Not all railway sleepers are treated, most reclaimed sleepers at some point in their lives have been treated and sometimes not with very pleasant products. Softwood sleepers are generally pressure treated to improve their life span, and some cheaper softwood sleepers are dipped in preservative, but this is not such a successful method. Oak sleepers are generally not treated but we would recommend some level of treatment for any sleepers even oak that are going to come in contact with the ground

Dutch Clay Pavers are perfectly suited to all driveway applications, due to their ability to withstand heavy loads. Clay pavers are made from natural riverbed clay, which produces a dense and sturdy brick that can last a full century with ease.

Genuine Dutch Clay pavers are an excellent paving material suitable for a vast range of landscaping installations. These brick pavers have been used for centuries across Europe and have proven to be a versatile and attractive product for both commercial and domestic landscaping applications.

Normally you can expect your engineered flooring to be treated with either a Hardwax Oil or a UV lacquer, this will help protect the surface of the wood flooring from dirt ingress and staining. Quite often you will also see unfinished engineered flooring, which will need to be treated after installation. This product is normally used by contractors who like to sand and treat the flooring after all building works have been completed, which helps remove the potential problem of surface damage during the buildings final construction.

Granite paving is usually finished with a highly textured flamed surface, this makes them extremely slip-resistant and ideal for all outdoor applications. This rough surface makes them safe to walk in all weather conditions, as long as regular maintenance is carried out to remove dirt and debris from the surface of the paving. Please ensure that you lay Granite Paving with the Flamed side visible, the flat (smooth) side is completely unfinished and is not a suitable finished surface.

Limestone is quite a varied range of stones, all with very different characteristics, but generally all limestones are hardwearing especially Indian and Egyptian limestones. They are extremely dense in nature, making them extremely durable. There are softer limestones available, but these are not really suitable for external use and are best used in internal tile installations.

Limestone tile are a good option for all floor types, as it is very hard-wearing and easy to keep clean. It is also a good option when installing underfloor heating as Limestone tiles retain the heat well and help distribute this heat evenly through your house.

Limestone is a material that will require some level of maintenance if you want to maintain its natural beauty. Limestone is a porous stone so it has to be sealed during installation to protect it from stains, but apart from that and some regular maintenance its relatively low maintenance.

All natural stone tiles have some degree of porosity and Limestone tiles are no exception, so no they are not completely waterproof. In a shower area and wet rooms additional tanking will be need, but this is no different to any other tile types, all walls will need tanking if in constant contact with water.

You will find that all polished marble tiles are more slippery by their very nature than other finishes such natural matt or honed tiles. but if you take care walking on them in wet conditions, they are still suitable for most areas of the home, but it is better to avoid them on bathroom floors. All major tile manufacturers will have technical data sheets, that state the slip rating of their tiles, you need a COF (Coefficient of Friction) of 6 or better to be slip resistant enough for a floor.

All natural stone tiles have some degree of porosity and Marble tiles are no exception, so no they are not completely waterproof. In a shower area and in wet rooms additional tanking will be need, but this is no different to any other tile types, all walls will need tanking if in constant contact with water.

You will find that all polished tiles are more slippery by their very nature than other finishes such natural matt or honed tiles, but if you take care walking on them in wet conditions, they are still suitable for most areas of the home. All major tile manufacturers will have technical data sheets, that state the slip rating of their tiles, you need a COF (Coefficient of Friction) of 6 or better to be slip resistant enough for a floor.

Porcelain paving has become very competitively priced within the UK market, with a high quality Polish or Italian Porcelain product priced competitively against inferior imported porcelain and natural stone products. We would always recommend installing the best possible Porcelain Paving slabs you can afford as the actual costs of the paving materials itself, is only a fraction of the overall installation cost, and is the thing you will be left looking at for many years to come.

Yes, Porcelain slabs are incredibly low maintenance, they have very low porosity of 0.5% minimising dirt penetration into the surface meaning in normal situations no more than a general clean will ever be necessary.

All paving that is used within the UK must be R11 slip rated to meet the current British standard for paving materials. All our Porcelain Paving products have been tested and meet or exceed these standards. Technical Data Sheets are available to view for all porcelain paving products, just follow the link on the product pages.

Only new oak and treated softwood sleepers are recommended for vegetable gardens, but reclaimed sleepers have been used for decades. You would need to be sure there is no Creasote, oil or tar present in the sleepers, so it best to avoid reclaimed sleepers for this application.

Yes slate tiles are extremely durable and make an excellent internal tile, it is important to use the correct finish tile in the correct place, honed / polished Slate tiles are not really suitable for floor installations as they can be easily scratched.

We would always recommend using thicker slate for external usage and the standard 8 or 10mm slates use for internal applications. They would need to be at least 20mm thick to give them the required strength for external applications. Slate is the ideal material for patios as its extremely dense and hardwearing and will last for decades if installed correctly.

We would always recommend using a Hardwax Oil for Kitchen worktops, such as Treatex Hardwax. These are a blend of natural oils and waxes that offer exceptional durability and are completely food safe, they are water repellent penetrate into the surface of the wood stopping any peeling or flaking.

It is possible to lay artificial grass on a slope, it will just take a few additional fixings along the top edge of the slope. Apart from that installation is very similar to laying artificial turf on a flat surface.

Yes, it is possible to lay Artificial grass onto concrete, as long as the concrete is completely clean and dry, you are then able to use an artificial grass adhesive to fix the grass down directly onto the concrete surface. It is important that you firstly establish that the concrete base drains sufficiently to stop any build-up of water near the grass or you could reduce the life of the Artificial grass dramatically.

Artificial grass can be installed directly onto decking boards and can be an easy solution to slippery unsafe decking areas. Fixing down by gluing is the best option. Ensure you do not install artificial grass over rotten decking boards. These will become dangerous under foot, and will also ruining the appearance of your artificial grass installation.

Yes. Our opening hours and address are found on the Contact Us page. We have fork-lift trucks for loading onto suitable vehicles at all sites, and staff are always available to help with loading of smaller items. We highly recommend that you call your local branch, before visiting, to confirm the items you wish to collect are available.

Yes, our collection includes outdoor-specific wall cladding panels designed to withstand various

weather conditions, ensuring long-lasting beauty and durability.

Yes, our Porcelain Paving can be cut easily, but you will require a very good quality diamond blade made especially for 20mm Porcelain paving slabs. European & Italian Porcelain paving cuts a lot better than India porcelain due to the improved production processes making them less brittle and prone to chipping, but due to its increased density, it can take longer.

Railway sleepers can be laid directly onto the soil, but in most cases, it is advisable to give them some additional treatment to prevent rot, especially in damp or wet conditions. Full installation guide on installing railway sleepers is below:

Outdoor Oak and Softwood Sleepers

There are a large amount of Engineered wood floor cleaners that can be applied with a wet mop, you must ensure that the mop is well drained to avoid moisture being left to dwell on the surface of the flooring and any damp patches must be dried immediately.

