Landscaping Paving Guidelines: How to Utilise Limestone for Your Patio

06 March 2020

Limestone stands the test of time and works in both contemporary and classic landscape designs. Limestone has been used to construct some of the earliest forms of architecture all over the world, from the pyramids at Giza to the Parthenon in Athens. In today’s landscapes, limestone can be used to create an antique or old-world look, but it also is a great choice for contemporary patios and terraces. It’s available in many different colours, depending on where it is quarried. Below are landscaping paving guidelines on how you can utilise limestone for your patio.

Limestone Qualities

Limestone is a sedimentary rock with a typically grainy appearance. It’s quarried all over the world, and it comes in many colours, including blue, gray, tan and pinkish white. Limestone is a durable old-world stone with contemporary uses for high-end landscape projects. Its benefits include a wide range of colour and texture options available. Aside from that, light limestone colours deflect heat and stay cool on bare feet; useful in warm climates and around pools. They are also extremely durable and long lasting. However, they can be heavy and expensive, making it difficult to use for DIY projects, also they are sensitive to acids so acidic cleaners can erode the surface.

Size and Colour

Limestone comes in all sizes and shapes: slabs, pavers, edging, wall veneer, capstone, stair treads and sizes for fountains and fire pits. Dimensioned stone and irregular flagstones are also available. Most people associate limestone with creamy white tones, but the material has beautiful greys and blues that rival those of bluestone.

Limestone Finishes

Limestone can be honed to a smooth and consistent finish or have a thermal finish, which is a little more rough or uneven. Sealing the stone is up to you. Some homeowners like the look of unsealed stone, which works fine outside and will have a patina over time. If you do choose to seal the stone, check with your stone supplier for a sealer recommendation.

Maintenance

Limestone is sensitive to acidic materials, so think twice before planting a fruit tree next to limestone paving; fallen fruit can decay and easily stain the limestone. Limestone should be cleaned gently using a mild cleanser that has been diluted with water. Use a stiff bristled brush to scrub the surface. After scrubbing, simply rinse the limestone. Intense pressure washing is not recommended because it will damage the stone surface. Also, if you decide to use a sealant, you must continue to use the same product or sealer type for all future reapplications.

Sustainability

Limestone comes in colours lighter than brick and concrete, which gives it a better solar reflectance index, or SRI. A high SRI means that the stones stay cool by reflecting sun and releasing thermal radiation, rather than absorbing it and heating up, reducing the heat-island effect around your home. Limestone is popular as a building material in warm climates because it stays cool to the touch.

Have EB Landscaping decorate your garden with limestone. We are known to operate ethically, professionally and efficiently to make good on our clients’ dream gardens.

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