What do you think of bluestone patios?
Bluestone patios can be very beautiful. They are my favorite stone! The stone itself is lovely. Bluestone can be rectilinear (squared off) or it can have a natural, uneven shape.
What is Pennsylvania Bluestone?
Pennsylvania bluestone is the most common type we use in construction. If you’ve ever seen a walkway, patio or in ground pool surround with a blueish stone tile it was probably made from Pennsylvania Bluestone. It’s a durable sandstone quarried in the northeastern United States.
Can bluestone be used as pavers?
Bluestone is durable, attractive, and ideal for all kinds of uses including patios, pool decks, stone steps, or entryways. Both types of U.S. bluestone have long been used as pavers in hardscapes .
How do you lay a bluestone patio?
In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook explains how to lay a bluestone patio. 1. Spread several inches of pack material across patio area. 2. Rake the pack material smooth, then tamp with a plate compactor.
What Color Is Bluestone?
How Do You Clean & Maintain Bluestone?
What Patterns Are Available?
How Much Does It Cost?
What type of stone is used in a pool?
How many square feet does a 1.5 inch bluestone patio cover?
Why is bluestone used in construction?
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Is blue stone good for patios?
Bluestone for patios is durable, attractive, and ideal for all kinds of uses. Bluestone is a natural stone that can also be used for pool decks, stone steps, or entryways. Both types of U.S. bluestone have long been used as pavers in hardscapes.
What do you put under bluestone patio?
0:121:54How to Lay a Bluestone Patio | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat loam will hold water and every winter it'll freeze and thaw and the whole patio would move upMoreThat loam will hold water and every winter it'll freeze and thaw and the whole patio would move up and down so you just pay me to come back and fix it every day so this is a good investment.
Are pavers or bluestone more expensive?
A natural stone like bluestone tends to cost more than other pavers because of the cost of quarrying, as well as availability. Because bluestone is highly desirable and only comes from a few regions, it is often priced at a premium.
What kind of material is bluestone?
Bluestone is layered sandstone that comes in a range of colors, from a gorgeous blue to green, lilac, rust and more. It developed about 360 million years ago, when the seas pushed sand into the Catskills. In terms of composition, bluestone is made of mica, sand, feldspar, and various minerals.
How long do bluestone patios last?
It is long-lasting and durable. With proper care and maintenance, bluestone patios can last for years. Bluestone is visually appealing due to its gorgeous earth blue tones and colors. Since it is a naturally occurring material, it is known to be weather resistant.
Should bluestone be set in concrete?
You can set the bluestone on a concrete pad as long as the pad is in excellent condition. The concrete pad should be 4"-6" thick. Beneath the concrete there should be 6" compacted aggregate, laying on undisturbed or compacted soil. I would then set the bluestone on a 1"-2" mortar setting bed.
Does bluestone crack easily?
Bluestone is light to dark greyish-blue in color, depending on the depth at which it is quarried. The deeper it is quarried, the more rich the color. It is also quite dense, which makes it durable and resistant to cracking.
Which stone patio is best?
What is the Best Stone for a Patio?Granite is durable and heat resistant, and can be used both indoors and outdoors to create a seamless, unified look. ... Quartzite is also extremely durable and great for indoor and outdoor applications. ... Porcelain is also colorfast, weather-resistant, and low maintenance.
Should blue stone be sealed?
It is recommended to always seal a bluestone patio after scrubbing it clean. Sealing is a normal process after patio installation. Sealing protects the patio from mineral stains and extends its lifespan. The patio should be sealed at least every couple of years to keep its protective coating.
How long does blue stone last?
When installed properly and sealed for protection, homeowners can expect bluestone to last for decades. Ideal for high traffic applications and practical for patios and pool decks, bluestone provides an alternative to flagstone or other types of natural and fabricated paving stone.
Does bluestone get slippery when wet?
