All About Bluestone Patios

Bluestone patios can be very beautiful. The stone itself is lovely. Be sure, however, to get a quality project.

Shapes and Patterns

Bluestone can be rectilinear (squared off). If choosing this type, you may use all one size or varying sizes in the pattern.

When designing bluestone patios, I often use various sizes. The above photo, taken on a Virginia garden tour, is a nice example. Typical bluestone sizes are 12" x 12", 12" x 18", 18" x 24", and 24" x 24".

These rectilinear stones can be laid parallel to another structure such as your residence, or it can be laid on the diagonal.

Bluestone can also be free form, where the stones are irregular in shape.

Ways To Set Bluestone

Bluestone can be dry laid. The ground is excavated. Stone, such as quarry stone is placed in the bottom layer. Sand or stone dust is the next layer and the stones laid on top of this. The stones may be laid tight together or a small space may be left between them. Joint sizes of 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch look nice. A sandy material is then swept into the joints. You may also place pea gravel in the joints.

Bluestone can also be wet laid where it is set in concrete. Cracking is possible with this method.

Colors

Yes, there are different color choices! Bluestone is often called Pennsylvania Bluestone, as much of it comes from there. Bluestone comes in 2 different color ranges which are both nice. (There is a third color range, but it's not as attractive as the others.)

1. Blue - all stones are the typical blue color and are pretty much the same. This can create an elegant look. It is easy for other materials to look well with it as colors are not fighting each other.
2. Full Range - stones are a mix of blues, tans and to a lesser degree purples. This is a kaleidoscope of colors. It is very pretty and interesting. If you are adding other stone materials in the area, such as a natural stone wall, make sure the colors blend well with each other.

Another kind of bluestone is called "thermal finish". Here, the stones are slightly rougher than regular bluestone. It is a different kind of presentation. I would suggest looking at both for your bluestone patio to see what your preference would be. Personally, I like the typical bluestone in the Full Range color choice. Thermal finish bluestone is also more expensive.

Comments About Rectilinear Bluestone

When using rectilinear bluestones, be aware that often they are not exactly squared off. So when they are placed, the joints between the stone will not be straight. Here is the solution:

Have your contractor cut the stones with a wet saw to make them square. This is more work, and he will probably charge more for this, but it is important for a professional look for bluestone patios. You can also have the contractor select only the squared stones in the shipment. More stones may have to be ordered to accomplish this.

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