Start with a Survey

Whether you have a long, sweeping drive or a short driveway that you count on to keep your feet dry as you dash to the door, set aside enough time to make a meticulous inspection of the entire surface before cleaning. Pay particular attention to the condition of the joints between the paving stones. Take note of any spots where water tends to accumulate, look for stains and check for any cracks in the stones. You’ll need to address these problems to keep your stone paving safe and secure through the winter.

Cleaning Techniques

How you clean your paving stone driveway largely depends on whether you used sand or mortar to hold the stones in place. Paving set in a bed of sand perform beautifully in cold weather as they can move as the ground freezes and thaws, but using power washers and leaf blowers can dislodge the sand. A stiff broom is a safer option. You may need to replenish the joints with fresh sand. If the stones are held together with grout or mortar, fill any cracks in the joints and allow it dry completely before driving on it.

Stubborn Stains

Substances like algae, mildew and moss not only make driveways slippery but can cause permanent damage to the stone paving. A mild solution of bleach can be used to remove them. Stains caused by oil and grease are a tougher problem. If a solution of dish soap and water doesn’t resolve them, you can try a diluted solution of ammonia, mineral spirits or acetone.

Finally, if your natural stone driveway harbours puddles and pools, you’ll want to improve the drainage before winter begins. Solutions range from installing drain pipes to creating swales that funnel water to a different location. With its earthy colours and natural frost resistance, Indian sandstone is a beautiful and practical choice for driveways, and with regular maintenance, it will last for many, many winters to come.

Looking for any advice from experts with over 20 years in the industry? Contact us at SNGranite by phone on: +353 9383992 or click here to contact us.

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1. Make a Clean Sweep

Before the thermometer dips, purge your patio of any dried leaves or debris with a stiff broom so that you can make a thorough inspection of the surface. Remove any leaves stuck to the stone by hand and check to make sure they haven’t left stains on the stone paving. Be sure to check under flower pots and other stationary fixtures as well.

2. Check for Cracks

Breaks in natural stone paving can allow water to seep under the stone and form into ice during freezing weather. The ice can then force the stone upwards and cause a trip hazard. You’ll need to address any paving stones that show signs of heaving by improving the drainage under the stone.

3. Keep It Clean

To keep unsightly and slippery stains at bay, keep your paving stones clean by sweeping it or hosing it off frequently. Most stains can be scrubbed away with a solution of dish soap and water Avoid using power washers that can dislodge the joint sand or mortar.

4. Eliminate Stains

Stains can be a sign of developing moss, mould or mildew, substances that make your patio extremely slippery after a freeze. A solution of 10 percent bleach in water can be used to help break down the organisms for easier removal. Just be sure to give the patio a thoroughly rinsing when you’re done.

5. Resolve Drainage Issues

Ensuring that water doesn’t accumulate on your stone paving is the best way to keep your patio from turning into a slippery ice rink when during freezing weather. If puddles are a problem, improving the drainage in the surrounding area can help. Dig out shallow channels along the borders of the patio and fill them with gravel or sandy soil.

For more information on any questions you may have about stone paving just call us on 053 938992 or visit us in Camolin Co.Wexford.

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Adding Visual Interest

When it comes to home decorating, furnishings and accessories tend to receive the lion’s share of attention, but because they cover such a large area of visual space, it’s the wall treatments that often determine whether a design succeeds or fails.
Installing stone cladding on a single interior wall gives you the opportunity to add visual interest to the space without overpowering it. The texture, colour and pattern of the cladding wall adds a feeling of depth and dimension, transforming an otherwise uninteresting wall into a design feature that enriches the entire space.

Stone Cladding Wall Options

Natural stone cladding is real stone that has been carefully carved and sawn into thin pieces. Its light weight means that they can be used for feature walls in any room of your home. The broad selection of natural stone cladding available today ensures that you’ll have a virtually unlimited choice of sizes, shapes, colours and materials. Whether it’s a rustic stone that gives the appearance of a hand-laid retaining wall or precision-cut limestone, marble or granite cladding for a contemporary look, there’s no limit to the style you can achieve.

Cladding Wall Installation

The way the stone cladding is installed pays an important role as well. The mortar used to hold the stones in place can be nearly invisible or can enhance the overall pattern with a thick border. There are even pigments available that you can mix into the mortar to match or contrast with the stone. Whether you do the installation work yourself or hire a professional mason, the secret to achieving pleasing results lies in laying the stone with proportion and scale in mind. A feature wall of oversized stones can look great in a large living area with high ceilings but can easily overwhelm a smaller room. Come and visit our display area in Co. Wexford where we will discuss the best stone cladding option for you. Simply call us on 053 9383992 or click here to fill out a contact us form.

