5 Inspiring Outdoors Makeovers Recently Completed in Dublin with Natural Paving Slabs

Introduction

Well-suited to Ireland’s ever-changing weather conditions, natural paving slabs have become the most popular option in paving and patio construction in recent years, and for good reason. Natural stone – such as limestone, granite, and sandstone – is by design super durable, long-lasting, and resilient to even the most extreme weather conditions.

Here at Tile Merchant, we supply natural paving slabs in a wide range of colours, textures, and finishes, with sizes from 60x30cm to 90x60cm.

Natural stone paving slabs have become the most commonly used material for patio slabs in Ireland and can be used to create inspiring outdoor patios, pathways, or in countless other landscaping scenarios.

Types of Natural Paving Slabs

There are two main types of natural stone paving slabs – sedimentary (limestone and sandstone) and igneous (granite) – and whilst both are incredibly strong materials, each has its own set of unique properties.

Sandstone Natural Paving Slabs

Sandstone – which we ethically source from India – has a low-water absorption point, making it ideal for use in particularly wet and rainy areas. Inarguably attractive, our Indian natural stone paving slabs come in four distinct colours and a range of finishes: Mint and Kandla Grey Paving Slabs.

Kandla Grey has a strong, cooler feel to it, and in some finishes more closely resemble the polished look of marble, than sandstone. 

Lastly, Mint Sandstone, named for its affluent Indian resemblance, has a very slight green tinge to it, tying it more closely to the lush verdancy of Irish fields and gardens. Check out our range of sandstone paving slabs here.

Limestone Natural Paving Slabs

Limestone, with similar water-resistance properties to sandstone, is absolutely perfect for the Irish market, as it is non-porous – thus keeping it dry and resistant to slip throughout the year (even when wet). Like our sandstone natural paving slabs, our limestone is ethically sourced from India, and its various options are equally good-looking and versatile: available in Black, Kota Green, Kota Grey, and Kota Yellow.  

Lastly, Kota Green and Yellow natural paving slabs bring a surprisingly light finish to limestone. The green is bright and akin to a light grey, resplendent under a kind sun, whilst the yellow is even warmer, and closely resembles the natural warmth of sandstone, whilst retaining all the natural advantages of limestone. 

Check out our range of limestone paving slabs here.

Granite Natural Slabs

And finally we have our granite natural stone paving slabs. Granite is one of the toughest, most durable natural materials, second only to diamond in strength (and a mite less expensive!). Formed of igneous (volcanic) rock, it is certainly the most naturally long-lasting of all the available natural paving slabs. 

Our silver granite comes either bush-hammered or polished, making it anti-slip and even more durable. The classy, livening silver colour, when polished, offers a decadent and flashy option, whereas bush-hammered is a more understated, yet bright and attractive finish. 

READ MORE: How to Choose the Right Paving Slab in Ireland for Your Garden?

Installing Natural Paving Slabs

First off, you’ll have to decide where to install your natural stone paving. These slabs cannot be placed directly onto soil or grass, instead, they’ll have to be placed into a full bed of mortar, and to do that, first you’ll have to dig out your (precisely measured) installation site.

For a full installation rundown, see our natural stone paving slab installation guide.

5 Inspiring Outdoor Natural Paving Slab Makeovers

Looking to transform your outdoor space? Natural paving slabs are perfect for elevating your garden, patio, or backyard. These versatile slabs not only enhance aesthetics but are also durable, weather-resistant, and timeless. Check out some gardens with natural stone paving.

Kandla Grey Sandstone Paving Slab

Here we have two examples of our stunning Kandla Grey Sandstone, used as entrance paving (left) for a front door, built to conform to the porch as well as to an existing tree. 

We also see Kandla Grey being built adjacent to wooden decking (right) as an attractive patio area in the back garden, built to complement the colour of the decking and shed, and raised to a higher second level to facilitate entrance to the shed

Kota Grey Sandstone Paving Slab

By utilising a wide variety of sizes, and the slightly varying hues of our Kota Grey Limestone, this recent Dublin installation has maximised the potential of the back garden, transforming the space into a darkly beautiful patio. 

The grey of the limestone perfectly complements the rich wood of the in-built seating, and would be perfect as an outdoor BBQ area. You can even see that the paving from the garden shed has been completed with the same limestone, unifying the garden’s aesthetic.

Mint Sandstone Paving Slab

If you didn’t know better, we’d swear you’d think this back garden belonged in the Mediterranean – what with its crisp white walls and decorative plants topping the sun-kissed warmth of our Mint Sandstone natural paving slabs.

This Indian sandstone slab has, as you can see in the first picture, a pleasing natural variation to its textures and colours, giving a good deal of character to this recent Dublin outdoor makeover – cleverly designed to complement the uniform brown and blue-black of the wooden patio and shed.

In the second picture, mint sandstone paving slabs are paired with artificial grass.

Kota Green Limestone Paving Slab

Accompanying the neat, bright turf and darker pebble path of this back garden is our Indian Kota Green Limestone which – thanks to its delicately grey-green hue – shines radiantly in the sun, and lifts the darker tones of the grass, shed, and walls around it.

Here, the limestone slabs have been measured and installed in order to create a versatile patio area by the garden shed, perfect for BBQs, friend and family gatherings, or a spot of gardening work (see the flower bed in the corner).

Camel Dust Sandstone Paving Slab

And finally, let’s bask in the glorious warmth of our Camel Dust Sandstone’s reds, golds, greys, and oranges. Here, this Dublin garden has been made over to create a patio area that will stay dry and slip-resistant year round; constructed alongside a drainage system, and laid along the severe angle of the garden’s back wall. 

Why Tile Merchant?

We offer extremely competitive pricing on our entire range of tiles and likewise. We stock a huge range of wall and floor tiles and our prices are competitive for retail and trade. Our stock is widely available in our tile stores in Dublin and Ashbourne (Co. Meath) which are open 7 days a week.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer to shop our tiles online, we can supply you with samples delivered for free.

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