You can paint Railway sleepers, but you must use an exterior wood paint or preserver that has been formulated to do this job specifically. The problem with painting sleeper is that you will have to continuously re-paint them to keep them looking good. We would recommend only doing this if essential, it is best to just let them age gracefully.

On the other hand if you are thinking of using additional wood preservative prior to installation to increase protection, this is a different matter and we would fully recommend that everyone does this if time permits, especially taking care to cover all cut ends with the preservative. This will greatly increase the life expectance of the sleeper installation and will result in a far better job.

Limestone paving can be cleaned with a pressure washer, but we would recommend firstly trying soapy water and a stiff brush. If this does not give you the desired results, then move onto a pressure washer. When cleaning with a pressure washer be careful not to get too close to the surface of the stone as this could damage the surface. After pressure washing you many need to apply an additional coat of sealant that could have been removed by the pressure washing.

Travertine paving can be cleaned with a pressure washer, but we would recommend firstly trying soapy water and a stiff brush, if this does not give you the desired results, then move onto a pressure washer. When cleaning with a pressure washer be careful not to get too close to the surface of the stone as this could damage the surface. After pressure washing you many need to apply an additional coat of sealant that could have been removed by the pressure washing.

Yes, it can be advisable to seal Porcelain Paving. This will further reduce porosity and keep any maintenance to an absolute minimum, but it is not essential and is basically a personal choice.

Yes, we would generally recommend sealing travertine paving slabs, this will give some additional protection against hard to remove stains and also help to further reduce the maintenance needs of the product. There is some debate about whether to seal travertine paving directly around swimming pools. Some suggest it is best not to seal as you want the stone to be as porous as possible to aid slip resistance, but this is a personal choice and depends greatly on your site conditions.

Although Dutch Clay pavers are a porous product, meaning they can absorb moisture and dirt, they are colour fast and do not fade over time, so we would not normally recommend sealing, as it would have very limited benefits and unlikely to improve longevity. We would just recommend some annual cleaning to keep them looking at their best.

All natural stones will fade over time when exposed to the UK climate and Indian sandstone is no exception. Sandstone will slowly fade over the years losing some of the vibrance of the original colour but if regularly maintained will keep its original colour for many years without any visible change to the surface of the stone.

We recommend undertaking regular maintenance to keep your patio looking at its best, but at the same time let nature take its course and enjoy the process of weathering that all natural stone goes through.

All Indian sandstone paving can be stained these stains can be more, or less, visible depending on the colour of the stone. We would always recommend sealing your stone directly after installation, cleaning up spillages immediately and keeping to a regular maintenance routine. If after a few years you find that your sandstone has become quite heavily stained, we would recommend using a heavy-duty natural stone cleaner such as New Clean 60 from Universal Sealants.

Indian sandstone as with all natural stones are susceptible to discolouration and damage from acid rain. This is an unavoidably realty of living in the modern world, but these affects will take quite some considerable time, normally many decades, to manifest themselves as damage on your patios surface. There is very little point worrying about this, as there is nothing that can be done to avoid it. We would always recommend regularly sealing and undertaking regular maintenance of your paving, to minimise these effects and to keep it looking good for as long as possible

We would always recommend that you seal all Limestone paving directly after installation. Ensure that you use a water based impregnating sealer that will still allow the stone to breath and allow for the natural process of efflorescence to take place. Limestone paving is naturally porous, and this must be maintained or you can cause damage to the surface of the stone. Always make sure your paving is completely dry before sealing and that you have at least 24 hours of dry weather ahead after sealing has been completed to allow the sealer to cure.

No Porcelain Paving does not scratch easily, it is an extremely dense material that is very hard to damage once installed. If the surface of Porcelain is damaged or scratch it is not possible to repair, so we would also recommend keeping a couple of extra slabs hidden in your garden just in case of future problems.

It is possible to stain Porcelain Paving but it’s very difficult due to its very low porosity. Porcelain paving can be sealed to further help prevent staining in areas prone to spillages.

As with all paving product over a long period of time you can expect there to be some fading, due to the effect of climate and especially UV radiation affecting the surface layer of the stone. This will be the same for slate paving, but with good maintenance and care your paving will remain the same for decades, well outlasting the life span of the average garden in the UK.

It is possible to scratch slate paving in the same way it possible to scratch any paving material. Scratches are more visible with black slate paving as the scratches appear as light marks on the surface, these marks soon disappear with weathering. Slate has been used for many centuries as a paving material and scratches are part of the eventual character of the stone. Try to embrace the change in the material and its appearance over its lifetime.

Travertine Tiles are very rigid so when it is adhered to a solid structure, they are very unlikely to crack. If cracking appears it will be when the concrete / sub-base itself settles, any slight movement will transfer to the surface of the tile causing cracking.

Yes, we would always recommend sealing Granite paving even though they are extremely dense and low maintenance. This will give some additional protection against hard to remove stains and also help to further reduce the maintenance needs of the product. It is advisable around swimming pools not to seal the stone as it is best to maintain the maximum porosity of the surround stone to improve slip resistance.

Always make sure your paving is completely dry before sealing and that you have at least 24 hours of dry weather ahead after sealing has been completed.

Yes, you will need to leave a gap of between 2-4mm between each of the Clay Pavers, this will help bond the pavers together when compacted.

It is really a personal choice whether you want to use a membrane under bark chips. This will reduce maintenance by suppressing the weeds further, but you will have future issues on the disposal of these membranes when they reach the end of their useful life. They can also look unsightly quickly after installation especially if you do not have enough bark chips to fully cover and protect this membrane.

Yes, we recommend you seal all sandstone and natural stone paving upon (or shortly after) installation, to ensure it stays looking at it’s best for longest. Sealing will help make it resilient to staining and increases it’s longevity. We recommend Universeal Hydroseal or for an enhanced look Universeal Ultimate Stone Enhancer

We would always recommend using an Impregnating natural stone sealer for all limestone tiles. These sealers sit under the surface of the stone, helping to prevent staining and reducing maintenance at the same time. It is important not to use a topical sealer on travertine tiles, this will sit on the surface of the stone, not allowing it to breath which can cause long term damage to your tiles.

As a rule no porcelain paving slabs do not fade, but over very long periods of time in sunny areas and with considerable weathering you could expect to see some slight changes to the appearance of the surface of the slabs.

Slate hearths can quite easily be scratched, these scratches are more visible on honed surfaces compared to natural riven, but they will just fade and disappear to some extend over time, or if you apply a coat of slate oil this will keep you hearth looking perfect even if under heavy use.

Yes you will need to keep up regular maintenance to keep your wall and swimming pool coping looking their best. Cleaning all natural stone copings is simple and the same for all types and finishes. Use soapy water, or, for tougher stains as well as moss and algae, we recommend using New Clean 60 available from our website. Leave on for around 60 minutes and wash off with a stiff brush, power washer or a hose to ensure you have removed all of the cleaner. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide.

If being used around swimming pools we would advise not allowing any of the cleaning products to enter the water as it may have adverse effects on the chemical balance of the pool.

