Sandstone versus concrete slabbing

magentas

Getting the back garden done, need practicality because we have 3 dogs but it's our home so still want it to look nice!

Got a quote for materials...700euro for concrete slabs and 1100 for the sandstone. Is it worth paying 30% more for sandstone? I think it looks far better but my OH wants concrete, mainly because of the price difference. Still waiting on quotes for labour (3weeks now:mad:)

Area is approx 40square yards. Would the difference in materials affect the cost of labour? If anyone had a rough idea of price or if our quote for materials is good or bad, that'd be great! Very confused here:o

Trying to weigh up the pros and cons of both...any advice or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

Bicycle

We put down sandstone in our back garden last year and I'm thrilled with it. Yes, it was a bit more expensive but we got a great deal from wesellstone in Roscrea (which isn't a huge distance from you). http://www.wesellstone.com/

We got the sandstone in 3 different sizes and yes, there was a bit more work but it looks fabulous. Depending on the different weathers, the stone looks different.

We have concrete in part of our front garden and there isn't any comparison. €400 isn't a huge amount of money in the long term. I'm looking at it now as I type and the different colours of the stone in the pouring rain look beautiful.

magentas

Yeah 400euro is a lot when you don't have it! But I really think it's worth it and will regret it if I get concrete. We'll be a long time looking at it so want to do it right. How much did you pay Bicycle? I'm getting quotes of 24euro per sq yd for sandstone that comes in 3sizes.

Do you find it easy to maintain? And did you set it in sand or concrete?
Any other pros or cons?

Thanks a mill for the info:)

Bicycle

Hi,

I just checked with Hubby and he said we paid €26 or so a metre squared. We had it set in concrete.

Pros - its absolutely beautiful. It changes colour with the weather. And you can sit outside (on the 1 day a year the sun shines!!) just admiring it. Because we have all glass at the back of the house and we have one patio area just outside the back door and another 3 feet up with steps between the two, it works really well. And its textured enough for the dog not to slip on it. At the moment it could do with a bit of a power hose but that will wait until that lone sunny day

Cons - it requires a bit of brain work to put it down and you are trying to get a good mix of colours. And it did need cutting in our case.

But the overall view is that yes, it did go beyond what was left in the budget but we are glad we spent it. This will last for years and years.

Bicycle

Hubby is now commenting as follows:

1. It required MINIMAL cutting
2. Unless you are doing a very even geometric figure you will need to cut whatever material you use.



Edit, hubby continues: "We pointed between the slabs and labour wise it shouldn't cost any more than the concrete slabs".

Note from me: just make sure you put the rough side down to grip against the concreete.

magentas

Thanks for the replies. We've decided to go with the stone over concrete;)

Overall, the job is coming in around 2,400euro...way more than we expected!

Breakdown is something like 1000 for materials (stone@24per yd) labour 2xmen@125 each per day for 4days and the rest is sand, pointers etc.

It's actually 35sq ft not 40. Anything we dig up is going into flowerbeds/rockery around the perimetre. So it may be pricey but at least it'll be done right and a once off!

BryanF

magentas wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. We've decided to go with the stone over concrete;)

Overall, the job is coming in around 2,400euro...way more than we expected!

Breakdown is something like 1000 for materials (stone@24per yd) labour 2xmen@125 each per day for 4days and the rest is sand, pointers etc.

It's actually 35sq ft not 40. Anything we dig up is going into flowerbeds/rockery around the perimetre. So it may be pricey but at least it'll be done right and a once off!

careful of your falls and drainage provisions!

Bicycle

Good luck Magentas, I hope everything goes well for you and that you are very happy with the result.

Bryan, you raise an important point. We have the drainage channels built into the patios (thingummamys like the tops of radiators that drain into pipes). They've been VERY important this winter!!