable. It is mainly found in yellow and pink shades associated with grey. As with sandstone, you will find many different shades in the same batch and with the more or less dark veins that run through this stone, it is impossible to create a uniformly colored terrace.

Available both in rectangular or more natural shapesthe manufacturing possibilities are excellent for creating styles ranging from rustic to modern.

Limestone

Limestone rocks are appreciated their creamy white tone, he goes everywhere and is sober. But be careful, most are sensitive to frosttherefore they cannot be used in all regions.

The blue stone it is an exception, both for its color and its resistance. Coming from Belgium, it resists the cold of regions with harsh winters.

This is not an exhaustive list but brings together the most used and easiest stones to obtain.

Finishes, shapes and poses

I will tell you about how the tiles are «cut», which is important when choosing.

In case of sawn slabs (on the top and/or sides), we get regular size and smooth faces (not to be confused with polishing which would make them slippery). This finish can be combined with softening for a softer touch and less sharp edges.
THE bushhammeringused mainly for granite, it allows to obtain in small passes a rough top surface.
On a calibrated platessquare or rectangular, used for straight, staggered or Roman installations (multi-format).

When we talk about plates splitit is mainly an indication for the sides. It is a finish obtained from a succession of impacts. We have irregular edges and so random tile shapesused for uncertain installation.

Some natural stones are softer than others and may be sensitive to stains. There are treatments to protect them. Choose a special stone. Be careful, some of these products tend to make the surface a little more slippery than initially, so use with caution near a swimming pool.

Where to buy these natural tiles?

Traders specialize in natural stone, so they offer a wide selection of slabs.

General supply or home improvement stores also sell them, but with a more limited selection.

And you, are you ready to have natural stone on your terrace?