With evenings getting brighter and the days feeling warmer, it will soon be time for us to sit outside in the summer sun enjoying a barbecue or maybe a drink or two, so it’s best we get prepared! When it comes to selecting the best tiles for your garden, natural stone is always a popular choice. Whether your garden is used for entertaining, rest or play, natural stone tiles are the perfect way to liven up any space without losing the durability that those dull concrete slabs have. But where do you even start? When you start to look into all of the natural stone paving options on the market it can often feel like you’re walking through a mine field but that’s why we’re here to help guide you through all of the options and why you should use natural stone tiles for your next exterior project

What is natural stone paving?
So, what exactly is natural stone paving? The two main exterior stone options that we supply are limestone and travertine, there are both sedimentary rocks which are excavated from a mountain which has been maturing for millions of years. This is what gives the stone its unique and aged appearance and why can also seen fossils in certain types of limestone. After the stone is then excavated from the mountain it is then taken to a processing plant where it is cut down to a tile format and given its finish. With exterior tiles you will tend to find the finish is usually tumbled, this is essentially when the tiles are placed in a machine and shaken to create an aged appearance of both the edges and the surface.

Our Desert Pearl Tumbled limestone is the perfect choice for exterior projects, with its warm grey tones mixed with soft shades of beige it is perfectly suited as a base for an exterior environment. For modern design schemes, we also offer this stone in tiles of a smaller thickness if you would like to create a seamless design from your interior through to the exterior.

Why natural stone over porcelain?
Now I’m not going say anything bad about porcelain pavers as they have many perks such as their low maintenance and cost-effective qualities but natural stone also has its fair share of good qualities too. Natural stone is known for its durability and longevity, it holds a lot of strength and is known to be resistant to a lot of wear and tear, making it the perfect choice for exterior spaces that are going to be coming face to face with the elements of a daily basis, the weather resistant qualities of natural stone also make it the perfect choice when exposed to the elements. As well as this there are such a wide range of options available making it the perfect choice for a variety of different design schemes and with natural stone offering a unique and natural look due to its variations of colour, texture and pattern it can easily enhance any exterior space.

Another exterior stone option we have available is our Lydia Classico Tumbled Travertine, this tile is an absolute classic and is bound to stand the test of time. This one has been one of our most popular products for many years and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down, with its ivory tones and tumbled finish this tile fits perfectly into a variety of different settings.

What about maintenance?
There are some people that automatically get scared off natural stone when it comes to maintenance but there’s no need to worry. Natural stone is a porous material, which means it is susceptible to absorbing liquids which could then lead to staining, but this is completely avoidable. As long as you seal these tiles before and after grouting then this will provide a protective film across the top of the tile so liquids won’t be absorbed into the tiles and can be wiped off. The sealing process should be repeated roughly once every year but this can vary dependent on the foot traffic of the area.

What now?
Now it’s time to look for the perfect choice for your exterior project, now your clued up on the different stones and there perks and maintenance needs you are completely ready to go! Why not shop through our outdoor range to see the full collection we have available here at Ionic Stone.

https://www.ionicstone.co.uk/shop/outdoor-tiles