Bluestone Can Be Slippery Although bluestone is a type of flagstone which naturally has a slight sandpaper-like texture, bluestone may get slippery when wet which means it's best suited for patios and walkways without a slope.
How do you clean a blue stone patio?
To clean bluestone, you can use dish soap, water, and a scrub brush....Apply an oxidizing cleaner to mold and mildew.Oxidizers work by adding oxygen to the area, removing stains and grime. ... Don't use this cleaner in direct sunlight, as it may evaporate before it can work.Pick a cleaner like Stain Solver for this purpose.
What is the best base for bluestone patio?
Use road bond (crusher run) for the base. It includes stone dust that comes from crushing the gravel. Once it's compacted and seasoned, it forms an incredibly strong bond that holds up well to the weather. 4: Compact gravel.
What is the best material to put under patio stones?
Materials to put under pavers might include mortar, sand, bituminous material or pedestals. Should I Lay Pavers on Sand or Mortar? Again, it will depend on several factors. The mortar set method is most popular and is typically used in pedestrian or vehicular areas where a rigid system is required.
Can you lay bluestone pavers on sand?
Step 3: Application of the Paver Base You can look forward to installing bluestone pavers into beds of cement, mortar, sand, or gravel.
What is the best material to put under flagstone?
It's best to start with several inches of compacted gravel, followed by a layer of stone dust, also called decomposed granite, or DG. The DG is pulverized stone and contains small pieces along with gravel-size and sand-size particles. The variation in particle sizes allows the material to compact well.
bluestone for a patio or swimming pool decking - Landscape Design Advice
bluestone for a patio or swimming pool decking. by kenn knarr (catharpin, VA USA) Here's a question regarding bluestone for a patio or swimming pool decking...and if it gets hot.
What Is Bluestone and Can You Use It in Your Landscape? - The Spruce
Bluestone Pavers Color and Shape . Bluestone pavers or slabs come in several sizes and shapes: they may be cut in uniform sizes such as squares, rectangles, or they might be cut for a more natural look with jagged edges and irregular shapes.
Bluestone: What Is It & Why You Want It - Seasonal Landscape Solutions
Choices can be overwhelming to make for your outdoor living space. Bluestone is a choice you can't go wrong with, and you'll be happy with your choice.
What is bluestone pavers?
The color of the bluestone pavers on this patio is picked up by the chairs chosen to furnish it. Bluestone is durable, attractive, and ideal for all kinds of uses including patios, pool decks, stone steps, or entryways. Both types of U.S. bluestone have long been used as pavers in hardscapes .
How many square feet does bluestone cover?
Typically, a palette of 1.5 inch bluestone covers about 180 square feet, while one-inch-thick bluestone will cover approximately 220 square feet. You can install bluestone on a range of materials including sand, cement or gravel, like most other pavers. Read More.
How thick is bluestone?
Consider these irregularities part of the beauty of the stone. Bluestone generally is an inch to an inch and a half thick.
What type of rock is Pennsylvania bluestone?
There are two varieties: Pennsylvania Bluestone, which is a sandstone, and Shenandoah Bluestone, a limestone. The former is a type of sedimentary rock composed of sand-size grains, and the latter is also a type of sedimentary rock, but it's composed mostly of calcium carbonate.
Where is Opus 40?
In 1938, artist Harvey Fite acquired a deserted bluestone quarry in the town of Saugerties, NY. Over the next 37 years, he created a giant sculpture garden, now known as Opus 40, from the stone. Today, locals and tourists alike enjoy visiting the park.
Is bluestone harder to install than concrete?
An obvious disadvantage to bluestone is its cost — any natural material will be more expensive than a manmade material such as concrete pavers or bricks, and bluestone is especially prized for its beauty. It can be harder to install bluestone than concrete or bricks because it is commonly irregularly shaped and also may not have a standard depth.
Is bluestone better than concrete?
It can be harder to install bluestone than concrete or bricks because it is commonly irregularly shaped and also may not have a standard depth. The darker colors can get hot, so bluestone might not be a good choice pool-side where you and your family are walking barefoot.
