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Natural stone advice and inspiration

Explore garden ideas, compare stones and prepare for installation and ongoing care.

Illustrations introduce the topics; they do not depict specific products or completed projects.

36 articles

Travertine around a pool: two garden ideas

Photographs help establish the atmosphere you want. Dimensions, drainage and construction still need to be designed for your own site.

Choosing your stone

Natural-stone cladding for garden walls and façades

Cladding can transform an existing wall, plinth or garden boundary. It does not replace a load-bearing structure and needs a suitable substrate.

Understanding and comparing stone

Frost-resistant stone for outdoor use: what to check

Choose outdoor stone using information for the actual product. A rock type alone does not establish frost resistance for every variety and finish.

Garden ideas and projects

Gravel, chippings and gabions in the garden

Start with the intended use, then choose the colour and grading. A planted bed, a comfortable path and a gabion basket require different solutions.

Choosing your stone

Natural-stone pool coping: what to check before ordering

Pool length alone is not enough to plan the coping. You also need the corners, coping width, overhang and connections to the pool structure and surrounding paving.

Installation and planning

Laying stone setts: the base, pattern and joints

A footpath and a driveway place different demands on paving. Setts, base, bedding and joints must form a system suited to the intended loads.

Installation and planning

Laying natural-stone paving: the stages to plan

A guide explains the sequence of work; it cannot specify a universal base. Drainage, installation method and slab size must suit your site.

Understanding and comparing stone

Granite or travertine for your patio?

Compare specific products rather than two material names. Colour, finish, dimensions and maintenance matter just as much as the type of stone.

Care and cleaning

Caring for travertine: cleaning and impregnation

The right care routine depends on your stone’s finish and where it is used. An impregnating sealer can make cleaning easier, but it does not replace regular maintenance.