It is important to seal all natural stone products, especially when being used externally, which is generally the case with Cladding panels. We would recommend using two coats Hydroseal from Universeal, this will help prevent dirt ingress and work as a barrier to protect your stone cladding, which will greatly reduce the maintenance needed to keep your cladding in great condition. 

Yes we would always recommend sealing all natural stone copings and steps, this will give some additional protection against hard to remove stains and also help to further reduce the maintenance needs of the product. It is advisable around swimming pools not to seal the stone as you want to maintain the maximum porosity of the surround stone to improve slip resistance.

Always make sure your paving is completely dry before sealing and that you have at least 24 hours of dry weather ahead after sealing has been completed.

Yes. We have a full range of Tile Adhesives and Grouts for use by professional tilers and DIY’ers alike as well as a full range of Sealants and Cleaners

The pattern of decorative porcelain tiles is applied during the printing process after the tile body has dried out fully and just before the tile enters the kiln for final firing.

Slate tiles are a natural quarried product that is extracted in large blocks and then sawn to the desired size and naturally split by hand to the specified thickness required for the end use.

It is always best to choose angular decorative aggregates that will not move or displace easily. The angular shapes lock together creating a much stronger surface that will perform better than more rounded aggregates. As a rule of thumb use 20mm aggregates from driveway applications and small for pathways and borders.

Consider your desired aesthetic, the existing landscape, and the overall theme of your outdoor space. Our diverse range ensures you’ll find a perfect match for your vision.

Bark chips can last a surprisingly long time as long a good material has been used. If they are well maintained and in sufficient quantity, you could expect them to last anything up to 5 years before starting to breakdown into the soil.

Dutch Clay pavers are known for their durability and can have a life span of over 100 years.

Engineered wood flooring is a high-quality product that if maintained correctly will last for decades with very little maintenance. It does depend to some degree on the thickness of the veneer used on the flooring and how many times it has been sanded. Generally, each sanding will remove 1mm of the veneer, so if you re-sand every 5 years and you have 6mm veneer it will last at least 30 years.

We offer a ten-year warranty on all our artificial grass, but you could expect  your artificial grass if installed correctly and maintained well, to last up to twenty years. This does greatly depend on the volume and type of traffic your Artificial grass receives, but in a normal domestic setting this life span should be expected. In play areas and high traffic areas you should expect this life to be greatly reduced.

Each type of sleeper will have a slightly different life span due to different preservative treatment and different wood types. A big factor in the life span of railway sleepers is the ground conditions of the installation site and the quality of the installation. Please read our guide on installing railway sleepers on the link below:

Outdoor Oak and softwood sleepers

Below is some general guidance on life span of different sleeper types:

Softwood treated sleepers (Tanalised not dipped) 8 to 10 years

New Oak sleepers 10 to 20 years

Reclaimed sleepers (hardwood) 15 to 25 years

This life spans are greatly affected by the quality of the timber used and the ground conditions so please take care to select the best sleepers which are quite often not the cheapest.

With proper maintenance, quality natural stone wall panels can last 20-30 years or more.

We would recommend that you seal Indian sandstone paving directly after installation. Ensure that you use a water based impregnating sealer that will still allow the stone to breath and for the natural process of efflorescence to take place. Sealing should take place only when the stone is completely dry and there is at least 24 hours of dry weather ahead. This will allow the sealant to cure properly after application. Sandstone is a naturally porous material, and it must be maintained, or you can cause damage to the surface of the stone.

How many coats of oil you apply to your worktop after sanding and cleaning really depends on the product you are using, always follow full the manufacturers guidelines, but in most case two to three coats will be sufficient.

This really does depend on the size of setts you are using, but below is an approximate guide to the most popular products available in the UK currently.

Finished face 100mm x 100mm (varying depth) = 81 per sqm including a 10mm pointing gap

Finished face 200mm x 100mm (varying depth) = 43 per sqm including a 10mm pointing gap

How many slate tiles you get per square metre really does depend on the size of the tiles. Establish the width and length of the tiles in mm, multiply these together, this will give you the area of the tile, then divide 1 x this area and this will give you the amount per sqm. Example below:

600mm x 400mm size tiles (0.6 x 0.4 = 0.24). 1 / 0.24 = 4.166 giving you just over 4 tiles per sqm in this size

The price of Engineered Wood Flooring can vary greatly depending on many factors from width and length, surface finish, wear layer thickness and what part of the world the wood flooring is manufactured. We would always recommend purchasing Engineered wood flooring that is manufactured within North America or Europe, the manufacturing process in these countries are superior and the quality of the finished products are far superior to products made in the Far East. You can expect to see a price range for engineered flooring between £30 and £50 per sqm + VAT depending on the factors mentioned above, but we would always recommend going for the best quality product you can afford, as the better-quality products offer much better value in the long run.

There are a great range of different of Limestone tiles available in the UK market, and this can have a great effect on the price of the different limestone tiles. Limestone Tiles can range from £22 + VAT per sqm up to over £50 + VAT per sqm, but it important to select the best quality product you can afford. We would always recommend going to a company that imports directly from the quarries, as they will be able to offer the best price and normally a better product, due to their direct relationship with the quarries.

There is a great deal of Travertine available in the UK market, but it is very important to understand that Travertine is available in different grades which can have a great effect on the quality of the stone in term of density and colour variation. Travertine can range from £20 + VAT per sqm up to over £40 + VAT per sqm, but it important to select the best quality product you can afford. We would always recommend going to a company that imports directly from the quarries in Turkey and Italy, as they will be able to offer the best price and normally a better product, due to their direct relationship with the quarries.

The cost of garden boulders really does depend on what type of boulder you are looking for, small boulders can be as little as a few pounds each, but extremely large boulders can be many hundreds of pounds. There can also be some considerable haulage costs incurred when having to move these large boulders into your garden.

There are a great range of different of Marble tiles available in the UK market, and this can have a great effect on the price of the different limestone tiles. Marble Tiles can range from £35 + VAT per sqm up to over £60 + VAT per sqm, but it important to select the best quality product you can afford. We would always recommend going to a company that imports directly from the quarries, as they will be able to offer the best price and normally a better product, due to their direct relationship with the quarries.

As a rule of thumb you would normally get 1sqm per 1kg of Polymer based wood flooring adhesive, such as Rewmar, as long as you are using the correct depth trowel.

You can expect the installation of Travertine tiles to be in line with all other materials and in the region of between £35 – £50 per sqm depending on the complexity of the installation.

As a rule of thumb, you can expect the cost of fitting engineered wood flooring to be between £15 and £30 + VAT per sqm, depending on the scale of the job, its complexity and where in the country you live. There are also likely to be some additional costs to the installation such as wood flooring adhesive and PVA glue and possibly foam underlay. All these additions will need to be added to the total costs of the installation.

These prices do not cover the removal of the existing floor and the correct disposal of all waste.

You can expect the installation of Limestone tiles to be in line with all other materials and in the region of between £35 – £50 per sqm depending on the complexity of the installation.

