What is stone paving and how to lay it?

Classical building materials are becoming more and more popular today. For example, paving stones are often used to decorate sidewalks and roads in the course of landscape design. It is a beautiful material that attracts a lot of attention. In this article, we will find out what stone paving is and how it should be properly laid.

Paths and sidewalks, lined with natural stone, look rich and presentable. This design is rarely ignored, because it looks very beautiful. The demand for stone paving stones is understandable, because it has many positive qualities. Let's get acquainted with the most significant of them.

• An important parameter of such a material is its environmental friendliness. Natural stone paving stones are incapable of harming the environment and any living organisms.
• The installation of paving stones may seem very complicated and "tricky", but in fact, all the work is carried out quite simply. It won't take too long to achieve beautiful and high-quality results.
• If the need arises, the canvas in question can be repaired. The possibility of restoration is one of the most important advantages of stone paving stones.
• The material in question boasts a very high mechanical strength. Quality stone paving stones are not prone to breakage, chips or cracks. Often common defects that affect conventional paving slabs do not affect stone paving stones.
• This material is very durable. It will last for many years.
• External appeal is another significant plus of stone paving stones. With this design, the streets or adjacent territories begin to play with new colors, look more impressive and rich.

If stone paving slabs were chosen for decoration, which will be laid out according to the type of road, then it will not be flooded with water even during the period of very heavy rains.

Stone paving is a material that is divided into several subspecies. Each of them differs in certain external and operational characteristics. Consider what types of paving stones exist and how they are characterized.

• Basalt paving stones of natural origin it is subject to abrasion, but it is absolutely not afraid of frost and serves for many years. True, this material is very expensive.

• Quartzite the varieties are of good quality, are quite durable, environmentally friendly and fireproof. This type of material is also very expensive.

• Sandstone is a sedimentary rock. Paving stones with such details are light, but strong at the same time. It has a porous structure, due to which moisture can get inside the tile, gradually destroying it.

• Marble cladding looks especially presentable and expensive, and also attracts with good operational and technical characteristics. This material also has a very high price, so not everyone can afford it.

• Paving stones from natural Dagestan stone look beautiful. The cost of such material varies. Such paving stones may look a little rough, but many users really like the design with this solid material.

• The paving stones from the wild river stone look very interesting and unusual. River pebbles are relatively inexpensive but practical and beautiful material.

According to the method of processing, stone paving stones are subdivided into several more types.

• There is full-sawn tile, which is characterized by a strict but very neat design. These products have smooth edges, on which there are no chips, irregularities and other similar shortcomings. To achieve this effect, every detail is carefully ground. Such paving stones are very expensive.
• There is also a chipped stone. This is a relatively inexpensive item. It has irregular shapes and sharp corners or depressions. The specified coating creates a slightly sloppy look, therefore it is very often used to decorate paths and sidewalks in the country or a suburban area.
• Sawed-chipped elements are made by breaking off blanks of the required dimensions from the main stone of large dimensions. As a result, the top and bottom of the paving stone is smooth and processed, and its edges remain chipped. Hence the name of this material.
• Stitched and sawn workpieces are done differently. Their sides are smooth and even, and the top and bottom are chipped. This type of material is characterized by an acceptable cost, especially when compared with other types of paving stones.

Paving natural stone paving stones is a relatively easy process and does not take much time. Let's describe the procedure.

• First you need to decide on the ornament and the method of laying out the material. You can lay it out according to the type of pigtail, in a circle or in another relevant way.
• It is better to lay natural stone on a ready-made concrete screed. If it cannot be mounted, then at least a sand-crushed stone pillow should be made.
• Under the screed, you will need to mount a pit with a depth of at least 0.3 m.
• It is necessary to put geotextiles.
• To strengthen the concrete screed, it is advisable to use a reinforcing mesh or metal rods. These parts must be welded at the intersection points with each other.
• Wet gravel and sand should be used to form the pillows. Only with such components it will be possible to compact the formed layers well.
• Stone paving stones will need to be laid on a ready-made sand-cement mortar. In this case, it is recommended to carefully tap the facing material with a special rubber mallet.
• If necessary, all seam joints can be filled with concrete. Thus, it will be possible to achieve a monolithic coating.