Rippon Buff Indian Sandstone Paving Slabs - Sawn & Honed - Patio Pack - 20mm - Smooth Paving

What You're Getting

This combines three premium elements: Rippon Buff's warm palette, smooth sawn and honed processing, and mixed-size pack format. Each adds cost but delivers specific benefits.

The Colour Situation

Rippon Buff brings proper colour - golden buff base, soft orange warmth, creamy beige brightness, occasional grey depth. It's bold and earthy, not subtle. Some pieces lean golden, others cream, some show orange, others grey. That's natural stone doing its thing.

On smooth surfaces, colours really show up. Flat finish means even light rather than texture shadows, so you see warm buff tones, orange highlights, and cream variations clearly. Visually busier than neutral greys - either exactly what you want or completely wrong depending on taste. Colours deepen when wet - golden buffs go amber, oranges intensify. It's temporary but quite dramatic after rain.

The Smooth Finish

Sawn and honed means diamond blade cutting for flat surfaces, mechanical honing for matte finish. Not polished shiny, just smooth and refined with squared edges for clean contemporary lines.

Feels even underfoot rather than rustic. Still decent grip because matte not glossy. Shows dirt more than textured stone but cleans easier when you actually do it. About 20mm thick after processing - thinner than 22mm riven because of material removal, but absolutely fine for normal patio use.

Pack Contents

Four sizes working together:

• 900x600mm: 16 pieces (main format)
• 600x600mm: 16 pieces (squares)
• 600x290mm: 16 pieces (rectangles)
• 290x290mm: 12 pieces (small accents)

Proportionally related so they create flow patterns rather than rigid grids. More work to lay than single-size but results look less monotonous. Full packs cover 18.95 sqm (60 pieces), smaller packs 15.25 sqm (48 pieces). Assumes 8-10mm joints between slabs.

Why Buy From Us

We source from Indian quarries doing proper sawn and honed processing - not every supplier bothers. Stone gets calibrated to 20mm and checked before shipping.

Free mainland UK delivery, kerbside drop. Orders by 3pm dispatch within 3-5 days. Our people give straight answers about this stone's warm busy palette and whether it suits your project. We'd rather discuss that now than deal with "too colourful" complaints later.

Available Pack Sizes

Full Pack: 18.95 sqm (60 pieces) - covers most standard patios

Smaller Pack: 15.25 sqm (48 pieces) - for compact areas or extensions

Both contain the same four-size mix, scaled proportionally. Coverage assumes 8-10mm joints. Order 5-10% extra for cuts and repairs - colour matching later is difficult.

How to Use It

Where This Works: Modern properties using natural materials, design-focused landscapes, transitional gardens mixing traditional warmth with contemporary lines, entertaining spaces where smooth surfaces work better than rustic texture. The warm palette complements timber, terracotta, warm brick.

Where to Think Twice: Traditional cottage gardens (riven Rippon Buff better), ultra-minimalist spaces (cool greys fit better), gardens needing neutral backgrounds, properties with existing cool grey that would clash. This brings colour and personality - only works if that's actually what you want.

Installation Approach: Mixed sizes let you create random layouts. Dry-lay sections first to experiment. Distribute four sizes evenly rather than creating zones. Mix slabs from different packs to spread colour variation. Maintain 8-10mm joints. Work on proper foundations - 100mm sub-base minimum, mortar bed, drainage falls.

Installation Tips

Standard natural stone prep: 100mm MOT Type 1 sub-base, 30-40mm mortar bed, 1:80 drainage fall. The 20mm slabs need solid support.

Work from multiple packs to distribute colour variation. With Rippon Buff's bold palette, random distribution prevents obvious colour zoning.

For random patterns, dry-lay sections first. Keep four sizes distributed evenly. The smooth sawn edges make consistent joints easier than riven stone - use spacers for 8-10mm spacing. Point with brush-in compound and seal after installation.

What to Expect from Natural Stone

Colour Variation: Bold differences between pieces - some golden, others cream, some orange, some grey. The smooth surface makes these differences more obvious than textured stone. Colours deepen dramatically when wet.

Surface Characteristics: Flat from processing but still shows fossil marks, mineral deposits, veining. The honed matte finish isn't perfectly uniform across every piece.

Edges and Dimensions: Minor chips possible despite sawn edges. Dimensional variation exists despite calibration - pieces may vary slightly from 20mm nominal thickness.

Porosity: Natural sandstone absorbs water despite sealing. Smooth surface shows water marks and stains more readily than textured finishes, but wipes clean more easily.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery to most UK mainland addresses via 18-ton lorry with tail-lift. Kerbside offloading only. Ensure adequate access and level ground.

Orders by 3pm dispatch within 3-5 working days. Saturday delivery available for additional charge.

Inspect on delivery before signing. Natural colour variation isn't a return ground. Significant damage or incorrect products - contact within 48 hours with photos.

Care & Maintenance

Seal after installation with natural stone sealer. Protects against staining, enhances colours. Reapply every 2-3 years.

Regular sweeping prevents dirt buildup - easier on smooth surfaces but also shows dirt more. Wash with clean water and mild detergent, avoid acidic cleaners.

Deal with spills promptly - natural stone is porous. Remove moss or algae with appropriate treatments. The warm buff tones help hide minor marks but you still need to maintain it.

Popular Combinations

Edging: Kandla Grey cobbles/setts (contemporary contrast), matching Rippon Buff (colour continuity), Raj Green (multicolour coordination)

Steps: Matching Rippon Buff smooth or contrasting Kandla Grey for definition

Borders: Kandla Grey smooth planks (clean lines), Camel Dust (tonal variation)

Jointing: Buff or natural sand colours complement warm tones better than white or dark grey

Need Help?

Our team provides honest guidance on whether Rippon Buff smooth suits your project. This stone has distinctive warm colourful palette - people either love it or find it too busy. We'd rather discuss that upfront than deal with disappointment after delivery.

Contact us for coverage calculations, installation questions, or clarity on smooth vs riven options.