Collection: Natural stone slabs - Natural, beautiful, and durable

Natural stone slabs are slabs made from natural stones such as granite, marble, sandstone, travertine, slate, limestone, and quartzite. They are suitable for various purposes, such as the construction of pavements, terraces, patios, stair steps, and sometimes even as wall cladding. Natural stone slabs are durable, weather-resistant, and require little maintenance.

The production of natural stone slabs depends on the type of stone and the size of the slab. Typically, a large stone block is broken from a quarry and cut or broken into smaller blocks or slabs.

There is a variety of different natural stone slabs, such as granite, gneiss, grauwacke, marble, sandstone, limestone, slate, basalt, travertine, quarzite, porphyry, and many more.

Natural stone is very versatile and can be used for many different purposes. It is best suited for use in interiors and exteriors, as flooring, for stairs and terraces, for walkways, as cladding, for facade and much more.

Yes, patio slabs made of natural stone feel cold. The reason for this is that natural stone is a natural conductor of heat and transfers the cold from the ground through the slabs. Therefore, they usually feel cool, especially at low temperatures. When the sun shines on the slabs, they warm up or heat up, depending on the type of stone they may retain the heat more or less even after sunset.

Slate natural stone feels cool and smooth to the touch. Naturally, it flakes off slightly at the edges. However, this is not noticeable when embedded in quartz gravel (joint mortar).

It depends on the type of natural stone. In general, it can be said that hard stones and stones with a higher density such as Gneiss, Grauwacke, Quarzit, and Porphyry are insensitive and have a slightly non-absorbent property due to their density. Natural stone slabs made of Schiefer are also rather insensitive, but could show small chippings of the first layer due to their layered structure when subjected to force. On the other hand, limestone and sandstone can easily chip and are very susceptible to stains, which is why we do not offer these stones in our range. We generally recommend sealing the stones (Imprägnierung) and cleaning them regularly depending on the level of use. Once the surface of a stone no longer repels water (water test), it is time to reseal it.

No, our Grauwacke and Quartzite stones are hard stones that are resistant and do not scratch. Slate slabs, on the other hand, have a smooth surface and are susceptible to scratches, although not as sensitive as soft stones (limestone and sandstone). In any case, we recommend surface protection through impregnation and if you handle them carefully, you can of course avoid scratching with slate.

There are many different natural stone slabs that are suitable for laying on the terrace. Some popular options include granite, slate, gneiss, porphyry, graywacke, and quartzite slabs. All these types of natural stone slabs are very durable and can create a beautiful ambiance. However, it is important to consider the differences in the properties of each stone when choosing the right type of natural stone slabs for your own natural stone terrace in order to achieve optimal results. We are happy to advise you on this.

We recommend the concrete-free installation with quartz gravel and synthetic resin as a substructure, as well as a joint made of quartz gravel joint mortar also with synthetic resin. For this purpose, we have written an installation guide. We advise you on this and actively support you if you wish. For DIY enthusiasts, we have developed an all-inclusive package for terraces, called COMPRESA, which offers a set starting from 10 m² that already contains everything needed for installation and grouting.

The cost of laying natural stone patio slabs depends on various factors such as the type and size of the slabs, the subsoil, the effort for materials and labor, as well as any transport and travel costs. Typically, one can expect costs between 90 to 150 euros per square meter for labor alone.

Natural stone slabs should be roughly swept all around with a hand broom before laying them individually. After laying, the dry natural stone can be treated with impregnation to protect it from dirt and moisture. For this purpose, the impregnation is carefully applied only to the surface with a brush, so that the liquid does not run down or drip. It is important to ensure that only the surface and not the edges of the natural stone slabs are impregnated so that the resin can bond with the natural stone during grouting.

A good choice for natural stone slabs is a flexible mortar suitable for outdoor applications. We recommend Quarzkies and resin. This type of mortar is typically water-permeable, dirt-repellent, and durable. It is also resistant to chemical and mechanical stresses. Another advantage is that it provides strong adhesion to the slabs, ensuring a long service life.

Natural stone slabs should be cleaned regularly. The best way to do this is with water and possibly a mild detergent, a soft sponge, or a brush. Do not use harsh cleaning agents or abrasives that can damage the stone. After cleaning, the stone should be rinsed with clear water.

There are 3 ways to build a substructure for laying your natural stones.

1. The probably cheapest option is the so-called "Loose Fill". Here, the natural stones are placed on a bed of grit or gravel, grit or gravel is poured into the joints. The disadvantage here is that you constantly have loose grit and gravel on the slabs, you have to fill the joints with grit or gravel again and sweeping the natural stones becomes a test of patience, as you keep sweeping out the loose joint material.
   
2. The Cement or Concrete Solution. In the concrete variant, you need a slope, steel mats, and expansion joints. You have to process everything at once as concrete hardens quickly. You do not have the right bond between natural stone and cement, cracks form afterwards, and so-called cement efflorescences form. Concrete is not frost-resistant and after processing, you have cement haze that is difficult to remove.
   
3. The Premium Resin Solution. A gravel bed made of quartz gravel and resin is best suited for the substructure. You do not need to consider a slope as the water can simply drain into the ground. And due to the cement-free installation, you do not have to worry about cement efflorescences or broken concrete parts. This solution is frost-resistant, easy to maintain and clean, water-permeable, and offers an optical highlight through colored joint quartz gravel. In addition, you can carry out this simple installation completely on your own without a specialized company. And you can get advice and support at any time from the customer advisors and landscape builders of bruchsteinplatten.de. It is particularly noteworthy with this variant that it is durable and develops almost no need for repairs.