What is a Bluestone Patio?
Bluestone is a popular type of stone used in construction and is a type of sandstone or limestone made up of both sandstone/limestone and quartz material. It often features a fine grain, with a moderate texture and a blue-gray color.
What type of pavers are best for round patios?
They also look great for circular or round patios. • Regular Bluestone Pavers – Also termed as “thermal bluestone” is suitable with regular patio shapes such as rectangular or square boundaries because of its uniformity.
What is the difference between regular and irregular bluestone pavers?
Irregular bluestone pavers as the term suggests comes without a uniform color or size while the regular bluestone or also termed, thermal bluestone comes with standard color and size. • Irregular Bluestone Pavers – Usually termed as “flagstone shape” works better with rustic or naturalistic patio themes.
How thick is bluestone pavers?
Bluestone pavers are typically 1 inch to 1.5 inches thick and come in various sizes but the most commonly used are in 6” x 6” to 24” x 48”. Bluestone material is a type of flagstone. Flagstone is a flat sedimentary stone that is usually cut in rectangular or square shapes popular as pavement materials and other various applications.
Why are bluestone pavers different shades?
If you’re wondering why the bluestone material seems to come with varying shades, it goes down on the location the natural stone is formed. This makes every quarried stone layer unique, thus no two pavers are the same.
What is the difference between flagstone and bluestone?
Bluestone as it is termed comes with varying blue colors while flagstone comes with a true gray color with black undertones. Overall bluestone is much robust and dense making it sturdier compared to the generic flagstone.
How much does it cost to build a bluestone patio?
As a baseline, a 100 square-foot patio area can cost around $650 to $950 for materials and $900 to $1200 for labor. If you’ve got a larger area than 100 square-foot you may need to pay an additional 10 ...
What is a natural cleft bluestone?
Natural Cleft Bluestone: Natural cleft bluestone describes bluestone that has been split or cleft into layers during the quarrying process. Bluestone is a sedimentary stone, meaning ...
What is irregular bluestone?
Irregular bluestone, also called “stand-up bluestone” or “flagstone” is naturally cleft bluestone that has not been cut into rectangles. Irregular bluestones will vary greatly in shape, size, and thickness. They need to be cut and shaped to fit together, and then leveled one by one.
What color is bluestone pavers?
Natural cleft bluestone also tends to have a range of colors of blue, gray, purple, and rusty orange .
How is bluestone formed?
As it was formed by layers of sediment, it is often possible to find cracks or lines of de-lamination in the stone and split it into slabs.
Is natural cleft bluestone expensive?
The quarrying process of natural cleft bluestone takes less saw cutting and makes natural cleft bluestone less expensive than other bluestone. The varied thickness and irregular surfaces, however, make it more labor intensive to install.
Is thermal bluestone more expensive to cut?
Cutting bluestone takes a lot of machinery and expensive diamond blades and so thermal bluestone is more expensive to produce, but, the stone is very uniform in thickness. This makes the installation and leveling process less labor intensive than natural cleft bluestone. Color Range Thermal Bluestone. Thermal Bluestone Patio.
Where is the 150' field stone wall?
Jed and his team built a beautiful 150' dry-stack field-stone wall that runs along the front of our historic home in greater Boston. I enthusiastically recommend Concord Stoneworks!
How to set bluestone?
Ways To Set Bluestone 1 The ground is excavated. Stone, such as quarry stone is placed in the bottom layer. Sand or stone dust is the next layer and the stones laid on top of this. 2 The stones may be laid tight together or a small space may be left between them. Joint sizes of 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch look nice. A sandy material is then swept into the joints. You may also place pea gravel in the joints. 3 Another option for the joints is polymeric sand, but this can have issues, such as cracking. Also, it rather defeats the purpose of having a dry laid application, since polymeric sand hardens.
What size stone should I use for a patio?
