Transform Your Outdoor Spaces with Dependable Riven Indian Sandstone

For homeowners seeking a natural, timeless appeal, riven (hand-cut) Indian Sandstone is a perfect choice. Cheshire Paving Stones’ collection of riven sandstone paving offers beauty and a rustic charm that enhances any landscape design, all at an affordable price point. Whether you are creating a traditional garden, a contemporary patio, or a durable pathway, our Indian sandstone delivers exceptional quality and a classic finish.

Why Choose Riven Indian Sandstone?

Indian Sandstone is highly valued by landscapers for its natural appearance, versatility, durability and importantly, its affordable price point. Here’s why it stands out, and has been an ever-popular product in the UK market for decades:

Natural Beauty and Unique Textures: Indian Sandstone is known for its distinctive riven surface texture, which adds a unique, hand-split look to each piece. The varied shades and veining create a stunning, organic appearance that can’t be replicated by man-made materials. Each slab is unique, offering a blend of tones that work beautifully in any outdoor setting. The edges of Indian Sandstone are also hand dressed to add to the natural look of the paving slabs.

Durable and Long-Lasting: Sourced from the finest quarries in India, our Indian sandstone paving slabs are extremely durable. Indian stone is well suited to the climate in the UK and can withstand the elements, from heavy rainfall to intense sunlight, without losing its structural integrity. This makes it ideal for high-traffic areas like garden pathways or patios for outdoor dining and entertaining. Indian sandstone can also be used for driveways, though in this case we would always recommend opting for one of the darker, more forgiving colours to hide tyre marks and oil droplets.

Versatility in Design: Riven Indian Sandstone comes in a variety of shades, colours, and size, from soft greys and blues to warm golden, brown tones. This versatility allows designers, landscapers, and homeowners to choose a style that complements the overall look of the project, whether it’s a traditional garden or a sleek modern patio.

Slip-Resistant Surface: The riven texture of the sandstone not only adds visual appeal but also provides excellent slip resistance. This makes it a safe choice for outdoor areas, especially around pools, steps, and pathways, even when wet.

Aged to Perfection: One of the standout features of Indian sandstone is its ability to age beautifully over time. Exposure to the elements enhances its natural colours and character, giving it an immediate weathered, established look that adds charm and sophistication to any landscape.

Tumbled Options: Cheshire Paving Stones offer four beautiful ‘tumbled’ sandstones, which after being quarried, are vibrated with water and small pebbles to create a softer edge and a slightly more weathered look. These pavers are perfect for use in more traditional projects or for period properties.

The Advantages of Riven Indian Sandstone

Choosing riven Indian sandstone for your landscaping projects offers a host of benefits:

Cost-Effective and High Value: While offering a premium appearance, riven Indian sandstone is often more affordable than other natural stone alternatives, providing a cost-effective solution for high-quality paving.

Ease of Installation: With its natural cleft surface and consistent thickness, riven sandstone is relatively easy to install, making it a favourite among professional landscapers.

Weathering and Aging: Over time, riven sandstone takes on a softer, more weathered appearance that enhances its natural beauty. The stone’s colours deepen and become more nuanced, creating a look that’s both timeless and classic.

Minimal Fading: While some stones may lose their vibrancy under intense sunlight, Indian sandstone retains its colour, thanks to its dense and robust natural composition. Some sandstones will develop a patina over time.

Moss and Algae Resistance: The textured surface of riven sandstone is less prone to moss and algae growth compared to some smoother paving options. With just occasional maintenance Indian sandstone paving slabs remain clean and slip resistant.

Ideal Applications for Riven Indian Sandstone

Riven Indian Sandstone’s versatility makes it a great choice for a wide range of landscaping projects:

Patios and Outdoor Living Areas: Create a warm, inviting outdoor space with the natural charm of Indian sandstone. Its textured surface and variety of colour options allow you to craft a personalised design that suits any style, blending seamlessly with modern garden furniture or traditional brickwork.

Pathways and Garden Walkways: The natural, riven texture offers excellent slip resistance, making it an ideal choice for garden paths and walkways. The unique look of each slab adds interest and beauty to any pathway. Whether creating a traditional pathway with a random pattern, using four slab sizes, or using 900x600mm flags, an Indian Sandstone Garden path will stand the test of time.

Driveways and Courtyards: Indian sandstone’s strength and durability make it suitable for areas with heavy foot traffic or vehicles. It’s a practical, stylish choice for driveways and courtyards that need to withstand everyday wear and tear. Unlike concrete block paving, natural stone won’t lose significant colour over time. If choosing Indian Sandstone for a driveway, we recommend using colours that are more forgiving to the adding wear-and-tear that vehicular traffic brings (e.g. tyre markings and oil drops).

