Porphyry Stone: Paving Tradition that Lasts Centuries

The two newest additions to our premium cobblestone range have arrived, Porphyry stone Filetti and Crazy Paving. In this article, we’ll learn more about tradition, history, versatility, symbolism, benefits and common uses of Porphyry.

The two newest additions to our premium cobblestone range have arrived, Porphyry Stone Filetti and Crazy Paving.

The two newest additions to our premium natural stone range have arrived; Porphyry Stone Filetti and Crazy Paving.

In the article below, we explore and learn more about the tradition, history, versatility, symbolism, benefits, and common uses of Porphyry Stone.

9 Reasons To Choose Natural Stone

Natural stone is a material that has been used in architecture for centuries. Apart from its high design value and the unique natural variation, there are many other reasons why to choose natural stone for your project.

 

Today, we talk about 9 benefits of using natural stone.

The What, Why, and Where of Natural Stone in Wall Cladding

Stone wall cladding is an affordable, stylish option for a range of residential and commercial projects, from feature walls and columns to fireplace surrounds to something completely unique.

Stone wall cladding is like the icing on a cake – it adds that final touch that takes a design to the next level.

7 Reasons to Choose Large Format Tiles

The popularity of larger format tiles continues to grow because their benefits are many.

Designing a space to flow seamlessly from indoors to out is easy with larger format tiles.

Limestone Moves Outdoors

Your client loves limestone and wants to use it indoors and out. You know all limestones are beautiful – soothing, relaxing and soft to walk on, but you also know that not all limestones are suitable for outdoors. Sareen Stone’s Alfresco range of Limestones offers the solution.

Limestone for outdoors has traditionally been ‘tumbled’ to provide a relaxed ‘outdoor’ feel. While these Limestone tiles look beautiful, the tumbling process on limestone can result in a very slippery tile, totally unsuitable as an external finish particularly for uncovered areas.

 

This is predominantly why Sareen Stone has developed the Alfresco Limestone range. The Alfresco range provides the opportunity to achieve an indoor/outdoor flow that Australians love – the same stone can flow from inside the home to out – providing a safe and seamless transition.

Granite vs Granite Lookalikes

This week we compare natural granite to porcelain granite lookalikes. You might be surprised to find out that all is not what it may seem!

Written by Michael Mastro, Natural Stone Specialist, Sareen Stone.

Filling Holes in Tumbled Travertine

To fill or not to fill, when it comes to travertine – that is the question! Our outdoor stone specialist, Gary Bazzana, explains why our customers usually fill in the holes in the travertine when using travertine outdoors.

Travertine is a freshwater sedimentary stone composed of calcite which is usually formed at the mouth of hot springs or in limestone caves. It naturally has open holes that once held little bubbles of trapped gas.

The most popular finish for Travertine to be used outdoors is the tumbled finish.

The tumbled finish has a higher slip rating than the filled and honed tiles, favoured for indoor use.

Tumbled Travertine pavers and tiles are imported with the holes in the stone still open, known as “Tumbled and Unfilled”.

How do we select our Premium Natural Stone?

As importers and suppliers of natural stone our team regularly visits stone quarries throughout the world. But, how do we choose the right block from a quarry, how is it processed and how does that block of stone find its way to our warehouse?

Cobblestones and Why Thickness Matters

Cobblestones vary in thickness and quality. Importing thicker cobblestones, at least 30mm, ensures they will be durable enough to withstand heavy vehicle traffic in outdoor areas such as commercial spaces, paths, and driveways, providing peace of mind.

 

Cobblestones can vary in thickness, with some being as thin as 20mm and others as thick as 50mm or more. The thickness of a cobblestone can affect its durability and ability to withstand heavy traffic, which is why thicker cobblestones are often preferred for use in outdoor areas such as commercial spaces, paths, and driveways.

 

When choosing cobblestones for any alfresco space whether it be commercial or residential, it’s important to consider:

  1. Durability – Using a thicker cobblestone will increase the durability of the stone particularly when dealing with heavy vehicle traffic and you can be sure they’ll last. A 30mm cobble offers additional strength to those less thick.
  2. Slip resistance – Where slip resistance is a priority, cobblestones should be a serious consideration for outdoor spaces that will encounter heavy foot traffic.
  3. Aesthetic – A beautiful driveway, together with coordinated paths, provide great street appeal and can add value to your property. The key is to ensure the cobblestones complement your design, that they are part of the overall theme.
  4. Ongoing Maintenance – The beautiful thing about cobblestones is that they are relatively low maintenance. If you invest in quality cobbles and a landscape specialist in the first place, your ongoing maintenance should be minimal.

 

Sareen Stone’s range of cobblestones includes 30mm thick quartzite and granite cobbles to ensure you get a quality product that will not only stand the test of time – it will stand heavy vehicular traffic!

  • Granite cobblestones – Sareen Stone offers a range of granite cobbles that come in a flamed finish at a depth of 30mm in various sizes and a range of colours including the lighter grey of Silhouette Grey Cobbles, Charcoal Grey Cobbles and Charcoal Grey Rectangle Cobbles.
  • Quartzite cobblestones – extremely popular our latest offering is the Autumn Blend Quartzite cobbles that give a little sparkle to your outdoor space and are 30mm thick.

To order your samples or to ask any questions you may have about our cobblestones, tiles or pavers contact our knowledgeable Staff on info@sareenstone.com.au or phone 02 9666 9222. Our showroom is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 5pm and on Saturday by appointment from 9am – 1pm.

Glues, Grouts and Adhesives

Getting the job right the first time, saves you time and money and more importantly means a first-class job and a happy client.

At Sareen Stone we can help when making decisions about glues grouts and adhesives and the best application to use depending on the type of stone you are installing.