Indian sandstone is the most popular natural stone for British patios — and for good reason. It’s beautiful, naturally varied, hard-wearing, ages gracefully, and the price point makes it accessible without compromising quality. Our family team has been installing Indian sandstone patios across Hampshire since 1996, and it remains the material we install most often.

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed over millions of years from compressed sand and minerals. The variations in colour you see in any sandstone slab come from iron oxides, mica and other minerals that were present when the rock formed. That’s why every Indian sandstone patio looks slightly different from every other one — the variation is what gives it character.

Below are the most popular Indian sandstone colours our family team installs across Hampshire. Each has its own character and works best in particular settings. We carry samples of all of these and bring them to your site visit so you can see exactly how each one will look against your home.

Sizes & calibration

The Indian sandstone we install is always calibrated — meaning every slab is cut to the same thickness (typically 22mm) for consistent laying. This matters because uncalibrated sandstone needs spot-bedding on a varying mortar bed, which is the #1 cause of patio rocking and joint failure two years in.

Standard sizes include:

• Single size: 600 × 600mm (the most common patio format)
• Project pack: mixed sizes (290×290, 290×600, 600×600, 600×900) for randomised laying patterns
• Plank sizes: 290×900 or 290x1200mm for contemporary linear designs
• Setts & cobbles: 100x100mm for borders and feature areas

How we install sandstone patios

Every sandstone patio our family team installs follows the same construction standards:

• Excavation to 150-200mm below finished patio level
• Type 1 MOT sub-base laid and compacted in 50mm layers
• Full mortar bed bedding (not the cheap spot-bed shortcut)
• 10mm joints for resin-jointing, hand-pointed if specified
• Polymeric jointing compound or hand-pointed mortar
• 1:80 minimum fall away from any building
• Edge restraints in concrete haunching for stability

This is standard BS 7533 specification — the British Standard for paving construction. If you’ve been quoted by another firm, ask if they’re installing to BS 7533.

Sealing & aftercare

Indian sandstone is mildly porous, which means it benefits from sealing about 6 months after installation (once any efflorescence has worked through the surface). Our family team can either include the sealing in your project or talk you through doing it yourself with the right products.

Re-seal every 3-5 years depending on traffic and exposure. Beyond that, your sandstone patio needs almost nothing — brush it occasionally, wash with mild detergent twice a year, treat any spills promptly. Properly installed sandstone easily lasts 30+ years.

Common Hampshire sandstone questions

Will the colours fade?

Quality calibrated Indian sandstone holds its colour well. You’ll see initial deepening over the first 6 months as efflorescence resolves and the stone settles, then very gradual softening over the next decade. Sealed stone holds colour longer than unsealed.

Does sandstone stain easily?

Sealed sandstone resists most spills if cleaned promptly. Oil, red wine and tree sap are the worst culprits — treat them within 24 hours and you’ll have no lasting marks. Bird droppings should also be cleaned quickly as the acidity can etch unsealed stone.

Can I mix two sandstone colours?

Yes — common combinations include Honey main areas with Autumn Brown borders, or Mint Fossil patios with Silver Grey setts as accents. Our family team will sketch a design showing the proportions and joint patterns before any materials are ordered.