Image A - Full color range, natural cleft pattern patio. Installation by Stonescapes LLC www.stonescapesllc.com
"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. 1/2" thickness range is from
approximately 1/4" to 3/4".
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 describes the range of bluish - gray shades most people think of when 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 / gray 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
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, rust, 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.
We highly recommend that our customers order all the stone needed for the project (plus some extra for breakage and installation flexibility) and blend the pallets during install.
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.
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.
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.
The stones are then stacked onto pallets. The pallets can be stacked with all the same size stones (solid pallet), with a variety of sizes (mixed pallet), or based on a template (kit).
First, select either full color range or blue color range. Full color range pallets may contain any or all of these colors: Brown, Rust, Blue, Gray, Lilac, Green. Blue color range pallets will consist of different shades of blue and gray. Please see the "Inspiration" tab above for images of finished projects in both full color range and blue range stone to help you decide which look you prefer.
Second, decide which thickness range you prefer:
Third, decide what sizes you want. Bluestone pattern is sold in "solid" pallets, "mixed size" pallets, and "kit" pallets. Solid pallets contain all the same size stone. (Please note that there are often "book end" pieces on the outside of a solid pallet that are a different size in order to help the pallet ship safely). Mixed size pallets are our best seller and have the quickest lead time. They contain a random blend of sizes between 12" x 12" and 24" x 36". Every pallet is a unique blend of sizes. "Kit" pallets are assembled to match a template. The exact qty of each size stone is known ahead of time. See "Inspiration" tab at the top of this page for available kits / templates.
Lastly, decide how much to order. Find the square footage you need to cover and increase by a small percentage to allow for installation flexibility. Bluestone is brittle by nature so it's recommended to also add 2% for breakage in transit. Pattern stone is "nominally" sized, meaning each dimension is smaller by 1/2" to allow for joints within your calculations. Example: a 12" x 12" stone will actually measure approximately 11-1/2" x 11-1/2". Square footage per pallet varies depending on the sizes you select. When you place your order, please be clear if the square footage you're ordering is the MINIMUM you need (we'll round up to the next full pallet) or the MAXIMUM you'll accept (we'll get as close to that number as possible without going over). Exact piece counts can be ordered, but there may be a handling fee for custom palletizing.
Please consult a masonry professional to finalize your needs before ordering.
"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, large pieces of stone are stood up vertically. Workers use a hammer & chisel to split pieces off along the natural seams. The pieces are sorted by color and thickness, stood up vertically on pallets and wrapped with chicken wire for shipment.
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. See below for ordering guidelines.
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 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
For natural cleft standup, standard is either 1" thickness range or 1-1/2" thickness range. 1/2" range is not normally available due to breakage. If 1/2" range standup is desired, we would suggest colonial instead (smaller pieces). See "other bluestone products" on the ribbon above.
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.
In the image above, 1-1/2" is on the left and 1" is on the right
As with natural cleft pattern, natural cleft standup is available in both full color range and premium blue color range. The image above has full color range on the right and blue range on the left.
Standup is beautiful, but for the courageous DIY-er the large size can make it rather difficult to handle. For those who don't mind a little mortar on their hands we offer homeowner pallets, standup pallets assembled of smaller pieces for getting that classic jagged look with easier handling and transportation.
First, select either full color range or blue color range. Full color range pallets may contain any or all of these colors: Brown, Rust, Blue, Gray, Lilac, Green. Blue color range pallets will consist of different shades of blue and gray.
Second, decide which thickness range you prefer. 1" range is approximately 3/4" to 1-1/4" thick and recommended for climates that have little frost heave. Can also be appropriate for colder climates if setting in concrete or with a deep bed of aggregate. 1-1/2" range is approximately 1-1/4" to 2-1/4" and is recommended for colder climates or where breakage is a concern. Thicker standup is also available if needed. Your choice of thickness in natural cleft bluestone does not affect price, but it does affect coverage per pallet.
Lastly, decide how much to order. We sell standup is by weight, not by pallet, in order to ensure we're charging our customers fairly. Each pallet has approximately 1.5 tons of stone. Calculating coverage can be difficult as there are many variables. The artistic style of the installer, how large the joints are and the size and shape of the installation site all play a huge role. As a general rule of thumb, 1-1/2" stone covers 75 - 100 sq ft per ton (113 - 150 sq ft per pallet) and 1" stone covers 100 - 150 sq ft per ton (150 - 225 sq ft per pallet).
NOTE: Homeowner pallets are not sold by weight, they are sold at a flat rate per pallet. Because they are designed deliberately to be very light and maneuverable they lack the extreme pallet to pallet weight variance that makes payment by pallet unapplicable for full size standup.
Please consult a masonry professional to finalize your needs before ordering.
We give every customer the same level of dedication and care, regardless of purchase volume. Let us find the right stone for YOU!