All About Bluestone PatiosBluestone patios can be very beautiful. They are my favorite stone! The stone itself is lovely. Bluestone can be rectilinear (squared off) or it can have a natural, uneven shape. If choosing the rectilinear style, you may use all one size or varying sizes in the pattern. As I explain below, when using this type of bluestone, one of the most important considerations is quality workmanship. Bluestone is different than flagstone, which is thinner and softer. Bluestone holds up quite well. Over time, it will not discolor like pavers can. I have some large pieces of bluestone set into my brick patio at my house. While I have issues with the brick (which is porous, old brick), the bluestone is just old faithful...looks good all the time with a timeless elegance. I wish the entire patio was bluestone!
When designing bluestone patios, I often use various sizes. The photo below, 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 they can be laid on the diagonal. Laying it on the diagonal gives it even more interest.
Bluestone can also be free form, where the stones are irregular in shape. An excellent site to visit for bluestone is Stone Farm. They offer all types of high quality Pennsylvania bluestone in all color ranges, whether it be regular or irregular shaped. They will give you a quote and ship anywhere. (Their website is still being worked on, but don't let that deter you.) Other Bluestone Pages: Bluestone Patio - see some photos of some great bluestone design ideas Bluestone Walkway - walkways with different bluestone shapes and installation methods Bluestone Steps - some of my projects with various types of bluestone you can use for steps Bluestone In Cold Climates - Q&A regarding using bluestone in climates which have lots of freeze thaw conditions Installing Bluestone Over Concrete - lots of questions and answers on this topic and related ones
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. Another option for the joints is polymeric sand, but this can have issues, such as cracking. Also, it rather defeats the purpose of having a dry laid application, since polymeric sand hardens. Bluestone can also be wet laid where it is set in concrete. Cracking is possible with this method, particulalry in areas with lots of freeze-thaw conditions. I prefer dry laid, as it is less expensive, creates a wonderful bluestone patio look, and is also forgiving. What does forgiving mean? It means that it won't crack, and if a stone ever shifts, it can easily be reset. (Not so if you use polymeric sand in the joints.)
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.)
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.
When using rectilinear bluestones, be aware that often they are not exactly squared off. So when they are placed, the joints between the stones 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. There is nothing worse than looking at a bluestone patio and seeing joints that are not completely straight! Return From Bluestone Patios to Landscape Design Advice |
