Full-sawn granite paving stones - an alternative to concrete tiles

Full-sawn granite paving stones have an important advantage over other products for paving streets, pedestrian areas, piers and fountains - it is a completely smooth surface on all sides due to careful processing. The variety of textures and shades allows you to create attractive ornaments in combination with filleted or chipped elements.

It is worth noting that perfectly flat bars do not slip, unlike polished tiles, and the excellent decorative characteristics far exceed the rather boring and grayish format of concrete tiles.

 The main advantages of full-sawn granite paving stones

The indisputable advantages of products made of a unique natural material, carefully sawn from all sides, can be characterized as follows:

• environmental safety - the stone does not contain any chemical compounds harmful to human health and the environment. There is no risk of the release of aggressive substances, which is inherent in paving of artificial origin;
• granite paving stones do not deform - even over time, there is no formation of cracks, as on asphalt or concrete due to soil subsidence;
• low hygroscopicity - the minimum parameters of water absorption protect the material from water, fuel and lubricants. However, this does not prevent the soil from receiving the amount of moisture required for stable water exchange of green spaces;

• Resistance to environmental influences - high humidity, precipitation, frost and heat, and sharp temperature fluctuations do not have a negative impact on natural stone;
• durability - almost unlimited service life with the preservation of the original performance characteristics;
• easy maintenance - granite tiles, unlike artificial or concrete pavement, do not require painstaking preventive maintenance, and repair work is much cheaper in terms of costs.

Additional advantages of granite paving stones

For the vast majority of consumers, the aesthetics of such products will be one of the significant advantages. There are no problems with the purchase of material with a heat-treated or chipped surface texture, a choice according to the parameters of the processing technology. You can also buy granite for paving stones in the color you like - gray, red, green, etc. The option of laying with a combination of stones of various sizes and shades is popular. In this way, it is possible to create attractive decorative designs and patterns.

Another important feature is the originality of stone paving stones. Artificial products cannot be compared with this material in terms of their ability to look absolutely unique and inimitable. An important factor is that this natural beauty does not change its attractiveness under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.

Granite or concrete tiles - which is better to choose for paving?

Among the many materials used to decorate platforms and paths, concrete and natural stone are considered the most popular. It should be noted that both paving stones and single-format tiles look equally good.

For the average consumer, the main criterion at the selection stage is the balance of cost and performance characteristics of the products. In addition to being more affordable, concrete is inferior to natural structure in almost all other respects.

The main comparative indicators

1. External perception

Concrete tiles are mass-produced products of a standard type. Attempts to improve the visual appeal by painting always end in the same way - the paint peels off and "comes off" the surface. The paving itself looks gray and monochromatic. The attempts to shape the individual elements are not very useful either.

Unique in its properties, granite tiles have their own unique pattern on each element, which makes the natural factor extremely original. It is thanks to this that a prestigious, valuable, intriguing surface is created.

2. Comparison of environmental resistance characteristics

Characteristics of concrete pavement:

• medium and high strength materials are used;
• good resistance to mechanical impact and shock;
• the number of cycles of seasonal temperature fluctuations reaches 100;
• paving stones do not require preventive maintenance for 5-10 years.

Granite paving has the following properties:

• service life reaches several centuries. To this day, many European cities still have paving stones laid in the Middle Ages;
• the stone can withstand the most severe frosts and does not absorb moisture;
• very high hardness and strength.

If the arrangement is made in accordance with all technological requirements, there is no need for repairs for 50-100 years.

3. Maintainability

Cracks in such areas can appear in concrete due to a number of reasons - subsidence of the base, tile defects, movement of individual elements in the form of "swelling". Replacing the underlayment layer requires removing the entire coating, which causes damage to all the tiles. The owner incurs double the cost of practically new paving.

Granite tiles are much more practical in this sense. You can pull out individual elements without risk of damage due to the high strength of natural stone. Nothing will prevent them from being reused. The external effect of the paving is also preserved.

Tips for choosing granite paving stones

Many factors affect which material will be optimal for your facility. To get the desired result, we suggest using a few recommendations:

1. The surfaces of the original format and non-standard patterns are most conveniently created by harmoniously combining several shades of full-sawn paving stones.
2. Experts advise to give preference to the color that complements the tone of the facade of the house.
3. For the popular Mediterranean style of exterior, the galvanized format is a good choice.
4. The curbstone is used to make the paving area more perfect and complete.
5. It is also worth buying granite tiles directly from manufacturers. This way you can save money and have more confidence in the quality of the product.

Another important detail is the thickness of the paving stones. The finishing of the pedestrian zone is made of elements that have a thickness of up to 50 mm. But in cases of possible vehicle traffic, you should be guided by the recommendation of an optimal thickness of 60 mm or more.

Both paving options have their advantages and disadvantages. But reliability and durability can only be guaranteed if you choose granite paving stones.