Yorkstone Paving: Timeless Elegance for Your Outdoor Spaces

Yorkstone paving is a quintessentially British material known for its natural beauty, durability, and timeless appeal. An indigenous sandstone, sourced from quarries in Yorkshire and Lancashire, this versatile stone has been used for centuries in various applications, from grand historical landmarks to charming cottage gardens. London Stone offer a premium selection of Yorkstone paving slabs, expertly crafted to meet the highest standards of quality and looks.

Types of Yorkstone Paving

Britannia Buff Sawn Yorkstone: Known for its warm, honey-coloured, khaki tones, Buff Yorkstone slabs are a popular choice for both traditional and modern designs. Its subtle colour variation adds depth and character to any outdoor space. As the name suggests, this material is machine-sawn all six sides, making it at home in contemporary settings, when laid with a 5mm joint. Often used in award-winning garden designs, Sawn Yorkstone is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious natural stone paving materials on the market.

Reclaimed Yorkstone: Featuring rich, earthy shades, our Reclaimed Yorkstone has been recovered from sites across the UK, and is of the high quality, 'pavement grade'. Hand cut, reclaimed Yorkstone flags offer a classic and timeless look, bringing a sense of history into more traditional garden designs. Perfect for creating courtyards, patios and pathways, Reclaimed Yorkstone is supplied in random sizes and has a thickness, between 50mm - 100mm.

Benefits of Yorkstone Paving

1. Durability and Longevity

Yorkstone is renowned for its exceptional durability. It withstands heavy foot traffic, harsh weather conditions, and the test of time. This makes it an ideal choice for patios, pathways, and driveways, ensuring your outdoor spaces remain beautiful and functional for decades.

2. Natural Aesthetic Appeal

Each piece of Yorkstone is unique, featuring variations in colour and texture that add to its natural charm. With its buff, earthy tones, Yorkstone paving can complement any garden design, from traditional to contemporary. Blending seamlessly with natural surroundings, Yorkstone can create a harmonious and inviting outdoor environment.

3. Versatility

Yorkstone is incredibly versatile, suitable for a wide range of applications beyond paving. Its durability and aesthetic qualities make it perfect for statement steps, elegant coping stones, and unique, bespoke garden features, allowing you to create a cohesive and stylish look throughout your garden or landscape.

Installation Tips

1. Preparing the Base

A well-prepared base is crucial for the successful installation of Yorkstone paving. Start by excavating the area to a suitable depth, then lay a sub-base of compacted hardcore. Follow this with a layer of sand or mortar to ensure a stable and level foundation. Watch our handy playlist on YouTube to learn more about installing natural stone.

If you are looking for a local garden designer or landscaper, our Connect tool will present you with some options.

2. Jointing and Sealing

Yorkstone paving can be jointed with a suitable paving grout that matches the colour of the stone. Although sealing is not always necessary, applying a high-quality sealant to sawn (smooth) natural stones will provide additional protection against stains and enhance the stone's natural colours.

3. Handling and Cutting

Yorkstone is a dense and heavy material, so it is important to handle it with care during installation. When cutting Yorkstone, use a diamond blade saw to achieve precise edges and avoid spalling.

Designing with Yorkstone Paving

Yorkstone paving slabs are a timeless and versatile choice for enhancing your outdoor spaces. With its exceptional durability, natural beauty, and wide range of applications, Yorkstone can transform any garden, patio, or pathway into a stunning feature. Explore London Stone's premium selection of Yorkstone paving, steps, and coping stones, to create an outdoor space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Whether you are aiming for a traditional look or a modern design, Yorkstone offers the perfect solution to meet your needs.

Yorkstone has long been a favourite of designers looking for the 'wow factor' when it comes to designing RHS Flower Show gardens. Being an indigenous natural stone, Yorkstone possesses a lower carbon footprint than imported sawn stone, making it a discerning choice for those looking to reduce their impact on the environment.

Yorkstone Steps, Copings, and Pier Caps

London Stone offers a comprehensive range of Yorkstone products beyond paving slabs. Our Yorkstone Steps provide a durable and elegant solution for entrances, especially when paired with Victorian Tiles for a classic look. Yorkstone Coping Stones offer the perfect finishing touch for walls and poolside's, enhancing both safety and style. Additionally, our bespoke made Yorkstone Pier Caps will add character and natural beauty to pillars and create an inviting feature for period properties. Each product is meticulously crafted to ensure lasting quality and elegance.

Yorkstone Frequently Asked Questions

What is Yorkstone?

Yorkstone is a type of sandstone quarried in Yorkshire, known for its durability, natural beauty, and wide range of colours and textures. It is commonly used for paving, walling, steps, and other architectural applications.

Does Yorkstone need sealing?

As with any machine sawn stone, we highly recommend sealing Britannia Buff Yorkstone to assist with ongoing maintenance. Whilst not preventing stains, sealing natural stone (especially the more porous sawn variety) enables you to clean.

Is Yorkstone suitable for driveways?

Reclaimed Yorkstone is suitable for driveways as it is exceptionally durable and can withstand heavy loads. Britannia Buff Sawn Yorkstone however, is a light-coloured, smooth natural stone, and we would therefore not recommend it as a driveway paving material. Learn more about which materials work the best for driveways.

How do I maintain Yorkstone paving?

Maintaining Yorkstone paving is straightforward. Regular sweeping to remove debris and occasional washing with mild soapy water are usually sufficient. Periodic jet washing is recommended with Sawn Yorkstone. Sealing Sawn Yorkstone can provide additional protection against stains and enhance its natural colours if you wish to.

Can Yorkstone be used for indoor applications?

Absolutely. Reclaimed Yorkstone's natural beauty and durability make it suitable for indoor applications such as flooring and feature walls. Its unique colour variations and textures add character to interior spaces.

Is there a more cost-effective alternative to Yorkstone?

There is no doubt that Yorkstone paving is special, but there is also no avoiding the costs involved. Imported stone offers economical alternatives which carry every bit as much elegance as the British material. For an economical alternative to Britannia Buff Yorkstone slabs, Harvest Sandstone gives a similar look at a fraction of the cost.

Raj Green Indian Sandstone and Tumbled Black Sandstone, meanwhile, possess a subtle mix of colours with more brown tones, as well as a riven surface for a classic look, akin to Reclaimed Yorkstone.

Find out more about the reasons for the cost of natural stone paving slabs, and how to mitigate them.