Yorkstone has been around for over 300 million years. It has been the stone that has been used in a huge range of building projects from footpaths, roads and dry stone walling to churches, cathedrals, bridges, houses and intricately carved monuments. Beautiful natural Yorkstone will last hundreds, thousands, millions of years. The stone is durable and versatile.
The traditional London paving stone is Yorkstone. Yorkstone was a popular choice as the stone is smooth, durable, easy to maintain and never caused any potholes, making it easy with horses and carts to travel without the worry of any risks. It is still popular in both new construction and restoration.
Yorkstone is quarried from a single band of sandstone that runs from Huddersfield in the South to Keighley in the North, passing by Halifax and Bradford on its way – any flagstone claiming to be Yorkstone – must come from this part of West Yorkshire.
The stone colour depends on the minerals within its makeup and varies throughout the quarries from which it is mined. Quarried stone are usually a rusty reddish brown on the outside and sandy yellow on the inside. You can see this sandy colour on the inside of the blocks when they are sawn into Yorkstone slabs or riven into Yorkstone paving. Orange bands known as concretion lines can also be seen on the inside of the blocks when exposed with sawing or riving. Yorkstones vary in colour from buffs through to Blue Grey and Brown. As naturally occurring materials the colours may vary slightly.
Newly quarried Yorkstone is typically available as slabs, usually used for paving, setts and walling stones. And reused Yorkstone paving which is salvaged from demolished sites, is valued for its naturally weathered surfaces.
Strength – most people think that granite is stronger than Yorkstone but this is not true. Yorkstones is much stronger than most granites, and they have no difficulty carrying modern urban loadings.
Slip Resistance – Yorkstone flags (this term is used when splitting a block apart) is slip resistant and remains to be the top stone. They retaining their non slip properties as they wear.
Texture – diamond sawn finish is the most common Yorkstones which is supplied. This is the method of production gives a more consistent thickness and width to aide easier and quicker installation of the product. First Greenmoor Rustic is sawn and then flame textured to enhance its colour and slip resistance. Traditional Riven paving is still produced but special care should be taken when specifying this product.
Yorkstone Supplies is a great name to get to know around the marketplace. They are a leading supplier that will walk you through the DIY journey so that you get to know your Yorkstone.
You can create almost anything from this stone, from outdoor benches to flower beds – and it is truly a stone that will last you a lifetime.
