Clay paving or natural stone tiles
You have decided to repave your garden for a natural look. Then you should choose a truly natural product such as clay pavers or natural stone tiles. But what’s the difference?
Naturally beautiful
A natural garden should be full of natural materials. To pave your patio or garden path you have a choice between clay pavers or natural stone tiles. Every material has its own features, options, and limitations. You do not need to limit yourself to just one of the two materials. A combination of the two can give truly fantastic results.
Natural stone
Natural stone tiles are made from basalt, granite, hard stone, or slate. Material today largely comes for quarries located in China, Turkey, and Vietnam. The shapes, colours, and textures of natural stone tiles vary enormously, from sleek dark grey to colourful flagstones in warm hues. Natural stone tiles give the garden an instantaneous chic appearance.
Natural stone is not 100% reliable
Natural stone is a temperamental material. No two tiles are the same . This gives your garden a random,natural look– but there is a flip side. The colour of the tiles can sometimes vary too much, which can lead to it looking cluttered. Another drawback of natural tiles is that some types can discolour and turn pale. Scratches and marks can also develop easily and types that are rich in limestone are not very resistant to acids.
Natural stone is more expensive to lay
Laying natural stone paving is slightly more expensive than clay pavers. You cannot simply lay natural stone tiles in a bed of sand. You will need to lay a foundation first and then top this with a layer of drainage mortar or stabilising sand. In addition, the base also needs to be clean. If the ground is ferrous, the iron will penetrate the tiles and you’ll end up with flecks of rust. You also need to take into account the installation and additional materials you’ll need in your costing.
The versatility of clay pavers
The warm, natural colours of clay pavers create a cosy atmosphere in any garden. Their convenient size means that they can be laid easily in any pattern you choose. Straight lines for a modern, sleek garden, or circles and fan shapes for an eye-catching effect. The timeless clay paver is a versatile paving product to suit any type of garden.
Garden paving with clay pavers is relatively inexpensive and easy to lay. You can lay the pavers in road sand . The final result will be wear resistant and colourfast. Clay pavers are super strong. You can use them for more than just your garden path or patio, but your driveway as well. See our blog for more tips on laying a driveway. A patio, driveway, or garden path of clay pavers is also good way to prepare for extreme rain. The rainwater can drain away via the gaps and into the ground.
Pavers with environmentally-friendly production
Keen on garden paving with a natural look? Then you’ll probably be looking for material that is kind on the environment too. The traditional Dutch brick is made from clay, a 100% natural product. Dutch river clay is a renewable raw material and its extraction is a major contributor to the new natural landscape of the Netherlands.
The multitude of colours is achieved by mixing different types of clay, without the use of any artificial additives. The final colour is created by the baking process in the kiln. No top layers or pigments are required. Pavers are virtually indestructible and do not discolour. Natural ageing helps to give them an even more attractive and authentic look.
Clay paving has a lifespan of more than 135 years. You can easily sell pavers on or reuse them in the garden without difficulty. In addition, you can also pick them up and re-lay them in a different pattern in your own garden .
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