Delivery charges are based on the Post Code area being delivered to, and the quantity and type of material being delivered.

For a quote on delivery, please Contact Us with details of the delivery address, and a rough quantity of the type of material you are after.

Most good quality, impregnating sealers have a life expectancy of up to ten years, but if you are cleaning your tile regularly with strong natural stone cleaners such as Extreme Clean from Universal Sealants, then additional coats of sealant will need to be applied, this will ensure that the surface well protected.

It is important to carry out regular maintenance and cleaning of your Artificial grass. Rinse Artificial grass once a week with clean water and pick up any debris on a regular basis. Every month you will need to clean with an appropriate artificial grass cleaner. This will ensure that you grass keeps looking in good condition for the long term.

Most good quality, impregnating sealers have a life expectancy of up to ten years, but if you are cleaning your tile regularly with strong natural stone cleaners such as Extreme Clean from Universeal Sealants, then additional coats of sealant will need to be applied, this will ensure that the surface well protected.

How often you re-finish your engineered flooring, really depends on a number of factors, Firstly how much use does your floor receive, if your flooring is in a high traffic area such as a hallway and kitchens, you can expect to want to re-finish your flooring after approx. a period of five to ten years, if the flooring is installed in low traffic areas this time frame will be greatly increased.

Secondly it really depends on the level of finish you are expecting to maintain, if you happy with the patina caused by everyday wear and tear you may never have to re-finish the surface, but if you want to maintain it in its original perfect state, you may want to re-finish every few years, if this is what you are looking to achieve, we would recommend going for the thickest wear layer possible, normally 6mm, this will allow you to re-finish up to 6 times, therefore extending the life of the flooring.

The thickness of slate tiles depends on what they are being used for, internally you will normally see tiles ranging in thickness between 8mm to 12mm, for external applications they will normally be between 20 – 25mm in thickness.

Black slate is extremely easy to maintain and cleaning will generally consist of a dust pan and brush or a wet mop and soapy water if heavily soiled. On occasion you can apply a coat of Slate Oil to bring back the lustre of the natural slate, this will also offer some protection against staining.

Cleaning natural stone coping is simple. Use soapy water and a stiff brush or, for tougher stains as well as moss and algae, we recommend using New Clean 60 available from our website. Apply with a sprayer and leave on for around 60 minutes and wash off with a hose and stiff brush or power washer to ensure you have removed all of the cleaner. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide:

Outdoor Maintenance Guide

If being used around swimming pools we would advise not allowing any of the cleaning products to enter the water as it may have adverse effects on the chemical balance of the pool. Please consult with your chemical supplier, before undertaking any chemical cleaning around you pool area.

Cleaning hardwood floors is a simple process when the right products are used. Always try to use recommended wooden flooring cleaning products and do not just rely on a mop that will be forever splashing moisture onto a natural product that loves to soak up water.

These cleaning kits consists of a microfibre mop and wood flooring cleaner. The microfibre mop can be used damp or dry. This mop will actively lift dirt and grime more efficiently than a traditional mop. The mop pad can be removed and put in a washing machine to clean it. This can be done hundreds of times.

Cleaning Garden boulders paving is simple, use soapy water and a stiff brush or, for tougher stains as well as moss and algae, we recommend using New Clean 60 available from our website. Leave on for around 60 minutes and wash off with a stiff brush or power washer to ensure you have removed all of the cleaner. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide

Outdoor Maintenance Guide.

Due to the number and sizes of each boulder it may be easier to use a pressure washer to help speed up the process of cleaning boulders. If using chemical cleaners be careful to avoid getting chemicals into water courses and ponds.

Daily cleaning is important, wipe up any spills immediately and sweep floors every day with soft broom to stop any build-up of dirt. Mop Porcelain tiles weekly with clean water and gentle cleaner at the recommend ratio shown on the bottle. For walls we would recommend using the same process but with a clean damp cloth. This is an excellent way to prevent build-up of dirt and debris and keep your natural stone tiles looking perfect.

Cleaning Granite paving is simple. It is a very dense stone needing less maintenance but regular cleaning will greatly help with slip resistance. Use soapy water and a stiff brush or, for tougher stains as well as moss and algae, we recommend using New Clean 60 available from our website. Leave on for around 60 minutes and wash off with a stiff brush or power washer to ensure you have removed all of the cleaner. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide:

Outdoor Maintenance Guide

Cleaning Indian sandstone is simple. Use soapy water and a stiff brush or hose. For tougher stains as well as moss and algae, we recommend using New Clean 60 available from our website. Apply as directed with a sprayer and leave on for around 60 minutes then wash off with a stiff brush or power washer to ensure you have removed all dirt and debris as well as any cleaner residue. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide

Outdoor Maintenance Guide

Cleaning Limestone paving is simple. Use soapy water and a stiff brush or, for tougher stains as well as moss and algae, we recommend using New Clean 60 available from our website. Apply with a sprayer and leave for around 60 minutes then wash off with a hose and stiff brush or power washer to ensure you have removed all of the cleaner. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide

Outdoor Maintenance Guide

Daily cleaning is important, wipe up any spills immediately and sweep floors every day with soft broom to stop any build-up of dirt. Mop Limestone floors weekly with clean water and gentle PH neutral cleaner at the recommend ratio shown on the bottle. For walls we would recommend using the same process but with a clean damp cloth. This is an excellent way to prevent build-up of dirt and debris and keep your natural stone tiles looking prefect.

Daily cleaning is important, wipe up any spills immediately and sweep floors every day with a soft broom to stop any build-up of dirt. Mop Limestone floors weekly with clean water and gentle PH neutral cleaner at the recommend ratio shown on the bottle. For walls we would recommend using the same process but with a clean damp cloth. This is an excellent way to prevent build-up of dirt and debris and keep your natural stone tiles looking prefect.

Daily cleaning is important, wipe up any spills immediately and sweep floors every day with soft broom to stop any build-up of dirt. Mop Marble floors weekly with clean water and gentle PH neutral cleaner at the recommend ratio shown on the bottle. For walls we would recommend using the same process but with a clean damp cloth. This is an excellent way to prevent build-up of dirt and debris and keep your natural stone tiles looking prefect.

You will only even need to clean your oak worktop with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, it’s important to avoid using any abrasive cleaning products or scouring pads as these will damage the surface of the worktops and will greatly increase your long term maintenance requirements.

Cleaning Slate paving is simple. Use soapy water and a stiff brush or, for tougher stains as well as moss and algae, we recommend using New Clean 60 available from our website. Leave on for around 60 minutes and wash off with a hose and stiff brush or power washer to ensure you have removed all of the cleaner. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide:

Outdoor Maintenance Guide

Cleaning travertine paving is simple. Use soapy water and a stiff brush or for tougher stains as well as moss and algae, we recommend using New Clean 60 available from our website. Apply with a sprayer and leave for around 60 minutes then wash off with a hose and stiff brush or power washer to ensure you have removed all of the cleaner. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide

Outdoor Maintenance Guide

Daily cleaning is important, wipe up any spills immediately and sweep floors every day with soft broom to stop any build-up of dirt.