The photo below, taken on a Virginia garden tour, is a nice example. Typical bluestone sizes are 12" x 12", 12" x 18", 18" x 24", and 24" x 24". These rectilinear stones can be laid parallel to another structure such as your residence, or they can be laid on the diagonal. Laying it on the diagonal gives it even more interest.
What is a full range stone?
Full Range - stones are a mix of blues, tans and to a lesser degree purples. This is a kaleidoscope of colors. It is very pretty and interesting. If you are adding other stone materials in the area, such as a natural stone wall, make sure the colors blend well with each other.
What is the next layer of the ground?
The ground is excavated. Stone, such as quarry stone is placed in the bottom layer. Sand or stone dust is the next layer and the stones laid on top of this.
Is bluestone a good color for a wall?
Personally, I like bluestone in the full range color choice. However, if you are adding any kind of stone wall nearby, the all blue is easier to work with as wall stones usually have many colors in them themselves. You can still get a nice look with full range...you just have to work a little harder to make sure the colors of all the stones go well together.
Is bluestone patio good forgiving?
I prefer dry laid, as it is less expensive, creates a wonderful bluestone patio look, and is also forgiving. What does forgiving mean? It means that it won't crack, and if a stone ever shifts, it can easily be reset. (Not so if you use polymeric sand in the joints.)
Is bluestone dry laid?
This design has some nice features. There is a seat wall, landing and steps. The bluestone is dry laid. Discover what it costs.
What is Richcliff pavers?
Richcliff. Richcliff pavers can be ideal for high-end poolscapes. They feature the most realistic bluestone appearance thanks to Reala technology, which takes casts from real flagstone. The result is a random, natural feel with no obvious repeating patterns, as well as ultra-realistic textures.
What color pavers are available in Bristol Valley?
Bristol Valley. Bristol Valley pavers give you the look of bluestone in an easy-care package. The pavers are available in three colors: Bavarian, New York Blend, and Steel Mountain, with Steel Mountain being the closest in appearance to natural bluestone .
What colors are Treo Premier pavers?
Treo Premier is available in eight beautiful colors including the three that most closely match natural bluestone: New York Blend, Fossil, Almond Grove, and Steel Mountain. These colors can be used as is on their own, or you could blend two or three to achieve a more realistic random bluestone look. Treo pavers are durable enough to be used for driveways, which is great news if you want a unified look throughout your landscape.
Where is bluestone found?
The Pros of Bluestone. Bluestone is a type of flagstone. It is unique in that it is only quarried in a few places in the northeastern United States and Canada (most bluestone comes from Pennsylvania or New York). This means that quantities are limited, which gives the stone an exclusive air.
Can you use Treo pavers for driveways?
These colors can be used as is on their own, or you could blend two or three to achieve a more realistic random bluestone look. Treo pavers are durable enough to be used for driveways, which is great news if you want a unified look throughout your landscape.
Is bluestone good for pool surrounds?
Bluestone’s dark colors can become very hot on bare feet, and bluestone also tends to become very slippery when wet. That’s why it’s rarely chosen as a material for pool surrounds, but this is something to keep in mind for walkways and patios too. Every outdoor space built using bluestone will truly be one-of-a-kind.
Is Richcliff stronger than poured concrete?
Richcliff features Ultima concrete technology, making them four times stronger than poured concrete . You can achieve a beautifully unified look by using Richcliff on your driveway as well as the pool deck, patio, and walkways.
How long does a bluestone patio sealer last?
A natural finish sealant will protect the patio for 3–4 years, and a good warranty will cover any of your maintenance needs.
How is thermal bluestone made?
The stone is then soaked in water and flamed with a torch that’s powered with either propane or oxygen. The resulting finish on this stone is still rough, but it has a more uniform roughness in its appearance, and the colors fade into each other gradually. These pavers usually come in thicknesses of 1”–1 ½”.
What is the cheapest bluestone per square foot?
