Natural Stone Setts

The use of natural stone setts in garden projects has been popular for many years, either in driveways (see Cobbles Set into Mortar), as details or rows/bands separating larger areas of paving, or winding pathways, where their small surface dimensions lend themselves to arcs, circles and serpentine curves.

Standard granite setts – nominally 100mm cuboids – are available as cropped setts, with the cube split in half to create a cross between a sett and a tessara, are useful when constructing pathways requiring a steep gradient where a greater grip underfoot is needed to prevent slipping (e.g. wheelbarrow ramp), with the slips laid across the width, set into concrete as per standard setts, their narrower face creating a firm non-slip surface.

Setts are also available in 30 – 50mm thicknesses, usually Indian sandstone, ‘manufactured’ from traditional sandstone paving slabs, and laid in the same manner – using a slurry bonding compound to secure them firmly into place, with multiple sizes including 100mm x 100mm, 200mm x 100mm and 200mm x 50mm x 50mm – the smaller units being laid as though brick on edge rather than flat.

Some are tumbled, with rounded edges where they have been put through a ‘cement mixer’ style machine, tumbled so that the edges are no longer sharp where originally riven or split. They may be used for pathways or driveways, being a dense, hard-wearing material. Also available, tumbled setts with 40 – 60mm thickness will provide even greater strength for car parks or areas of high use.

They may be pointed using ‘traditional’ sand and cement, or a suitable jointing compound recommended by the supplier. Some of the ‘brick on edge’ styles may be butt jointed and sanded in the same manner as block paving.

They are probably one of the most versatile and useful of all natural stone products for garden projects, where the only limits are your imagination.