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Landscape Paving 101: How to Use Bluestone in Your Garden

Classy bluestone is a great paving material for both modern and rustic patios and paths

Falon Mihalic
Falon MihalicJuly 13, 2015
Houzz Contributor. Landscape Architect in Texas and Florida and owner of Falon Land Studio LLC. Through landscape design, I create spaces for quiet reflection and lush gardens using native plant palettes and sustainable stormwater techniques. I'm a contributing writer to Houzz so that I can be active in the conversation about sustainable design for residential projects. Learn more about my company's work at falonland.com
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Bluestone is a common name for many different stone types around the world. In the United States, bluestone refers to a type of sandstone quarried on the East Coast with a predominantly blue to blue-gray color. It’s a popular paving material because it brings a beautiful hue to the garden and is suitable for modern as well as rustic styles.
SBI Building Materials & Landscape Supplies
The basics: Bluestone has a gorgeous color that fits well in many different types of gardens. Rectangular cut bluestone creates clean lines and refined edges, while a flagstone shape is a great addition to a woodland path or a more naturalistic garden.
Berger Partnership
Pros
  • Durable and tough; won’t crack
  • Earthy blue-gray color that matches many settings
  • Can be used inside and out
  • Coordinates well with bluestone steps, walls and ledges
  • Low-maintenance
Cons
  • More expensive than concrete pavers or brick
  • Most easily found on the East Coast, where it is quarried
Architectural Gardens, Inc
Size and color: Bluestone is available in cut stone or flagstone sizes. Cut stone, also called bluestone pavers, has reliable dimensions in rectangular and square shapes. Sizes for bluestone can range from up to 36 by 36 inches down to 4 by 6 inches. Flagstones, with their irregular edges and naturalistic look, are specified by a width range. Both types can be purchased by the pallet or ton.

The exact color of bluestone depends on where it is sourced. The quintessential “blue” is called Pennsylvania bluestone and is quarried in Pennsylvania and New York. Other colors include tones in the blue-tan and blue-gray spectrum.

Finishes: Bluestone paving can be rough, called “natural cleft,” or smoother, with a thermal finish. Both are suitable as a walking surface. Natural cleft is a type of split-face surface in which the stone is split along naturally occurring fissures. Thermal is a heat process that creates a consistent surface.

Other finishes are available for architectural bluestone, but thermal and natural cleft are the most widely used for paving applications.

Shown: Cut-stone paver steps leading to a flagstone patio.
Andrew Lynch Landscaping
Maintenance: Bluestone is low-maintenance; it requires a gentle pressure washing every few years to keep the surface clean. As with other types of pavers, it can be reset if the stones settle unevenly on a sand setting bed.

Shown: Flagstone-shaped bluestone laid in an irregular pattern next to a planting bed and concrete walkway.
Sustainability: Bluestone’s durability and long life give it some points for sustainability. It’s an excellent local stone to use if you are in the Northeastern United States.
Scott Brinitzer Design Associates
Paving patterns: Rectangular slabs are set edge to edge. Ashlar is the pattern for combining multiple sizes of squares and rectangles into one layout, as shown here, and is the most common bluestone paving pattern. Running bond is another common layout for bluestone. With flagstone shapes, you can create more organic layouts.

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