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Paving Stones for Driveways 

The driveway to a home is more than a mode of access. It’s a hardscape feature that greatly influences the way that the home is perceived. The right paving stones on a driveway can reinforce the home’s architectural style, creating a visual element that links the landscape to the home’s interiors. Available in a broad range of shapes, colours and textures, natural stone pavers offer versatile style. From a simple drive bordered with stones in a complementing shade to a complex pattern of geometrical shapes, stone driveways can improve the architectural style of any property.

Stone Pathways for Timeless Appeal

Stone paving provides functional and decorative solutions for pathways in home landscaping as well. A stone pathway not only facilitates foot traffic in bad weather but also helps visually and physically separate different areas of the garden. Stone paths elevate the style of the garden, adding a feeling of permanence and sophistication to the landscape.

When it comes to installing natural paving stones on a drive or pathway, choosing the right paving suppliers is just as important as selecting the right natural stone. Paving stones must be accurately cut and fitted to create a surface that will stand up to years of frequent use. Quality paving suppliers not only offer stone materials free of defects and flaws but ensure that the stones are installed by qualified stone masons as well.   S&N Granite is the leading supplier of natural paving stones in Ireland.

We cater for domestic as well as commercial customers. Contact us today or visit our 1100 sqm showroom where you will see great range of quality paving stones to suit any customer taste.

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Excessive Staining To Paving Slabs

Natural stone paving and paving slabs are porous and without sealant applied, are subject to stains. Petroleum products that leak from vehicles will eventually turn the colour of the stone. If the paving slabs are set in sand, you can simply turn them over to hide the stains. Eventually you might have to consider changing the stones out for new product. Application of a natural stone sealant over the new paving will help keep this problem from happening.

Uneven Settling Of Paving Stones

Areas that are prone to seismic activity or heavy rains can experience uneven settling of the stone paving due to soil being washed away or moved. Applying the weight of a vehicle on uneven paving stones will cause cracks and chips to occur. This is especially true when they are of poor quality. Always keep quality and industry reputation in mind with paving suppliers or paving supplies. It is worth investing in high quality for durability.

Deterioration In Stone Paving Appearance

Even when the best paving suppliers are used, they will deteriorate over a long period of time when used consistently. Once the appearance of the surface shows more signs of deterioration than is desired, you might want to start considering a change in driveway paving. There are many options these days in both paving slabs and stone paving products. You can choose from a variety of colours, designs, shapes and textures. Investing in a completely updated look for your driveway paving increases the resale value and potential of your home. The cost is minimal when taking the overall durability of quality paving products into account.

Check out our beautiful stone paving products here. S&N Granite is one of the leading natural stone suppliers in Ireland. They offer wide range of natural stone paving materials at affordable prices. Contact S&N Granite today to find out more or visit our showroom to view our wide range of natural paving and other stone products.

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Traditional Twists

Traditional patterns like herringbone, running bond and basket weave remain popular paving styles. Their interlocking patterns add durability and strength as well as visual interest to the design. For a twist on the traditional look, consider adding a colourful border in a contrasting colour and pattern. Borders give paths, patios and driveways a crisp, tailored look that adds a note of sophistication to simple paving stone styles.

Free-Style Patterns

Limestone paving is an extremely popular choice for patterned designs. The soft even-toned shades available in limestone paving make it easy to mix and match colours to create a coordinated yet distinctive design. Start by selecting a colour palette that complements your home’s architectural style and suits your personal taste. For a pleasing random-looking pattern, choose square and rectangular paving stone in different sizes.

Nature-Inspired Designs

The latest trend in mixing and matching paving styles is to incorporate living plants into the design. Whether it’s filling the gaps between randomly laid paving slabs with a ground cover or allowing a pattern to trail off haphazardly into bordering flower beds or grass, plants soften the look of paving designs. You can even create pockets in a patterned path or patio design for seasonal annuals. When it comes to finishing off a paving design in style, the only limit is your imagination.

Now that you have a better understanding of the benefits of mixing and matching stone paving for your patio or driveway check out our range of paving slabs here or visit us in our display area in Camolin, Co. Wexford and one of our sales team will give you the best advice around your paving options.

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Planning the Design

Use garden stakes and heavy string or cording to establish your pathway’s boundaries and to ensure that the paving slabs stay level as you lay them down. Consider the stride of the people who will be using the path when laying out your design so that there’s a surface underneath for each step. Stepping stone paths can be laid in either straight or curved designs. For curved designs, tighten the spacing on the inside edge of the arc and widen it on the outside edge.

Preparing the Surface

If laying your path across a lawn, use an edging tool to cut out the outline of each stone, and then cut deep into the lawn with a spade to remove the turf and its roots. For each stone paving slab, dig down to a depth that’s equal to the stone’s thickness plus at least four centimetres. Take measurements from the mason line running from each corner garden stake to ensure that depths are even.