Steps and Pool Surrounds: Enhance safety and aesthetics around pools or garden steps with the slip-resistant surface of riven sandstone. Perhaps not the first choice you think of when it comes to pool surrounds, in more traditional gardens or period properties with pools, Indian Sandstone can be a stunning addition to your outdoor landscape.

How to Choose the Right Riven Indian Sandstone

When selecting Indian sandstone for your landscaping project, consider these factors:

Colour and Shade: Choose from a wide range of colours, including soft greys, like the renowned, consistently coloured Kandla Grey Sandstone, to the warming tones of Autumn Brown. Combining rich colours and beautiful natural colour variation, Raj Green Sandstone is a popular choice for both modern and more traditional projects. Consider the surrounding environment and the desired look of the project when selecting your shade. Using a mix of sizes is more suited to a traditional feel, while selecting singular sized paving is considered more modern in style.

Priming & Grouting: If installing Indian Sandstone onto a full mortar bed, it is not essential to prime the back of each slab. However, many installers favour the ‘belt and braces’ approach of using a primer on the back of each slab, to assist with adhesion to the bed. Grouting your stone not only helps with the structural integrity of your patio, pathway, or drive, it can also enhance the finished look of your project. View our primer and grout options.

Indian Sandstone FAQs

What makes Indian sandstone different from other paving materials?

Riven Indian Sandstone is distinguished by its natural, split surface texture and unique, varied colours. It offers a rustic, organic appearance that’s difficult to achieve with manufactured products, making it a popular choice for naturalistic landscaping designs. When installed and maintained properly, Indian Sandstone will last for decades and retain its good looks and rustic charm.

Is Indian sandstone suitable for all weather conditions?

Yes, Indian sandstone is highly resilient and can withstand a variety of weather conditions, from freezing winters to hot summers. Its durability makes it an excellent choice for projects in the UK, with our varied climate.

How should I maintain riven Indian sandstone?

Maintaining Indian sandstone is simple. Regular sweeping and occasional washing with water will help keep it looking good. Periodic, seasonal jet washing is recommended to keep your sandstone looking its best. For tougher stains like red wine, cooking oil, and leaf drop, using a stone-safe cleaner will be required. Some homeowners choose to seal natural stone to enhance its resistance to stains and weathering. While this will do no harm to riven sandstone, it is not essential, due to the stone’s natural resistance to staining and naturally low porosity.

Is riven sandstone slippery when wet?

The naturally textured surface of riven sandstone provides excellent grip, making it less slippery than smoother paving options. It’s an ideal choice for areas like steps and pool surrounds where slip resistance is important.

Can riven Indian sandstone be used for driveways?

Yes, many types of riven Indian sandstone is strong and durable enough for driveways, especially when using thicker slabs designed for heavy-duty use. It provides a stylish, natural look that enhances curb appeal. We recommend choosing more forgiving colours when laying these slabs in a driveway application, as they will show tyre marks and oil drops in a more discreet way.

Will Indian sandstone fade over time?

Indian sandstone is naturally UV-resistant, so it holds its colour well even under direct sunlight. Over time, it may develop a softer, weathered patina, but this only adds to its charm and character.

What is the best way to install riven Indian sandstone?

For the best results, riven Indian sandstone should be installed on a well-prepared, solid base using a suitable mortar mix of sharp sand and cement. Professional landscapers typically use a full bedding technique to ensure stability and durability. Natural stone paving should never be laid on a ‘spot bed’ (also known as ‘dot and dab’), as this compromises the structural integrity of the material, and can also lead to unsightly ‘picture framing’ or reflective staining.

Can I view Cheshire Paving Stone’s Indian Sandstone in person?

Although not essential, we encourage customers to view materials before purchasing. Find directions to our showroom. Alternatively, you can order samples of our materials to see how they look and feel from the comfort of your own home.

How do I contact Cheshire Paving Stones?

Our friendly, expert team are always happy to hear from you. You can contact us by phone, email, or in person. Our opening hours are 09.00 – 16.00 Mon – Fri, and 10.00 – 15.00 Saturday.

Riven Indian Sandstone is a timeless, versatile paving option that brings natural beauty and enduring quality to any landscape project. Its unique textures and colours, combined with its strength and durability, make it a preferred choice among landscapers. Explore our full range of Indian sandstone products at Cheshire Sandstone and find the perfect fit for your next project.