Of any of the possible options for the type of bluestone that will suit your project, irregular bluestone is the cheapest per square foot by at least $1. Each format is available in a range of finishes including tumbled, thermaled, and natural cleft to best suit the intended application.
How much does it cost to install bluestone pavers?
Cut stone can be the most expensive option over buying bluestone pavers or tile, and can bring the material and installation total to as much as $70/sqft.
What is honed bluestone?
Similar to the finish found in marble and granite products , honed bluestone has a smooth matte finish. First it is sprayed with water and then sanded with a sanding disc. In this process, the first sanding disc used will have the coarsest grit, and then a finer grit is used with each pass over the stone. What separates honed bluestone from polished is the process is stopped before getting to the really fine gritted sanding disc.
What is blue stone?
Blue colored bluestone - As the name might suggest, blue colored bluestone is a blue color with gray that has a blue hint to it. The dominant color is blue and, once installed, brings a unique tone to the patio floor.
How thick is a slab?
Slabs - $27/sqft. Ranging in thicknesses starting at ½”, slabs are available from 12” by 12” to 24” by 36”. They can be installed as is or cut on site to create custom corners and accents.
How is bluestone treated?
The densest stone goes through a spalling process: Once removed from its natural environment, bluestone is cut along horizontal sections, thoroughly soaked with water and then heated with a propane torch.
Why is flagstone less expensive than thermal?
Natural clef flagstone has always been less expensive that thermal because there is less processing involved. However, with that reduced price comes a surface variation that is not always acceptable.
What is bluestone used for?
Bluestone is also used for walls, sidewalks, steps, indoor floors, and even fireplaces, as it can be cut into custom-sized slabs.
What are the elements that make up flagstone?
Flagstone is bound together by minerals such as calcite, silica, and iron oxide. These internal materials are the cause of flagstone’s beautiful colors, one of which is a stunning blue leading to the name “bluestone”.
What is true blue stone?
“True Blue” bluestone refers to stone that does not exhibit any other colors except blue when removed from a quarry.
How to clean bluestone?
If your bluestone is stained, just add some vinegar and water to the surface and scrub it out , although you can purchase specialty cleaners for unusual or severe stains.
Where is flagstone found?
Flagstone floors still exist in Scotland’s Muchalls Castle and Lindisfarne Castle in England. Chicago’s Portage Park is famous for its expansive flagstone decorations.
What Color Is Bluestone?
Due to different mineral deposits found throughout the groundwater during the stone’s formation, bluestone can vary from its predominantly silvery blue color to any combination of brown, tan, rust, green, and even purple.
How Do You Clean & Maintain Bluestone?
One of the great things about this particular stone is that it doesn’t need to be sealed. The surface is dense and smooth with very few dimples. This is great if you don’t like maintenance because no sealing means no re-sealing every year. Although a sealant can help bring out some depth and richness in the coloring. It’s just not required for longevity reasons.
What Patterns Are Available?
There are two general categories of patterns used for patios or walkways. But since natural stone can be cut or broken you can lay it any pattern you like.
How Much Does It Cost?
Pennsylvania bluestone and other varieties native to the US cost around $15 to $30 per square foot installed. Factors affecting the price include the area where you live, the pattern, thickness, and size of your patio.
What type of stone is used in a pool?
Pennsylvania bluestone is the most common type we use in construction. If you’ve ever seen a walkway, patio or in ground pool surround with a blueish stone tile it was probably made from Pennsylvania Bluestone.
How many square feet does a 1.5 inch bluestone patio cover?
Typically, a palette of 1.5 inch bluestone covers about 180 square feet of patio without cuts. 1 inch thick bluestone will cover approximately 220 square feet. When you figure out the material you need make sure to order enough for all the cuts and buy a little extra for broken pieces or stone you just don’t like.
Why is bluestone used in construction?
Many people and companies choose bluestone for their projects because this material is highly durable. It has dense composition and hardness, making it highly durable that can withstand harsh weather conditions. The texture of bluestone plays a crucial role in its durability.