Laying the Base

Create a supportive base for your stone paving using crushed stone or gravel. Use a rake to level the base and a hand tamper to compact it. Pour a thin layer of sand over the base to use as a levelling course so that you can nudge the paving stone into the perfect position. Set the sand by spraying it with a fine mist of water before laying the stones.

A well-designed stepping stone path helps you control the natural flow of foot traffic through your landscape whilst adding functionality and artistry to your garden as well. For long-lasting results, choose quality precision-cut paving slabs from S&N Granite. Our extensive selection ensures that you’ll find the perfect choice for your stepping stone path.

Contact us through our contact page for any enquiries or visit our expansive outdoor stone paving and garden display area in Co. Wexford.

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Distinctive Style

Architectural features like windows and doors naturally attract the eye. Their attention-grabbing quality makes them ideal when you want to add visual interest to the indoor and outdoor spaces in your home. If your stone paving will be installed near a door with an attractive arch, for example, you may wish to choose a stone in a contrasting colour, texture or shape that will emphasise the distinctive focal point.

Harmonious Design

Shapes, finishes and colours that are repeated throughout a living area give the space a feeling of cohesion. Unifying elements encourage the eye to take in the space as a whole rather than focussing on individual components. Matching the type of stone paving you choose to your window sills, door thresholds and arches is helpful when you want to create a spacious, calm and sophisticated style.

Achieving Balance

Because natural stone paving is a quality material that deserves its share of attention, you won’t want to match the stone so closely with other features in your home that it disappears into the background. Look for opportunities to add accents that will give the paving stand-out appeal. Consider adding a contrasting border, introducing a new colour or working the paving slabs into an interesting pattern to achieve a balanced design.

Stone paving suppliers like S&N Granite offer paving stone in a broad array of sizes, shapes and colours, so your options are virtually endless when it comes to mixing and matching design styles. The secret to achieving satisfying results lies in creating a design that best suits your aesthetic sensibility.

S&N Granite are leading suppliers of stone paving, stone cladding and stone garden ornaments. Visit our extensive display area in Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford where we would be delighted to discuss your project with you. You can also drop into our neighbouring garden centre and cafe Cois Na hAbhainn while you are here.

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1. Patios Become Courtyards

This year’s challenging winter weather has everyone looking forward to warmer weather with impatience, and emerging stone paving trends also reflect a desire to make the most out of outdoor living spaces. Instead of confining outdoor activities to a small patio, people are extending paved areas to create large courtyard areas. Often, the pavers arranged in a formal design that provides a distinctive and sophisticated space for outdoor entertaining.

2. Down the Garden Path

Long, paved paths with detailed edging are perfect for large formal gardens, but for smaller properties, the new trend is to create a winding path that entices family and friends to wander through the garden to explore its features. Frequently, this accomplished with paving slabs or large stepping stones to create a welcoming, natural look.

3. Fifty Shades of Grey

When it comes to colour options, grey looks to be the most popular choice for both indoor and outdoor paving applications. Grey is a versatile shade that works with either contemporary or traditional decorative schemes, and that’s made the colour a top choice among interior decorators and landscape designers alike this year. To showcase the fashionable shade, choose paving slabs or large pavers in symmetrical shapes and sizes.

4. Circular Patterns

In the past, the skill and equipment that it took to craft circular paving patterns deterred people from considering the design for their outdoor living areas. Today, however, pavers are available with pre-cut edges that allow you to create a circle made of stones as easily as you would a square or rectangle. Circular patterns are natural focal points that command attention, which makes them ideal when you want to achieve a show-stopping style.

At S&N Granite we offer a wide range of stone paving including limestone paving, cobble paving and Indian sandstone paving. Contact S&N Granite to enquire about our wide range of paving materials or visit our new display area in Camolin, Co. Wexford, which is only an hour from Dublin.

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Types Of Natural Stone Cladding

Cladding stone is natural stone that has been carved into thin slices, making a veneer that’s light enough for use on virtually any indoor or outdoor surface. Slate and granite are good choices for outdoor applications. Both have a low water absorption index that allows them to stand up well to inclement weather. Quartz cladding has a variegated look that adapts well to an array of decorative and architectural styles. Rustic brown wall cladding is perfect for indoor feature walls as it creates eye-catching focal points in entry halls, living spaces and dining rooms.

Cut for Character and Style

Although the back of cladding stone is cut smooth for easy application, the front surface can feature a broad range of textures, sizes, cuts and configurations. Some facades look as if they’re made up of whole stones stacked by hand whilst others are precision cut into even shapes and sizes or into intricate patterns and designs. You can view a full assortment of stone cladding options at the expansive display area at S&N Granite in Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford to find the perfect choice for your indoor or outdoor application. You can also contact one of our experts by email or phone by clicking through to our contact page here.

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