Mop your Travertine Tiles with clean water and gentle neutral cleaner at the recommend ratio shown on the bottle. For walls we would recommend using the same process but with a clean damp cloth. This is an excellent way to prevent build-up of dirt and debris and keep your natural stone tiles looking prefect.

If grout joints become dirty use the same PH neutral cleaner and a toothbrush or similar to, clean the grout lines.

If you have any staining from oil or grease on your natural stone tiles, this will cause the area of the tile to become darker on the surface. We would first recommend a product called Extreme Clean. This will draw out the stain from most natural stone surfaces, but these strong PH neutral clears should only be used occasionally as your tiles will need to be re-sealed after using this product.

Cleaning Yorkstone paving is simple and basically the same as any other natural stone. Use soapy water and a stiff brush or, for tougher stains as well as moss and algae, we recommend using New Clean 60 available from our website. Apply and leave on for around 60 minutes then wash off with a stiff brush or power washer to ensure you have removed all of the cleaner. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide

Outdoor Maintenance Guide

To cut Porcelain tiles without chipping them, it is best to use a diamond blade specifically manufactured for porcelain, and preferably a good quality cut tile bench or 4 ½ inch angle grinder, ideally with water feed machinery to reduce the amount of dust produced and to provide a successful cut through the tiles.

When cutting Limestone tiles, it is best to use a diamond blade, and preferably a good quality cut tile bench or 4 ½ inch angle grinder, ideally with water feed machinery to reduce the amount of dust produced and to provide a successful cut through the tiles.

When cutting Marble tiles, it is best to use a diamond blade, and preferably a good quality cut tile bench or 4 ½ inch angle grinder, ideally with water feed machinery to reduce the amount of dust produced and to provide a successful cut through the tiles.

When cutting Slate tiles, it is best to use a diamond blade, and preferably a good quality wet cut tile bench or 4 ½ inch angle grinder, ideally with water feed machinery to reduce the amount of dust produced and to provide a successful cut through the tiles.

When cutting Travertine tiles, it is best to use a diamond blade, and preferably a good quality cut tile bench or 4 ½ inch angle grinder, ideally with water feed machinery to reduce the amount of dust produced and to provide a successful cut through the tiles.

Most Engineered Wood flooring will come pre-finished and will require no additional finish treatment. If you have purchase Unfinished Wood Flooring, then you have a number of possible options, but generally you are able to select a natural colour finish that will preserve the natural appearance of the timber or you are able to choose a coloured stain of your choice.

We would always recommend using a Hardwax Oil such as Treatex Hard Wax, this will provide a hardwearing protective coat over the top of the coloured stain or directly over the finished wood surface.

If your Travertine tiles have been installed incorrectly leaving an uneven surface also know as lippage, there are no easy solutions. To rectify the solution you can either remove the problems tiles and replace them this time correctly, or you can employ the service of a stone restoration specialist, but there are very few that would undertake this kind of work, and those that do will charge a great deal of money as it a very labour intensive process that requires specialist equipment and high cost grinding and cleaning pads.

The link below shows a contractor undertaking this work:

You can grout Limestone Tiles in the same way you grout any other tile, the only difference is that you must seal your tiles at least once before grouting commences, or you will find that grout can enter the pores of the stone, which can very difficult to remove if left to dry. With some limestone tiles, you might find that you need to mix up your grout to more of a slurry to ensure you get into any uneven edges.

You can grout Travertine Tiles in the same way you grout any other tile. The only difference is that you must seal your tiles at least once before grouting commences, or you will find that grout can enter the pores of the stone, which can be very difficult to remove if left to dry. With unfilled Travertine tiles, you might find that you need to mix up your grout to more of a slurry to ensure you get into all the small holes present in unfilled Travertine Tiles.

There are various way to install Engineered Wood Flooring it really does depend on the product you have purchased and the type of finish you are looking for. We would always recommend full glue down installations for any of our products, as we only offer the highest standard of wood flooring sourced from European manufacturers, and we feel this type of installation does justice to the product. Please follow link below to our wood flooring installation guide for further information on installation techniques.

https://www.naturalstoneandtim…

Very basically all Indian Sandstone paving should be laid on a full wet bed of mortar over a compacted hardcore or concrete base, deep enough for the site conditions. We have a great deal more information available on our natural stone paving installation guide that can be found at the link below:

Outdoor Installation Guide

Marble tiles can be laid the same way as standard ceramic or porcelain tiles, with the exception of cutting which will require a wet cutting bench or grinder with a high quality diamond blade. For more information on Marble tiles installation please following the link below:

https://www.naturalstoneandtimber.co.uk/indoor-tiles-and-mosaics-installation

You can lay travertine paving / outdoor tiles in the same way you would install any natural stone or porcelain products. Basically they should be laid on a full wet bed of mortar over a compacted hardcore base deep enough for the site conditions. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide:

https://www.naturalstoneandtim…

We would additionally always recommend using a slurry primer when installing Travertine paving to help bond the slabs and the sub-base together. This will result in a greatly improved installation.

The best way to join railway sleepers is to use a sleeper screw normally at least 50mm long than the timber you are screwing through. If you are stacking sleepers on top of each other, always use a brick bond with the corners having a overlapped joint, these sleepers will then need to be screwed to the row below and to each other using the same sleeper screws.

In general setts are laid in a very similar way to normal paving slabs. You need to install a good base and then bed each of the setts individually into a full mortar bed. If being used for driveway you will need to increase the depth of the sub-base accordingly. The below video gives some great advice on the finer details of laying sandstone and granite setts.

You can lay Granite paving in the same way you would install any natural stone or porcelain paving products. Basically, they should be laid on a full wet bed of mortar over a compacted hardcore base, deep enough for the site conditions. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide. Please ensure that you lay Granite Paving with the Flamed side visible. The flat (smooth) side is completely unfinished and is not a suitable finished surface.

Outdoor Installation Guide

We would additionally always recommend using a slurry primer when installing granite paving to help bond the slabs and the sub-base together. This will result in a greatly improved installation.

You can lay Limestone paving in the same why you would install any natural stone or porcelain paving products. Basically they should be laid on a full wet bed of mortar over a compacted hardcore base, deep enough for the site conditions. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide:

Outdoor Installation Guide

We would additionally always recommend using a slurry primer when installing Limestone paving to help bond the slabs and the sub-base together, this will result in a greatly improved installation.

You can lay Slate paving in the same why you would install any natural stone or porcelain paving products. Basically they should be laid on a full wet bed of mortar over a compacted hardcore base, deep enough for the site conditions. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide:

Outdoor Installation Guide

We would additionally always recommend using a slurry primer when installing slate paving to help bond the slabs and the sub-base together. This will result in a greatly improved installation.

