patio slabs advice please

[WestieMan]

Hi PH peeps.
Just a quick question, we are going to be laying a patio, wonder if anyone can tell us if a 20mm depth for natural stone is as hard wearing as the manufactured slabs of 40-50mm??

We prefer the natural stone, but they seem to be thinner than the manufactured ones and bit worried they won't last, or crack with the extreme temperatures.

Thanks

[B17NNS]

They will be fine assuming you prep the ground properly.

Depending on the conditions I'd go with some compacted Type 1 and lay the stone on a solid bed of mortar.

[Spudler]

Im guessing your refuring to Indian/Chinese stone, if so and if laid corectly it will be more than adequate.
Shop around and the stone should work out cheaper than a quality slab per M2.

[58warren]

As above, they will be fine for pedestrian use.

I assume you're looking at the Indian sandstone/limestone slabs, which are cut fairly thinly. This has the advantage that they are much easier to handle and lay than thick natural stone or concrete slabs. They are excellent value compared to traditional York stone and come in a much wider range of colours.

Early importations of Indian stone contained a moderate percentage of softer slabs which were very prone to slaking in frosty conditions; however the stone now sent to the UK is of much more consistent quality and frost damage should not be an issue.

As already said, ensure you lay slabs on a solid mortar bed. If you do not (and there are air gaps underneath), you will get condensation forming on the underside of each slab, causing patchy weathering effects on the surface, which looks very odd.

[WestieMan]

Thanks for the reply's guys.

No not Indian stone but just natural stone. They look so much nicer than the made up slabs, but the thickness was my concern.

Thanks.