Frequently Asked Questions

Stonemarket is a long established brand, exclusively in partnership with independent merchants and do not supply direct to homeowners.

Besides one being made from clay and one from concrete there are a number of differences between the two. 

As clay is a natural material the colour is inherent within it, consequently exposure to Ultra Violet light will not have an effect on the vibrancy of the colour over time. 

Concrete however, is a pigmented material and over time and exposure to UV light there will be a reduction in the intensity of colour, this will not be a noticeable change due to the length of time it will take. 

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

All paving is thoroughly tested for slip resistance, provided that the units are maintained at the required intervals to prevent them from potentially becoming slippy with a surface build up of dirt, detritus and algae for example. 

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

Porcelain paving is ideal for swimming pools and deck areas as it has a slip skid rating of P4/P5 which is above the requirement for wet environments, due to it non porous nature which makes them anti microbial as well as highly resistant to mould and algae build up.

Pressed Concrete paving and Natural Stone Paving are suitable to use around a swimming pool. Avoid Wet Cast units as these will be affected by chemicals in the pool water such as chlorine for example and will suffer from surface crumbling. Please ensure products are laid using a rigid installation and only with an external jointing grout.

Any of our pressed concrete paving flags or Natural Stone flags are suitable for use on a ramp. 

Also Barfaced paving is designed specifically for this purpose as the units have slightly raised bars on the surface to provide extra grip under foot and highly effective for the visually impaired.

We always recommend the installation of an edge restraint, especially for areas which will be subjected to movement and loading i.e. Driveways, to help restrain and contain the area, preventing any lateral movement.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

Before. You need a solid edge restraint to work against. Always install the edge restraint prior to the blocks/flags being installed.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

This depends on the actual radius. Stonemarket do offer radial units within most of the kerb ranges. But cutting of the kerb is an option to acheive the desired radius.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

Typically Natural Stone Paving and Wet Cast Paving should be laid rigidly (mortar bed and joints).

Hydraulically pressed concrete flags can be laid either rigidly or flexibly (sand bed and joints).

Only paving over 50mm in depth can be installed flexibly, everything else rigidly.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

No; whether the flags are installed rigidly or flexibly you must always achieve a joint.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

As Stonemarket does not manufacture sealant and do not recommend the use of proprietary sealing agents on products installed in external applications, we would recommend that contact be made with a specialist sealant manufacturer to discuss your individual needs. If sealing your product, it should be left to weather for a minimum of 12 months before any proprietary sealer is applied.

For further information please contact a manufacturer of sealants or please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

The minimum size as stated by the British Standard 7533 "no block should be smaller than a quarter of a full size block".

No, they must always have a generated joint.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

Natural stone paving blocks can be used, installed on a rigid bed and only in conjunction with a waterproof external joint grout.

Porcelain paving is ideal for swimming pools and deck areas as it has a slip skid rating of P4/P5 which is above the requirement for wet environments, due to it non porous nature which makes them anti microbial as well as highly resistant to mould and algae build up.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

We do not advise to install block paving over an existing tarmac or concrete base, unless you have specialist knowledge.
    
For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603
 

To put it simply, if you can drive up a slope then it can be block paved. However, the steeper the slope is, the more likely it is to require intermediate restraints. 
    
For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

On a standard driveway, which does not require cars to turn or is on a steep gradient, stretcher bond is satisfactory.  For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

We would always suggest that you start by giving your patio or driveway a quick clean, by simply giving the area a good sweep with a stiff bristle brush to remove any surface dirt, then use some soapy water and the stiff bristle brush to remove any further stubborn stains. Our cleaning and maintenance guidelines are available from our  technical team.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

This is called efflorescence and is a natural phenomenon, which occurs in all cement based and Natural stone products due to a reaction between the material and water, resulting calcium hydroxide. Although the white deposits on the product may cause some concern, they will naturally weather over time and disappear.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

Yes we do. We recommend its use on all external paving when using the rigid applications as it helps with strong adhesion whilst also adding a protective barrier preventing excessive moisture pull through.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

No unfortunately we do not offer this service.

Permeapave is not laid in the same way as conventional block paving. The sub-base, bedding course and jointing material needs to be an open graded aggregate to allow for water infiltration. For further details, please refer to the installation guide that can be found under the downloads section on the product page

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

Any product which has permeapave in the name are permeable i.e. rio permeapave.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

In most areas no, this is because you will be containing the water run-off within your curtilage/property and not into the highway drainage system. However it is always best to check with your local authority before any work starts. 
    
Please also note that the legislation only refers to front gardens larger than 5m² .
    
For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603
 

We do not recommend sealing Permeapave products. This is due to sealants may clog/block the joints which could affect the water infiltration rate.

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603
 

All our paving is slip resistant provided that the units are maintained at the required intervals to prevent them from potentially becoming slippy with a surface build up of dirt, detritus and algae for example. 

For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

Rio Permeapave and Permeapave are both permeable

It is possible to install permeable block paving on a slope, however there are various considerations to make and depending on the degree of slope. 
    
For further information please contact the Group Technical team on; 0345 302 0603

Batch variation – Concrete
Concrete products are made from naturally occurring materials, which can vary in colour, resulting in a slight variation to the finished product. Although we aim to mitigate this as much as possible through up to date manufacturing techniques and quality control, variation between production batches can still occur. Whilst any differences are usually quite minor, this will be noticeable if units from two production batches are laid consecutively in the same area.

Batch variation – Porcelain 
Colour variation does occur during the manufacturing process of porcelain, resulting in porcelain being produced in batches. To reduce this colour variation, Stonemarket only source from first-choice tiles, meaning we only take stock from the middle of the colour spectrum. We always aim to send your order from the same batch code where possible, so please check all pack information is consistent prior to supplying or installation. The batch code is usually a letter followed by a number.

Batch variation – Natural Stone 
The natural origin of stone means that variation in colour, texture and markings is inevitable and is inherent in the characteristic of all natural stone. We believe this adds to the beauty of the material, however our stone does go through an agreed selection process for colour, which creates a more subtle and consistent colour blend across a finished project.

Efflorescence is a naturally occurring phenomenon which occurs in all cement based products due to a reaction between cement and water which produces calcium-hydroxide. Although the white deposits on the product may cause some concern, they will naturally weather over time and disappear. This can take up to 12 months.

Yes you can. Although some precautions should be taken to ensure excessive power washing does not take place. This includes:

1. Giving the area a good brush with a stiff bristle brush to remove excess dirt and debris first
2. Ensuring only a low pressure setting is selected and not using an oscillating lance
3. Carrying out a test on a small inconspicuous area first
4. Finally, ensuring you do not direct the power washer directly onto the surface. Always ensure it’s used at a 30 degree angle with a wide angle fan, or alternatively use a rotary head attachment

To best enjoy your driveway and patio spaces to the full, we would always recommend some seasonal maintenance (even if it’s a quick 5 min clean down).
 
In spring, you should give your patio it’s first clean of the year to remove any dirt which has built up over the winter months, ensuring any joints are still intact.
 
In summer when you’ll hopefully be utilising your patio more, ensure you give the area a regular sweep and clean.
 
As Autumn approaches and the leaves begin to fall, regularly sweep up any leaves to ensure they do not stain your driveway or patio. Always remove stains which may have occurred from berries falling from trees too (leaves contain tannins which are difficult to remove once the stain has set in).