Stone paving is a very old solution for paving a road with natural material, a technique that offers at the same time a really appreciated aesthetic performance.
Choosing to pave a road or a square with stone is in fact an excellent solution both from a physical-technical and performance point of view, as outdoor stones are very durable and driveable, but also from a landscape point of view.
In Tuscany, for example, it is the practice to pave the road surface of country houses with local outdoor stones, recreating a rustic and refined atmosphere. We at Biemme Restauri are experts in farmhouse renovations in Tuscany and work with paving stones on a daily basis for our clients.
We choose mainly Tuscan stones to continue the connection with the territory and to provide our clients with excellent materials with evergreen appeal.
ARTICLE INDEX
Types of Tuscan Stones for Paving, Exteriors and Cladding
There are many types of Tuscan stones that are ideal for construction when making roadbeds, paving stones or even just for lining stairs and pool edges.
Natural stone cladding in Tuscany is a widely used procedure because it makes it possible to recreate the typical colonial style of our countryside.
This choice also makes the Tuscan landscape so beautiful, where modest building blend with the harmony of the hills surrounded by vines and olive trees.
The classic postcard landscape of the Tuscan countryside. That is why for country house renovations we often use a mix of natural stones that echo the typical masonry of Tuscan villages.
Natural stone cladding is therefore one of the most popular choices for renovating homes in the Tuscan countryside.
Among the most popular types of Tuscan stone used for paving and cladding we recommend:
• Pietra Forte Fiorentina, the typical building stone used in the city of Florence, such as the Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti.
• Alberese Stone, this is a material widely used in construction in Tuscany. It has a limestone aspect to it and was heavily used in the monumental architecture of Prato.
• Pietra Serena, sandstone typical of Florentine architecture, also historically used for decorative elements such as columns and cornices.
Pietra Serena paving: historic paving in Tuscany
Serena stone paving is a classic of historic Florentine and Tuscan construction.
Indeed, paving in Tuscan villages as well as historic cities is largely dominated by the presence of pietra serena, an ideal material for building and widely produced in local quarries.
In the quarries located in Fiesole, Vincigliata, Settignano, and the Mugnone Valley, medium-fine-grained pietra serena is found, while medium to coarse-grained stone is located in the areas southwest of Florence.
Renaissance architects made great use of pietra serena in Florentine and Tuscan construction, choosing the quarry according to the characteristics of the stone required.
Even today, pietra serena paving is widely used in public and private Tuscan paving projects, as it is a material that can provide a truly pleasing aesthetic impact and, at the same time, durability and strength.
This is why in Tuscan construction, especially in hillside or country buildings, the use of pietra serena has never disappeared, ideal for paving driveways, roads but also yards and courtyards.
Natural Stone for Exteriors and Cladding
Using natural stone for exteriors and cladding is undoubtedly a choice to be encouraged as it allows a harmonious dialogue with the surrounding environment and territory, especially in Tuscany.
The beautiful medieval Tuscan villages, in fact, feature architecture dominated by local natural stone, as do the farmhouses on the picturesque hillsides. In addition to aesthetic appeal, moreover, natural stone for exteriors and cladding also offers advantages in terms of strength, durability and performance.
The following are the main types of natural stone ideal for exteriors and cladding:
• porphyry;
• Luserna stone;
• travertine;
• slate;
• basalt
• granite.
These natural materials are widely used, for example, for cladding stairs, cornices, or walls. They are also ideal for paving and facades.
White Stone Exterior Flooring
Even if you decide to make an outdoor floor in white stone, there are many materials available with different characteristics.
Therefore, preferring lighter shades tending toward white, an excellent material for making outdoor flooring is natural Lessinia stone (or Prun Stone). This is a stone widely used in outdoor paving, ideal, for example, for making sidewalks, courtyards and terraces.
If you want to create a particularly refined environment then the best choice is definitely white Carrara stone, an excellence of Tuscan and Italian production.
White Carrara stone is a perfect natural stone for outdoor paving and cladding, offering elegance and durability, widely used in landscaping gardens and courtyards.
Reclaimed Ancient Stone Floors
If we want to renovate our own outdoor space while giving a classic and decidedly historic touch to the structure, a great idea is to create reclaimed ancient stone floors.
In Tuscany, history is everywhere: the glorious past still echoes in the urban architecture of villages and towns.
Reclaimed ancient stone, therefore, is a popular choice for those who want to give a touch of antiquity to their home.
Old stone is warm and lived-in, bearing the signs of time but never aging. On the market, for example, it is possible to find a wide selection of outdoor reclaimed antique sandstone paver; cleaned and selected, ready for laying.
How to Lay Stone?
Laying stone to make paved roadbeds, plazas or cladding must be done professionally by experienced personnel to ensure an excellent result from not only an aesthetic point of view but also in terms of durability.
Let us now see how stone is laid and what the basic steps are.
Laying stone on fresh ground
1. As a first step, it is important to mark off the area to be paved with wooden boards.
2. The surface should have an abundant "bedding layer" consisting of river sand, cement and water.
3. The stones should be laid in the bedding layer about 2/3 of the way, using a mallet to ensure they sink-in well.
4. Once dry, it will be possible to fill the joints with a mixture of cement, fine sand and water.
Dry stone laying
1. Prepare the laying ground with the bedding layer composed of river sand.
2. Lay the stones on the bedding layer and beat them with the mallet to sink them.
3. Constantly check the overall flatness of the pavement, using a long straightedge.
4. Check that the combination between the stones results in fairly even joints.
5. Penetrate the sand between the joints and add pre-seeded topsoil that will allow grass to grow between stones just to fill in the joints.
Natural Stone Exterior Flooring Prices
As we have seen, natural stone outdoor floors are of various types, depending on the location of extraction, physical characteristics and technical performance.
Therefore, natural stone outdoor floors have prices that depend precisely on these characteristics, generally the starting price in principle is €7 per square meter.
Although it depends on the quality and the retailer, let's see an indicative overview of what the prices are for outdoor stone.
Natural stone outdoor flooring prices:
Sandstone: the indicative price for slabs is about €60/sqm;
Porphyry: the indicative price for tiles is about €27/sqm;
Slates: the indicative price for tiles is about €20/sqm;
Pietra Serena: the indicative price for tiles is about €29/sqm;
Pietra Bianca di Carrarea: the indicative price ranges from €35 to €70/sqm;
Driveway Outdoor Flooring Prices
In case someone needs driveable outdoor flooring, prices vary depending on whether we choose natural stone or cheaper materials.
In the case of driveable natural stone, we can choose a material such as porphyry, alternatively driveable porcelain stoneware, resin or stamped concrete.
Porphyry: the approximate price for tiles is about €27/sqm;
Driveway porcelain stoneware: the indicative price ranges from €7 to €20/sqm;
Resin: the approximate price is €70/sqm;
Stamped concrete: the approximate price is €40 to €50/sqm;
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much do natural stone outdoor floors cost?
Natural stone outdoor floors have varying prices, generally the starting price is €7/sqm.
How much does porphyry cost per square meter
How to lay natural stone?
There are various techniques, in principle you can lay natural stone on fresh ground or dry. In the former case it will be laid on sand, water and cement, while in the latter case only on sand.