Slate tiles can be laid the same way as standard ceramic or porcelain tiles, but with the exception of cutting which will require a wet cutting bench or grinder with a high quality diamond blade. For more information on slate tile installation please following the link below:

https://www.naturalstoneandtimber.co.uk/indoor-tiles-and-mosaics-installation

You can lay travertine paving in the same why you would install any natural stone or porcelain products. Basically they should be laid on a full wet bed of mortar over a compacted hardcore base deep enough for the site conditions. For further reading please follow the link to our tech guide

Outdoor Installation Guide

We would additionally always recommend using a slurry primer when installing Travertine paving to help bond the slabs and the sub-base together. This will result in a greatly improved installation.

Travertine tiles can be laid the same way as standard ceramic or porcelain tiles with the exception of cutting which will require a wet cutting bench or grinder with a high quality diamond blade. For more information on Travertine tile installation please following the link below:

https://www.naturalstoneandtimber.co.uk/indoor-tiles-and-mosaics-installation

Very basically all Yorkstone paving should be laid on a full wet bed of mortar over a compacted hardcore or concrete base, deep enough for the site conditions. We have a great deal more information available on our natural stone paving installation guide that can be found at the link below:

Outdoor Installation Guide

Due to the thickness of Yorkstone paving, it is quite common to see this type of paving laid on sand or grit, with only the edges of the paving concreted into place. This is only a suitable method of installation if there is no chance of movement within the sub-base and surrounding features.

You have two options when it comes to bedding down your fire place hearth, you can go for traditional sand and cement mortar mixed at a ratio of 4 parts sand to 1 part cement or alternatively you can use a pre-mixed powered tile adhesive. If you need build up one end of the hearth to help with levelling, it sometimes might be easier with sand and cement mortar, as tile adhesives have a maximum depth.

We would always recommend creating a plywood or cardboard template before starting to cut your Slate hearth blank. You need to fully measure all sides of the opening and establish what over hangs you are going to need to meet current building regs, link to guide below:

https://www.naturalstoneandtimber.co.uk/indoor-fireplace-hearth-installation

When you have transferred these measurements onto the plywood, cut this out carefully and then test this template in the fireplace opening to ensure you have correctly measured. When this is correct the template can be used to mark out the Slate ready for installation.

If using Linseed or Danish oils, pour a small amount of the oil directly onto the worktop surface and using the lint free cloth, spread it over the surface until you have a very thin and even layer that covers the whole of the worktop.

For Hardwax oils follow the same process but use a suitable paint brush and ensure each coat is as thin as possible.

Once you have the thinnest possible layer of Wax or Oil, allow to fully dry before commencing a second coat, never over brush the wet surface.

There are a few options when it comes to pointing setts the traditional way of using sand and cement mortar is still very popular and comprises mixing the sand and cement in a 4 to 1 ratio. This is then mixed to a wet but workable consistency, which is then pressed into the joints using a pointing trowel or Iron. This method is very time consuming and expensive due to the labour costs involved, which has resulted in alternative products for easier installation being developed.

A very good alternative to the traditional method is Flowpoint, which is a cement-based product used mainly by the civil engineering industry but is a far quicker method and offers superior frost resistance to mortar pointing. This product is mixed into a slurry and then poured into the joints, it then hardens within ten minutes and the excess can be brushed and hosed off. We recommend this product is used only by professional trades people as mistakes are very hard to rectify if used incorrectly.

There are a few options when it comes to pointing Yorkstone paving. The traditional way of using sand and cement mortar is still very popular and comprises mixing the sand and cement in a 4 to 1 ratio. This is then mixed to a wet but workable consistency, which is then pressed into the joints using a pointing trowel or Iron. This method is very time consuming and expensive due to the labour costs involved, which has resulted in alternative products for easier installation being developed.

A very good alternative to the traditional method is Flowpoint, which is a cement-based product used mainly by the civil engineering industry but is a far quicker method and offers superior frost resistance to mortar pointing. This product is mixed into a slurry and then poured into the joints, it then hardens within ten minutes and the excess can then be brushed and hosed off. We recommend this product is used only by professional trades people as mistakes are very hard to rectify if used incorrectly.

We would recommend staying away from resin based products for such high end installations. You need the quality finish to match the quality paving material being used.

Polishing Marble tiles is a reasonable simple process, but you need experience and the correct equipment to get good results. Basically you need to use a Diamond flooring polishing pad with a 800Grit and over to achieve a polished finish. Marble will take a very high sheen and you can go as high as 3000 grit on most marble types.

Polishing Slate tiles is a reasonably simple process, but you need experience to get good results. Basically, you need to use a Diamond floor polishing pad with a 800 Grit or higher. On slate you would firstly need to hone the surface of the tiles flat, before starting the polishing process, so polishing a Slate tile with a riven surface will not be possible.

Polishing travertine tiles is a reasonable simple process, but you need experience to get good results. Basically you need to use a Diamond flooring pad with an 800 Grit. Travertine will never develop a high sheen such as granite and marble, so there is never any need to go above this 800 grit level. You need to understand that most travertine is filled and this fill is not polishable and will always remain dull compared to the polished surface of the stone, which results in a slight uneven surface finish.

The most important way to prevent slippery slate paving is to undertake regular maintenance and make sure the surface of the slabs is cleaned regularly. More information can be found on our tech guide section link below:

Outdoor Maintenance Guide

Firstly you will need to sand the whole of the existing worktop to remove any old treatment and scratches and stains, start off with 60 grit sandpaper working up to 220grit for the finished surface. When this has been achieved the surface needs to be fully cleaned and all dust removed so it’s ready for your chosen treatment.

If using Linseed or Danish oils, Pour a small amount of the oil directly onto the worktop surface and using the lint free cloth, spread it over the surface until you have a very thin and even layer that covers the whole of the worktop.

For hardwax oil follow the same process but use a suitable paint brush and ensure each coat is as thin as possible.

Once you have the thinnest possible layer of Wax or Oil, allow to fully dry before commencing a second coat, never over brush the wet surface.

We would always recommend using an Impregnating natural stone sealer for all Marble tiles. These sealers sit under the surface of the stone, helping to prevent staining and reducing maintenance at the same time. It is important not to use topical sealer on Marble tiles, this will sit on the surface of the stone, not allowing it to breath which can cause long term damage to your tiles.

Swimming pool copings can be sealed in the same way as all natural stone paving materials, always make sure your paving is completely dry before sealing and that you have at least 24 hours of dry weather ahead after sealing has been completed. With swimming pool areas more care is needed not to spill the sealant into the water as it could upset the chemical balance in the water, or at least sit on the surface of the water requiring additional cleaning of the pool before use. Always read and follow the manufacturers instruction fully when using any sealant products, and ensure you do a small test area first to make sure you are happy with the final finish before sealing the whole patio.

In short yes artificial grass is bad for the environment. The production of the plastic emits carbon and uses fossil fuels. Artificial grass is also not currently widely recycled and will inevitably end up in landfill. There is also some strong possibility of micro plastic being created during the life span of Artificial grass which are currently covering the whole world with plastic particles.

Artificial grass is free from lead and mercury, and you won’t need any pesticides or fertiliser in its maintenance, which means your pet will not come into contact with any harmful chemicals whilst playing on your artificial grass and therefore it should be considered pet friendly.

