The thing with indian sandstone is whether or not it is calibrated. Some is hand split and can vary wildly in thinkness and makes it very awkward to lay. Calibrated has an even machined thickness.Look at the colour buff multi and there are other merchants out there who deal with marshals and may be able to get a better deal or have monthly promotions/offers.
What did you decide. I am trying to decide on paving too and there are so many choices.
Is it worth paying extra for the brands, like Marshalls. I've heard some stories of people getting batches with poor colour matches or other defects. I really don't want that kind of hassle.
Still deciding the slabs. I think i have decided on the layout of the garden , taken some time due to me and my other half not agreeing. A builder we used for the inside of the house recommended the indian sandstone from jewsons. I will get him to do a quote and ask what would happen if the slabs have defects. For the inside of the house he gave us fixed price quotes and if any problems he sorted it. If we wanted any further work he gave us a quote for the extra. So i am hoping that is the same for the garden. I must admit i am finding it harder to decide the slabs than anything else but am taking my time as once it is done there is no going back. Things are on hold at the moment as my son is buying a house which needs decorating and guess who is doing that ! I think i will probably decide on a midrange price , dont think you save in the long term by buying cheap. will let the forum know how it goes but any advice in the meantime would be gratefully received.
I think the more you shell out for paving, the more discerning you have to be Carol. It would be heartbreaking if you spend a lot - especially when someone else is laying it - only to find it's unsatisfactory in any way. No matter how much money you have - it's expensive. If you intend being in a house long term, it's always worth getting a decent quality. My only advice would be to go and look at as many types as possible.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It certainly is expensive and something i dont want to get wrong as i plan to be here longterm. I so want to start actual gardening not just weeding the area i have cleared. Not today though it has not stopped raining this morning. I would be interested what people think is an average cost per square metre including paving so i could work out roughly before the builder comes. No point him coming if i have not got enough money for a decent job. I know that the labour costs more than the slabs no matter which ones i choose but i do want decent quality that will last.
Carol Wood I paved the side of my house with concrete (Bradstone) slabs on a sharp sand/ cement dry mix bed with no problem. The rear patio and paths in Indian Sand Stone on a mortar base. Bradstone and Marshalls change their ranges regularly and I bought what I needed off ebay at less than half price direct. Apparently the Ham Stone style was not a good seller. The Indian Stone was again off ebay at £10 a square metre. It was not calibrated (you only need calibrated where an edge is visible, but you can hand grade the slabs you have to get the best from them). The surface is smooth one side and rough the other. Lay smooth side up and the rough side beds into the mortar mix. There seems to be a bit of snobbery, just buy the thicker slabs.
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The thing with indian sandstone is whether or not it is calibrated. Some is hand split and can vary wildly in thinkness and makes it very awkward to lay. Calibrated has an even machined thickness.Look at the colour buff multi and there are other merchants out there who deal with marshals and may be able to get a better deal or have monthly promotions/offers.
Sorry to be a bit thick but what does dressed properly mean ?
What did you decide. I am trying to decide on paving too and there are so many choices.
Is it worth paying extra for the brands, like Marshalls. I've heard some stories of people getting batches with poor colour matches or other defects. I really don't want that kind of hassle.
Still deciding the slabs. I think i have decided on the layout of the garden , taken some time due to me and my other half not agreeing. A builder we used for the inside of the house recommended the indian sandstone from jewsons. I will get him to do a quote and ask what would happen if the slabs have defects. For the inside of the house he gave us fixed price quotes and if any problems he sorted it. If we wanted any further work he gave us a quote for the extra. So i am hoping that is the same for the garden. I must admit i am finding it harder to decide the slabs than anything else but am taking my time as once it is done there is no going back. Things are on hold at the moment as my son is buying a house which needs decorating and guess who is doing that ! I think i will probably decide on a midrange price , dont think you save in the long term by buying cheap. will let the forum know how it goes but any advice in the meantime would be gratefully received.
I think the more you shell out for paving, the more discerning you have to be Carol. It would be heartbreaking if you spend a lot - especially when someone else is laying it - only to find it's unsatisfactory in any way. No matter how much money you have - it's expensive. If you intend being in a house long term, it's always worth getting a decent quality. My only advice would be to go and look at as many types as possible.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It certainly is expensive and something i dont want to get wrong as i plan to be here longterm. I so want to start actual gardening not just weeding the area i have cleared. Not today though it has not stopped raining this morning. I would be interested what people think is an average cost per square metre including paving so i could work out roughly before the builder comes. No point him coming if i have not got enough money for a decent job. I know that the labour costs more than the slabs no matter which ones i choose but i do want decent quality that will last.
Carol Wood I paved the side of my house with concrete (Bradstone) slabs on a sharp sand/ cement dry mix bed with no problem. The rear patio and paths in Indian Sand Stone on a mortar base. Bradstone and Marshalls change their ranges regularly and I bought what I needed off ebay at less than half price direct. Apparently the Ham Stone style was not a good seller. The Indian Stone was again off ebay at £10 a square metre. It was not calibrated (you only need calibrated where an edge is visible, but you can hand grade the slabs you have to get the best from them). The surface is smooth one side and rough the other. Lay smooth side up and the rough side beds into the mortar mix. There seems to be a bit of snobbery, just buy the thicker slabs.