Types of granite paving stones

Paving stones of different types

More than ten types of natural stone are used to serve as paving stones. Quartzite, sandstone, and granite are traditionally used for stone paving in Russia.

Quartzite is a rock, formed as a result of changes in sedimentary and magmatic rocks under pressure and temperature. The colouring of quartzite is quite diverse. Grey, pink, yellow, raspberry red, cherry and even white quartzite can be found. When processing quartzite for paving stone, a special technique is used, which greatly brightens the background of the stone. Quartzite is very hard and durable stone, which gives an opportunity to be widely used in construction.

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock which consists of cemented rubble and sand. The binding (cementitious) substances are clay, iron oxides and silica. It is the cement that gives quartzite its colouring – mainly white or grey, less often yellow, brown, red or green. Sandstone is used in the manufacture of paving stones and kerb stones.

Granite is a rock composed of three minerals – feldspar, quartz and mica. This combination gives granite excellent properties such as durability, wear resistance, rich colour palette. Granite paving stone is a time-tested brand. Pavements and squares created back in the Middle Ages still have lost nothing of their original properties.

Which stone is better for paving? This should be decided with regards to the tasks that need to be fulfilled by the road or square. The stylistic solution of the whole landscape is also very important. Granite paving stone is the universal type for constructing roads. Using granite makes it possible to achieve an excellent combination of pavement quality and colour matching.

Natural stone is used for paving in either a processed (chopped, sawn, heat-treated), or an unprocessed (flagstone) form.

Three variants of laying are used for paving – in-line, fan-shaped and random-like. Each variant has its own varieties, which are laid in accordance with the change of joint width between the stones. For example, curbstone can be laid in segment-arc or scale-arc pattern, and it is possible to design a circle or semi-circle pattern.

Types of paving stones

Chopped (all faces are chopped). They are classical paving stones made as cubes of not very regular shape with a size of 10*10*10 cm with a tolerance of 1 cm on any side. Other sizes of chopped paving stone are 5*5*5, 10*10*5, 7*7*7 cm. Chopped paving stone creates fan, wave or chessboard-shaped patterns.

Sawn-split – of slab (sides chopped, top and bottom sawn, heat-treated top).

Sawn-split – of “pencil” (sides sawn, top and bottom is chopped).

The face dimensions of paving stone are 100*100 mm, 200*100 mm. Standard thickness of paving stone is 60 mm. This is suitable for lorries to drive in on the surface laid with paving stone.

Full-sawn (all faces are sawn, top is heat-treated). Paving stone has a standard size of 20*10*6 cm, possible tolerance +-1 mm on the face. This type of paving stone can be arranged in such patterns as “carpet”, “scattered”, “herringbone parquet”. Full-sawn granite paving stone is the most expensive type of stone, because diamond tools are used for making them.

Source: www.dvamolotka.ru