Calibrated Sandstone

The use of Sandstone paving has grown from strength to strength over recent times, and the variations of surface finish and texture have seen dramatic changes. There really is a huge choice available now so people are starting to look at new ideas, and new ways of using Sandstone Paving.

The huge influx of Indian Sandstone Paving Slabs has flooded the market, from cheap and cheerful to high-end and very expensive. The difficulty in a market so thriving is to find something that has all the appeal of being top-end but without the price tag to match. At Landscaping Supplies Ltd. we are always looking at new paving solutions and trying to keep on top of such an ever changing range of products, and at the same time keeping within range of the customer.

After many years being one of the largest importers of Natural Indian Sandstone Paving, we have made great progress with quality issues that had always been a problem for many suppliers selling to the trade and the public. We made sure all of our products were of the highest standards and that we always had a large inventory of stock, to meet all of our customers needs.

Over recent months, there has been call for a step forward in Sandstone Paving and a move towards Calibrated Sandstone Paving is taking place. With its accurately graded depth/thickness it is not only easier to work with and quicker to install, but has advantages in being generally smoother on its top surface as well, giving an excellent finish which is worth the modest increase in cost. To date feedback is very promising and many of the Landscapers we supply are already noticing the advantages that Calibrated Sandstone has to offer, they are certainly finding installation is much faster with Paving Slabs that are all the same thickness.
We are sure that you will see the benefit that going with Calibrated Paving has to offer, and you can rest assured that it will be another product that will be as strong as our others for years to come.

Sandstone Paving a Rough Guide

A simple buyer’s guide to getting the right Sandstone for your next paving job.

There are a few things that you will need to look into when selecting what paving you are going to use, it is an important decision and one that can be very costly to rectify if done badly, or with poor materials. With Sandstone Paving there is a lot to look out for, from quality issues to colour, and with the huge selection available nowadays the most important thing is that you are happy with the finished product, but it is the decisions you make now that will determine whether that is an easy process or not.

One of the major factors when choosing paving is quality of finish, and with the massive amount being produced in India there are good and bad products spread throughout the whole industry. As a general rule Sandstone is quarried and then graded by colour and quality, most of the paler colours of Sandstone are softer than the darker shades, which has an effect on how riven the surface of the slabs will be, as each slab is split to thickness and then chiselled down to size. During the process of splitting, the thickness of each slab is determined, this is something that some quarries will then grade as well, which is where having a good relationship with your supplier can really make a difference, as the quality of stone you get really comes down to who’s custom they value the highest.

Another thing to look out for is colour consistency, or inconsistency as is generally the case! Sandstone is a naturally Multi-coloured material, which to many is its main point of appeal, with colours varying from creamy off whites to greys and even black at the other end. Most people will expect or even want a degree of colour fluctuation and as before this is something that is graded in the quarries, so the colours should have subtle changes in each consignment keeping to an overall theme for each colour band.

We work very hard with our suppliers to ensure tat our Indian Sandstone Paving is the best it can be, and we’re confident that this is represented through our products’ consistency and quality, why not pop in and see for yourself, or request a sample when thinking about your next project.

Landscaping Supplies is Moving

We are moving....

After 5 years of operating out of A.E. Roberts Nursery in Shirrell Heath, just outside of Wickham and north of Fareham, we are delighted to have been given the opportunity by Winchester City Council to leave our small yard to go to pastures new. And new they are, a totally dedicated new site built from the ground up and on a completely regenerated site in Portsmouth.

The new site has given us the chance to not only to operate from a much larger and more accessible suet but to re-brand as Natural Stone and Timber, as well as having new warehousing facilities and a totally fresh start with showrooms, display gardens and a whole new customer experience, and far from our days of working out of portacabins.

The regeneration of Voyager North, off Airport Service Road, Portsmouth, is on the site of the former Portsmouth Gas Works, and only minutes from the M27 and A27. We have custom designed and built on a plot of 1 acre, from the complete construction of the groundworks below, with advanced water management separating out any contaminants and reducing the flow of water into the system. We will have over 4500sq. foot of Warehouse space, and a vast area for outside storage of our external products and around 2000 sq. foot of office space. This will enable us to really expand our range of products, enhance the experience for our customers, and provide a huge platform to continue our expansion in years to come.

Works are due to be complete in the early part of the summer this year with a final date when we will be fully operational around June of this year. We will be continuing to clear stock from our current site, and we aim to keep stock of most items until the last possible moment to ensure we are still able to provide our customers with the products they need when they need them.

We are looking forward to going to Portsmouth and you can be assured that our knowledgeable and helpful staff will all be making the move too, we aim to keep the same friendly atmosphere in our new offices as we have now, and we welcome you to pop in, say hello, and even join us for a coffee to discuss any future requirements you might have.

