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    • Natural Cleft Finish
    • Thermal Finish
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    • Contact Us

Bluestone Direct.com - Brought to you by
Tri-County quarries

Bluestone Direct.com - Brought to you by Tri-County quarriesBluestone Direct.com - Brought to you by Tri-County quarriesBluestone Direct.com - Brought to you by Tri-County quarries

(607) 785-2079

  • Home
  • Natural Cleft Finish
  • Thermal Finish
  • Other Bluestone Products
  • Inspiration
  • In Stock
  • Contact Us

natural cleft finish bluestone options

Image A - Natural cleft, premium blue, 1-1/2" thickness range, 24 x 36 inches

    What is "Natural Cleft" and "Pattern" Bluestone?

    What is "Natural Cleft" and "Pattern" Bluestone?

    What is "Natural Cleft" and "Pattern" Bluestone?

    "Natural Cleft" finish is created when large cubes of bluestone are split by hand with a chisel on the natural seams within the rock (see below).  The natural texture works best with a rustic or historic design aesthetic.   


    Because the seams within the rock vary in distance from each other, the thickness of natural cleft stone will vary from piece to piece.  1" thickness range is from approximately

     3/4" to 1-1/4".  1-1/2" thickness range is from approximately 1-1/4" to 2-1/4".   


    "Pattern" bluestone gets its name from how it is most often used... laid out in a pattern of squares and rectangles to make a patio or sidewalk.  This stone is most commonly laid in a bed of sand, gravel or cement.  Pattern stone can have either a natural cleft or thermal finish.


    If a modern, sleek finish is desired, or thickness variations are problematic, "Thermal" bluestone is probably a better choice.  

    "Premium Blue" Bluestone

    What is "Natural Cleft" and "Pattern" Bluestone?

    What is "Natural Cleft" and "Pattern" Bluestone?

    "Premium Blue" bluestone describes the range of bluish - gray shades most people think of when they they think of Pennsylvania and New York bluestone.  This is still a natural product, so there will still be color variation, but the variation will all be in the blue range.  


    Due to the hand-sorting needed to assemble pallets of bluestone in this singular color range "Premium Blue" bluestone has a higher price point than "Full Color Range" Bluestone

    "Full Color Range" Bluestone

    What is "Natural Cleft" and "Pattern" Bluestone?

    "Full Color Range" Bluestone

    Bluestone isn't always blue! 

    Pennsylvania and New York bluestone naturally comes in many color variations depending on the quarry it came from, and which layer of stone was being harvested at the time.  


    Various shades of brown, steel blue, and grey are most common.  Shades of bluish-green, plum (lilac) and black (dark grey) are sometimes mixed in.  Bluestone is a natural product, and the variety that nature provides is part of what makes it so beautiful.  


    Full color range bluestone pattern can contain any or all of the colors listed above within a single pallet.  Every pallet is different and will contain a different blend of colors.   Image C in the gallery above is a good example of how much variety there is in full color bluestone pattern.  These two pallets came from different quarries so they contain a different blend of colors, but both are full color range pattern bluestone. 


    Best practice is to order all the stone needed for your project (plus some extra for breakage and installation flexibility) and blend the pallets during install. 


    How is natural cleft pattern stone made?

    Sawn into blocks and stood up

    Sawn into blocks and stood up

    Sawn into blocks and stood up

    Diamond encrusted saws are used to cut the bedrock to the desired dimension.  Then the blocks are lifted out and stood on edge.  

    If the seams within the rock are tight, the blocks may be left out to weather for weeks or months to allow the seams to open. 

    Split by hand along the seams

    Sawn into blocks and stood up

    Sawn into blocks and stood up

    Once stood on edge, quarry workers use a hammer and chisel to split the rock open along the natural seams, exposing the texture (clefting) within the stone.  Because each piece is split along these natural lines, thickness from piece to piece varies for natural cleft stone. 

    Clefting - Each piece is unique

    Clefting - Each piece is unique

    Clefting - Each piece is unique

    The grain structure within bluestone is revealed when split along the natural seams. 

    Industry standard is that the bottom of a cleft should not be deeper than two quarters stacked on top of each other (1/8").  

    The clefting is what gives natural cleft NY / PA bluestone it's unmistakable beauty.   Stone from other regions of the US or across the world comes in similar colors, but the texture of NY / PA bluestone is unique. 

    Stacked onto pallets

    Clefting - Each piece is unique

    Clefting - Each piece is unique

    The stones are then stacked onto pallets.  They are either full color (as pictured above) or premium blue color range only.   


    The pallets can be stacked with all the same size stones (solid pallet) or a variety of sizes (mixed pallet) but either way the square footage is written on the edge of one of the stones. 

    Natural Cleft Standup / Flagstone / broken flag / irregular

    How is it harvested?

    How is it harvested?

    How is it harvested?

    "Standup" bluestone (AKA "Broken Flagstone" or "Irregular") gets its name from the way that the bluestone is shipped... standing up on pallets. 


    At the quarry, forklifts are used to lift large sections of stone.  Each piece breaks along the natural seams in the bedrock.  The pieces are then stood up vertically on pallets and wrapped with chicken wire.  


    Our standup is sold by weight so you pay less for smaller pallets and more for larger.  Beware of sellers that charge a standard price per pallet regardless of how much stone is contained within.


    Coverage of a single pallet varies greatly depending on the thickness of the bluestone and the artistic preferences of the masonry professional who installs the bluestone.  Most pallets contain between 1.5 and 2 tons. 

    How is it used?

    How is it harvested?

    How is it harvested?

    Pieces of standup are laid in a bed of sand or mortar like a jigsaw puzzle to make patios and sidewalks.  Larger pieces are broken by hand to the shapes needed to fill the space.  


    This product is wonderful for projects where a rugged or historic look is desired.  Standup is also available in thermal finish if consistent thickness and / or color is needed.


    If the pieces shown in these images are too large / difficult to handle, please consider ordering thin Colonial.  Details are found on the "Other Types of Bluestone" tab at the top of this page


    The installation above was done by Stonescapes LLC  www.stonescapesllc.com 


    Thickness varies

    Available in Blue and Full Color

    Available in Blue and Full Color

     For natural cleft standup, standard is either 1" thickness range or 1-1/2" thickness range.  As with natural cleft pattern, there will be variation in thickness from piece to piece because the stone has been split along the natural seams in the rock.  

    Thicker pallets can be requested as well, just let us know what you need.  

    Available in Blue and Full Color

    Available in Blue and Full Color

    Available in Blue and Full Color

    As with natural cleft pattern, natural cleft standup is available in both full color range and premium blue color range. 

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