Indian Sandstone is by far one of the most popular paving materials in the world. With this popularity traditionally comes many ludacris claims and myths that have been continuously spread for so long that many people believe them to be the truth. As a material, Indian Sandstone has had many questions and claims about its performance, many of them of which are wildly inaccurate.
These common myths and misconceptions can be very damaging to a material's reputation and can even put customers off these materials. This is a great shame as these inaccurate claims can hugely impact an individual's material selection.
‘Sandstone pavers will not last the test of time’
This is a common myth that comes with every material across every industry in the world. It is a common misconception that Indian sandstone paving stones will not last the test of time and will therefore show wear as time goes on. However this is not the case with Indian Sandstone pavers, the material is hugely robust.
Indian sandstone paving slabs have a huge amount of amazing benefits that make the material extremely durable and sure to last the test of time. The phenomenal natural stone has a brilliantly strong natural composition and therefore holds up extremely well over time even when met with the extreme weather conditions that we can experience throughout the years in the UK.
Sandstone is a natural stone whose creation was done over millions of years. Unlike many of its artificial competitors, therefore its phenomenally beautiful and unique colours and patterns will not fade through sun damage. This means that the stone will look just as good five years later as it did the day it was installed if maintained correctly.
'Indian sandstone has a limited choice of colours'
This may be one of the most ludicrous myths that we have seen with Indian Sandstone. Out of all the natural paving stone materials on the market, Indian sandstone has by far the most impressive range of beautiful colours that have all come naturally as opposed to artificially colouring the natural stone from the Indian regions.
The multitude of amazing colours of Indian Sandstone includes Raj Green, Kandla Grey, Mint Fossil, Kota Black, Autumn Brown, Camel Dust and so many more phenomenal colours that can truly help to transform any outdoor patio area. Each of these fantastic colour has its own unique tones and patterns that are created by the colours within the natural stone. So no matter what colour or aesthetic you are after, you can be sure that you will find what you are looking for through Indian sandstone.
Another amazing fact about the plethora of colours that this wonderful natural stone can be found in is that they look even better when wet. It can often be a worry that paving stones can look dull and dirty when wet but this is most definitely not the case with Indian sandstone. When the Indian Sandstone slabs are wet their unique colours and patterns are accentuated and therefore give the paving an even more impressive aesthetic. This is great in a country like the UK where it feels like more often than not we experience wet weather conditions.
‘Indian Sandstone pavers can become uneven over time’
This is a myth because it has nothing to do with the actual stone that is used for your paving stones. This is very much down to the installation process of the paving slabs. If they are installed poorly then there is a good chance that over time they will begin to rise and therefore become uneven, but again this is only if they are installed incorrectly.
If the pavers are installed incorrectly then there could potentially be spaces around the stone for things like dirt, dust and moisture to penetrate. When water and moisture continuously get through the cracks in between the pavers over and over it will eventually result in the pavers starting to bulge and therefore become uneven.
In addition, if you are talking about the surface of the stone, then all sandstones are relatively rough and uneven when compared to other materials such as limestone. This is very much down to the natural stones' rippled surface. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, this kind of surface gives the stone a more authentic feel and also adds to the durability and lifespan of a stone.
'Indian Sandstone encourages weed growth'
This is a very common misconception that is made in regards to Indian Sandstone and also any other paving material. Seeing weeds between pavers over the spring/summer months is extremely common and therefore we can understand why you would think that the pavers could play a part in encouraging the growth of the weeds. However, we can assure you that this is not the case.
If the paving stones have been installed and laid correctly then they should have been laid with jointing sand or polymeric sand which helps to stop any weeds from growing. It stops the weeds by acting as a protective layer between the paving stones and the soil underneath where the weeds grow. If the pavers were not laid correctly then weeds could potentially grow through the cracks in the poorly laid pavers.
'Indian sandstone is very difficult to maintain'
People often think that Indian Sandstone and other pavings are very difficult to maintain and keep on top of. People often see the weather conditions that we are faced with in the UK and make the assumption that this must be a huge nuisance for keeping pavers clean, however, it does not have much of an effect on the Indian sandstone pavers.
When your Indian sandstone pavers have been laid you should always seal them. Sealing your paving stones will help to protect them from the wear and tear that comes with an outdoor entertaining area or driveway. It also makes sure that the paving stones are UV resistant and will therefore not be discoloured by the sun over time.
Once a seal has been applied to your Indian sandstone pavers the only upkeep that you need is to lightly wash the paving between 3-4 times a year. In the winter it is more important to wash the paving more regularly due to the dirt, rain and to also make sure that you do not have a mammoth clean-up job come spring the following year.