If you would like any more information regarding our move, or would like to keep in touch with us for any future promotions, offers or news, please drop us an e-mail with your name, and address if you like good old fashioned hard copies to rob@landscaping-supplies.net

Travertine Paving for a more contemporary look to you patio

If you are looking for something a bit more contemporary for your patio, why not consider Travertine Paving? Travertine has been a well used building material for centuries, and with the advancements in technology in the manufacturing of natural stone, there is very little that can’t be done with this material. As a paving slab Travertine is a surprising choice, not only is it much more durable than you would expect, but it is easy to work with, simple to maintain, and fantastic to look at.

Our Travertine Paving Slabs come in several colours and with a few size options, including the ever popular Opus Romano Pattern, so there’s every chance that there will be something to suit you. In its internal form Travertine is 12mm thick, but to maintain strength the external version is 32mm thick which makes it very robust and resistant to frost. It is also left unfilled to give it a more ‘grippy’ texture, but still being honed it is uniquely modern in appearance on larger areas, with its straight lines and crisp corners.

One of the other advantages with choosing Travertine as a paving material, particularly in smaller courtyard areas, is its fascinating variations in colour and patterning with each individual slab. As with any natural product a certain degree of variation is expected, but with Travertine Paving it defines the patio, and gives it a depth of character that you wouldn’t find from some of the more mass produced choices such as concrete and block pavers.

Travertine is an excellent choice for Patios and Pathways, and combined with Travertine Tiling indoors, can make an exceptional feature and really bring the inside and outside of your home together. For pictures or other information please check our website as it is regularly updated www.landscaping-supplies.net

Those still in doubt about the durability of travertine need look no further that the Colosseum in Rome. It is made of travertine and has been there since Roman times almost 2000 years ago.

Feel free to ring us on 01329 836275 if you would like to discuss using travertine in any of your projects.

New Oak Railway Sleepers

With the massive range of Railway sleepers on the market from Old Reclaimed to New Sawn and Untreated, it is hard to know where to begin when looking at options for your project, but there are a few things worth considering that could make all the difference....

With regard to New Green Oak, there are many things to look out for. Are they square and straight? Are they clean and knot free? Are they cracked or split? Are they from a sustainable source? All things worth considering, and things that will make a real difference to your choices. With the huge amount of imported timber coming in from abroad it is sometimes hard to know what you are getting, and especially where it’s from. There is a huge quantity of New Railway Sleepers coming out of Eastern Europe at the moment that are made from Turkish oak. This is a fast grown oak and generally not very good to work with as it twists and splits within a few years of going down.

As an importer of Sawn Oak we know that our customers want a strong, reliable product that will last a long time, without breaking the bank. All of our New Oak is from Quebec, Canada, and from a sustainable forest where they have been making timber products for generations. It is Red Oak and because of this, very hard, strong, straight and true. Available in two sizes it is even possible to dry the sleepers for light internal use. You will get years of service from these beautiful natural products.

As a landscaping material our Oak Sleepers are a pleasure to work with, each one is as straight as the next which has proved to be an invaluable feature when you need a good job done fast. It is also fantastic to see them age outside as over the first few years you will see a slow change in colour as they Grey with the weather and add a timeless authenticity to your garden that cannot be achieved with other products.
New Oak is a great choice to add charm and character to your project, and all this with a natural product. Who knew wood would still be one of the most influential building materials in the 21st century?

Bullnosed pool and patio edges

At Landscaping Supplies Ltd. we can now offer a bespoke service to our customers in cutting and profiling edges on most of our paving products. Particularly popular for swimming pool edges, steps and coping stones, we can cut a full bullnose on to the edge to give a smoother and more finished appearance.

The process is a relatively easy one, and usually takes us around 2-4 days to complete an average sized swimming pool (approx. 35-50 linear meters) We start by determining the type of material required by the customer, and then discussing any specific requirements, such as roman ends and shaped corners, which we usually come out to site and template ourselves, avoiding the possibility of errors when laying the edges.

Once all measurements are taken, we go about selecting the paving to be cut and from there begin the process of profiling and polishing down the paving to the required finish. Once done it is then packaged and ready for delivery to the customer, usually making the total process take around 1 week to 10 days.

The most popular materials for edges are Travertine Paving and our Indian Sandstone Paving, allowing a seamless link to any patio being laid around or adjacent to the pool. We also profile edges for Wall Cappings or Copings which give a more finished look, and tie it in to the patio surrounding.

For more information check the Swimming Pool Edges section on our website, or call us on 01329 836275 to discuss your requirements, where a member of the team will be only too happy to help.

Tumbled Indian Sandstone Paving

We have recently started stocking tumbled indian sandstone paving. This has the standard riven surface of indian sandstone paving but has had the top surface sandblasted. This gives an impression the slabs have been weathered over many years. These slabs fit in particularly well to period properties and also look great when used on projects such as barn conversions. We are currently stocking the tumbled indian sandstone paving in the raj green colour.

If you would like more information or pricing on this product please ring Ben, Rob or Barnaby on 01329 836275.