It is very unlikely that artificial grass would ever reach temperature that would burn or injure a dog. It doesn’t not have a great deal of thermal mass to hold onto the suns heat which stops it from heating excessively. In extreme heat conditions normal precautions should be taken to ensure your dog’s temperature is well regulated and that they are not allowed to walk on hot surfaces.

Yes, engineered wood flooring is suitable to be used in kitchen areas, it is much more durable and able to take the humidity and temperature fluctuations than traditional solid wood flooring which is not suitable for kitchens.

We would not recommend that any type of wood flooring is used in utility rooms, as wood flooring is susceptible to water damage and dishwashers and washing machines can have a tendency to leak.

Engineered wood flooring in not waterproof and should not be used in damp environments. It will be able to withstand some small amounts of water from everyday spillages, if dried in reasonable time, and not left to dwell on the surface.

Granite paving is known for being long-lasting and resilient to heavy wear and tear. It’s extremely dense and hardwearing and makes the perfect paving materials for both classic and contemporary garden designs. It generally has a flamed surface finish that gives it excellent slip resistance properties making it ideally suited to the UK climate.

Indian sandstone is an excellent paving material and makes the perfect patio. It has excellent frost resistance. It is hard wearing and affordable, making it one of the best natural paving materials available.

Indian sandstone works perfectly in a wide range of landscaping applications from a contemporary minimalist garden to a traditional cottage garden. It offers a wide range of colour and finishes. There is something for all style preferences.

Indian Sandstone paving like most types of natural stone paving has a degree of porosity which essentially means it’s permeable. Indian sandstone paving is an excellent material for all landscaping applications from patios to driveways, however its porosity means it does need to be sealed after installation. Always use a good quality impregnating sealant that is specifically formulated for natural stone. Without sealing Indian sandstone can start to look worse for wear after a few years and will require increased maintenance to keep it looking at its best.

Limestone is a very varied group of stone all with difference characteristics, but generally limestones are slightly less porous than other natural stones such as Indian Sandstone paving, making them extremely well suited to the UK climate. Stones such as Indian Limestone paving are an extremely dense product with very little porosity, helping reduce maintenance and reducing time needed on up-keep.

Yes we believe we offer the best possible quality Porcelain paving that will far exceed any domestic requirements and will, if correctly installed, last for decades without requiring anything but general cleaning and maintenance.

Porcelain paving is a very hard and precisely manufactured products, so some additional knowledge is needed to handle this material correctly, but any well experienced landscape contractor with the correct tools will not have any problems installing any of our products.

Yes we believe slate is the best material for Fireplace hearths and has been used for centuries with great success. Always look for a good quality slate supplier who is sourcing from either Brazilian quarries or if your budget will stretch from home grown Welsh slate Quarries. I would avoid any Chinese slate as the quality does not tend to be good enough and I would questions the longevity of the material.

Slate paving is generally less porous than most natural stone paving products available today. This greatly helps reduce the maintenance of you slate paving as dirt is less likely to penetrate the surface of the stone. This means that slate paving is well suited to our UK climate and with regular maintenance will provide a long lasting solution for paths and patios.

Slate paving will generally have a natural riven surface which help with slip resistance making it less slippery. Slate is less porous than most natural stones, which does help greatly with maintenance as dirt will tend to sit more on the surface, but this also makes it more important to keep your slate paving well maintained to ensure you reduce any algae build-up which can be slippery if left unchecked.

None of the travertine products available on our website are suitable for driveways. You would need a product that is at least 50mm thick to give sufficient strength to take the weight of vehicular traffic. Usually when travertine is being used for a driveway small blocks are produced such as 200 x 50 x 50mm and these are laid in the same way you lay concrete block paving, this provides the additional strength needed to take the vehicular weight.

Travertine is an excellent paving material that is extremely dense. The reduced porosity of travertine paving means it is less susceptible to dirt penetration and therefore reduces maintenance and keeps this stunning product looking better for longer, but at the same time still maintaining a little porosity to help with slip resistance.

Travertine is an excellent product for pool copings, it is easily worked making a wide variety of designs possible. It is hardwearing and has enough porosity to aid water absorption which draws water away from the surface of the stone helping with slip resistance. Travertine is also available in matching paving stones which will help enhance the look and functionality of any pool area.

Travertine is the ideal material to be used around swimming pools. It has a good level of slip resistance due to it being a slightly porous material which helps draw water away from the surface and into the stone itself. It stays cool in hot temperatures and when tumbled can be very soft to the touch. With its extremely attractive appearance, travertine is the perfect choice for pool copings and surrounds.

The tumbled finish is an especially popular choice around swimming pools due to its soft edges and smooth surface finish. Travertine pool copings and paving slabs are available in the matching finish to help create a seamless link between pool and the surrounding garden.

Travertine paving’s porous nature means that it easily absorbs water making it relatively nonslip. We would recommend using tumbled travertine paving and not filling the surface of the stone with grout. This will help improve the slip resistance further.

Travertine paving’s porous nature means that it easily absorbs water making it relatively nonslip. We would recommend using tumbled travertine coping around a swimming pool and not filling the surface of the stone with grout. This will help improve the slip resistance further.

We would always recommend using a white flexible tile adhesive at least S1 rated when installing Limestone tiles. You would require rapid setting adhesive for wall installations and either rapid or standard setting adhesive on floor installations.

We would also recommend using a flexible S1 rated tile adhesive when installing slate tiles, in either a grey or white colour. Always start by laying the thickest tile and then build up thinner tiles with the adhesive up to the recommend maximum thickness.

In the UK market by far the most common material for Fireplace Hearths is Slate, we source our slate from Brazil as it offers an excellent surface finish and is strong enough to withstand the punishment of everyday use.

Setts are square or rectangular quarried stones most commonly made from Granite or Limestone that are cropped / cut into sizes ranging from 100mm to 300mm in depth and width. These have been used in a vast range of paving installations for centuries but most commonly are seen in driveways and road construction.

The polished surface on Porcelain tiles is made by grinding the surface of the tile with a diamond disk with a grit of 800 and over. This is undertaken at the end of the production line after the tiles have been fired and rectified and just before packaging.

Slate is a foliated, fine-grained metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash that shows no clear compositional layering, but can be easily split into thin slabs and plates. Because it is a good electrical insulator and fireproof, it was used to construct electric switchboards in the early 20th century. Slate having those properties and great thermal stability makes it a top choice for a fireplace hearth and an area with underfloor heating.

Travertine is a form of terrestrial limestone most commonly found deposited around hot springs. The stone is characterised by pitted holes and troughs in its surface. It can also be polished to a smooth, shiny finish. Travertine is one of the most frequently used stones in modern architecture. It is commonly used for indoor home/business flooring, outdoor patio flooring, spa walls and ceilings, façades, and wall cladding. The lobby walls of the modernist Willis Tower in Chicago are made of Travertine.

