Choosing Smooth Paving Slabs For You Garden - Pros & Cons

Discover the Sophistication of Smooth Stone Paving

Smooth stone paving is a cherished choice for gardens across the UK, delivering a touch of luxury to any outdoor space. It exudes a contemporary charm, crafting a sleek and stylish finish that can elevate any patio design. With an array of designs at your disposal, smooth paving offers the flexibility to create a look that's uniquely yours.

Whether you're drawn to the captivating patterns and naturally veined stones or prefer the understated elegance of single colour smooth paving slabs, there's something to suit every taste. Your options are vast: from the rustic allure of natural limestone paving and the warmth of smoothed sandstone slabs, to the cutting-edge appeal of outdoor porcelain tiles. Each offers the distinctive benefits of naturally smooth paving, making them a beloved choice for many.

Three key advantages make smooth natural stone paving a standout choice:

  1. Superior Quality Finish: Each stone is meticulously crafted to ensure an exceptional finish that stands the test of time.
  2. Stunning Colour and Style Variety: With a wide array of colours and styles, you can create a unique aesthetic that reflects your personal style.
  3. Beauty in All Conditions: Whether soaked in the rain or basking in the sunshine, smooth stone paving maintains its allure, making your outdoor space look fabulous all year round.

Reimagine your garden or patio with the beautiful spectrum of natural colours found in smooth sandstone paving. These unique tones have been naturally crafted over hundreds of years and are now ready to enrich your own outdoor haven. Or, for a more avant-garde appeal, opt for smooth outdoor porcelain tiles. The possibilities are endless, and the choice is yours.

Stone Rock Ash Porcelain Paving - Contemporary Appeal

 

High Quality Finish on Smooth Sandstone Paving [+PRO]

The smooth, straight edges are obviously not naturally occurring! The smoothness of the stone is created by running the stone through factories so you end up with a higher quality, more consistent finish than a naturally occurring riven paving slab.

The high quality finish is easy to see when you are looking at paving slabs that are smooth on all visible sides and edges. There's nothing quite as stylish as visually satisfying patio.

 

Smooth Paving Is More Slippery Than Riven Paving [-CON]

All of our outdoor paving materials are designed specifically for outdoor use. This means that they are suited to the British climate (which obviously includes a lot of rain) and is a safe option for paved patio areas. Our sawn sandstone paving slabs provide a level of natural slip resistance. As long as the smooth paving is well maintained, the smooth natural stone paving will retain its grip underfoot.

While our smooth slabs are not known for being slippery, we would always recommend extra care and precautions are taking when walking on paved areas when they are wet.

If you wanted to get rid of this risk altogether, we would suggest opting for an outdoor porcelain tile. These tiles are specially manufactured to be anti-slip based on an "R-Rating System" that has a minimum standard of anti-slip on their surface.

These "Anti-slip" rated slabs even come in styles that replicate natural stone, including a collection of Kandla Grey replicas like the below.

Kandla Grey Porcelain Paving - See The Difference Here

Smooth Paving Has a Stunning Variety of Colours & Styles [+PRO]

If you are looking to gain a stunning finish to your garden, then smooth sandstone paving could be perfect for you. Smooth natural stone paving automatically smartens up any space, in a huge variety of colours. If you are looking to create that sleek and minimalistic feel to the paved area in your garden, you can’t go far wrong with smooth sandstone paving. The natural colours of sandstone offer a natural look, while still delivering clean lines.

If you wanted something more modern still, there is also outdoor porcelain paving. These are a pristine manufactured tile available in a wide variety of finishes.

If you need paving for a quiet outdoor area, you should choose smooth paving. They offer excellent durability that once you give them a good clean from time-to-time, they will standing up the elements.

Masso Grey Porcelain Paving - See More

Smooth Sandstone Needs A Bit More Attention Than It's Riven Alternative [-CON]

However, while it is easy clean a smooth stone, the choice can come with drawbacks. Smooth sandstone especially can require extra care and attention to make sure it is always in acceptable condition. The smoother the sandstone, the softer it is. Smooth out a stone opens up pores and can make the stone more absorbent. 

A more absorbent stone can age more quickly if you leave it out in the elements too long. Green spots can occur naturally and are easy to clean off, but if left for too long can become quite difficult to remove as the porous smooth stone absorbs it!

 

How To Choose The Right Smooth Paving For Your Garden

You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choose the ideal smooth paving for your garden. This is because there are so many types, colours, shades, textures and finishes. However, that doesn’t mean it needs to be hard work to find the right smooth paving for your garden.

The easiest way to choose the right smooth natural stone paving for your garden is to decide on the colour first. You want to choose a colour that complements the general look and feel of your garden and the space around it. If you have a theme or a style for your garden, you want to choose a colour that will meet that theme or style too.

If you would like to have a more neutral smooth patio area, then you may want to check out our range of light and grey dark paving. These offer a really nice sleek contemporary look. If you are feeling really adventurous with your smooth paved patio goals, then how about creating a mosaic pattern with a mix of different smooth sandstone paving slabs?

Brazilian Slate Paving - A Light & Dark Option

Is Smooth Paving Right For You?

There is such a huge variety of smooth paving slabs that you are bound to find something you like. Whether you want something pristine and perfect like a porcelain tile, or you'd prefer something slight more natural but still nice and smooth, then maybe it's limestone that you are looking for.

Smooth paving looks a cut above naturally finished stone when you want to create something modern and stylish. If you're unsure of what option might be best for you, or which type of paving slabs in general will be the best option for you to go for, just get in touch and we'll be sure to help!

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