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As a rule of thumb, you would normally try to match the colour of the grout to the tiles you have selected, but just going with a standard off white colour will generally work with all tile colours, blending with the lighter ones and contrasting with darker coloured tiles. This really is a personal choice and we would recommend doing a test mix with a couple of different colour options before starting the grouting.

You would normally match the silicon you are using around the worktop to the tiles being used for the splash back. If you are not using tiles in most cases people either try to match to the worktop colour or go for stand white silicon.

As a rule of thumb, you are going to need at least twice the depth of the chipping of gravel size. So, for 20mm chippings you are going to need at least 40mm depth to stop the base material showing through after time. Generally we would recommend going slightly deeper than this to ensure good coverage, but don’t go deeper than needed especially on small shingles / gravel such as 10mm which will be like walking on Brighton beach if used deeper than 40mm.

Engineered wood flooring refer to the process of bonding different layer of wood together to form a more stable and durable product than using solid wood. These layers normally consist of the top layer (veneer) of solid wood up to 6mm and then a ply base normally up to 16mm in thickness.

Glazed porcelain tiles have had a layer of silica (glass) applied to the surface during the manufacturing process. This is then fired at the same time as the tile body, creating a glazed glossy surface over the tile face.

Using a weed suppressant membrane can greatly reduce the chances of movement under your stone chippings. It will also help reduce maintenance and keep you path or driveway looking better for longer. You must consider the environmental impact of using a plastic membrane in your garden and always consider careful if it’s really needed.

All of our Travertine tile and paving products are premium or 1st quality. We don’t believe in dealing with any commercial grade travertine as the density and colour selection is not at any acceptable level for our clients. 

Glacial boulders are stones and rocks that were exposed by a glacier and then made smooth by its movement, these were then left behind in large deposits after the glacier melted. Glacial boulders can be made up of many different materials from sandstone to granite with a wide range of shapes and colours, making them a perfect material for building walls, ponds, water features and countless other landscaping applications.

All our Engineered wood floors are made up of a top layer of solid oak veneer between 4 and 6mm in thickness. This is bonded to a hardwood ply base of between 11-14mm using modern adhesives. The quality and thickness of these components ensure the durability and stability of the manufactured product and have a great bearing on the longevity of the installation.

All Natural Stone Wall Cladding Panels should be installed with a rapid setting, flexible tiles adhesive, that has been formulated for natural stone installation. If your wall cladding is to be installed outside, ensure your adhesive is suitable for exterior applications. We would always recommend using Ultra Tile – ProFlex SP in a colour to match your chosen panels which is available from all NST branches.

These terms are often confused but basically setts are square or rectangular quarried stones most commonly made from Granite or Limestone that are cropped / cut into sizes ranging from 100mm to 300mm in depth and width, these have been used in a vast range of paving installation for centuries.

Cobbles are quite often used to refer for something that is actually a sett, but the word cobble derives from the word cob which means a rounded lump. Cobbles and setts are both used traditionally in road construction, which could be where the confusion may arise, but the main difference is that setts are square and cobbles are round.

Porcelain will normally have a matt or polished surface that is mechanically applied after printing and firing. Glazed porcelain tiles have a layer of silica applied to their surface and are fired for a second time to achieve a glossy surface finish.

Shingle and Gravel are essentially the same product. A small rounded and angular stone quarried or dredged from the sea and called either shingle or gravel.

Wall cladding involves applying a layer of material to an existing wall for both aesthetic and protective purposes. It adds visual appeal while shielding the surface from external elements.

Yorkstone paving, also known as York stone, is a variety of sandstone, that comes from numerous quarries throughout Yorkshire in the UK. This material has been used for flooring and paving since medieval times and is one of the most prestigious paving options on the market with a price tag to match. It is generally quarried a lot thicker than its imported counterparts which add to the life expectancy of these slabs, which can be many hundreds of years.

We would always recommend using aggregates of either 14mm or 20mm in size for a domestic driveway, anything larger can be kick up onto cars, which can cause damage to bodywork, and anything small can be difficult to walk on and will get stuck in your shoes or car tyres

Daily cleaning is important, wipe up any spills immediately and sweep floors every day with soft broom to stop any build-up of dirt. Mop Slate floors weekly with clean water and gentle PH neutral cleaner at the recommend ratio shown on the bottle. For walls we would recommend using the same process but with a clean damp cloth. This is an excellent way to prevent build-up of dirt and debris and keep your natural stone tiles looking prefect.

On occasion you can apply a coat of Slate Oil to bring back the lustre of the natural slate, this will also offer some protection against staining.

We would recommend that Travertine tiles are always cleaned with a PH neutral natural stone cleaner, specifically formulated for travertine tiles. These products have become widely available in Supermarkets and online in recent years.

We would always recommend using an Impregnating natural stone sealer for all travertine tiles. These sealers sit under the surface of the stone, helping to prevent staining and reducing maintenance at the same time. It is important not to use topical sealer on travertine tiles, this will sit on the surface of the stone, not allowing it to breath which can cause long term damage to your tiles.

You should always apply one coat of sealant before grout but after installation and cleaning, then another coat directly after you have completely finished grouting, ensuring all residues are cleaned off first.

Travertine Tiles come for many areas of the world, but the products most commonly seen in the UK come from Turkey, with a smaller amount coming from Italy and when possible, Iran.

We have branches across the South Coast of England, including Poole in Dorset, Winchester, Tadley, Romsey and Portsmouth in Hampshire. Internal showrooms are available to view in Poole and Portsmouth and external displays are available at Portsmouth, Poole, Winchester and Tadley. 

Please visit our contact page for further information on the following link:    /our-depots

Glazed porcelain tiles are extremely easy to keep clean, due to their non-porous nature and shiny surface, but with proper care, unglazed and textured porcelain tiles can be maintained without anything more than regular maintenance.

It is very unlikely that your travertine tiles are cracking on their own, there are two main reasons tiles will crack, and this is not just an issue with Travertine, but all natural and ceramics tiles will act the same.

1. Tiles are prone to cracking if you have movement in your substrate transferring through to the surface of the tiles. Remove the cracked tile and you will see the crack is present in a similar position in your wall or floor substrate.
2. The other option is that your tiles have not be correctly installed and are not fully covered with the tile adhesive, resulting in your tiles not having enough support which leaves them susceptible to movement and cracking.

If your wooden worktop is sticky after apply a surface treatment, you have over applied the product and in most cases you will need to wait for it to dry and then remove by re-sanded and then re-apply the treatment as thinly as is possible, more coats and much better than one thick coat.

We always send a representative sample from the current batch of tiles or paving we have in stock, so as long as you requested a sample close to the time of purchasing, this will help to ensure the tiles and paving you receive matches  the sample you have been sent as closely as possible.

All of our products are either natural or porcelain and therefore there  is always scope for variation in shade, colour and to some extent the texture and finish with the natural products and with porcelain there will always be some slight colour variation between different batches, although the surface texture and finish will remain largely the same. 

We would strongly recommend that you visit one of our showrooms or paving displays to look at the current selection, so you can be entirely sure of what you will receive.