Kandla Grey Indian sandstone is one of the most established natural paving materials used in UK gardens. Known for its balanced grey colour, natural stone variation and practical riven texture, it works particularly well for patios, garden paths, courtyards and traditional landscaped areas.
Unlike manufactured paving, Kandla Grey is not intended to look completely uniform. Each slab has its own combination of grey tones, natural surface markings and subtle texture, giving a finished patio a more varied and authentic appearance.
What Is Kandla Grey Sandstone?
Kandla Grey is a natural sandstone quarried in Rajasthan, India. The stone is split and processed into paving slabs, patio packs, setts and other landscaping products before being exported to markets including the UK.
Its popularity comes from a combination of neutral colouring, natural texture, versatility and competitive pricing. Grey paving also works with a wide range of surrounding materials, including red and buff brickwork, rendered walls, timber fencing, gravel, planting and contemporary garden furniture.
Kandla Grey Colour and Natural Variation
Kandla Grey sandstone normally contains a range of light to medium grey tones rather than one completely consistent colour.
Individual slabs may show:
- Light silver-grey areas
- Mid-grey and charcoal-grey variation
- Occasional cool blue-grey undertones
- Natural mineral markings and tonal movement
- Slight differences between individual slabs and paving packs
This colour variation is a normal characteristic of natural sandstone and should not be treated as a manufacturing defect. Mixing slabs from different crates or packs during installation helps distribute the natural variation more evenly across the finished area.
Natural Riven Surface
The traditional form of Kandla Grey paving has a natural riven surface. The sandstone is split along its natural bedding planes, creating the slightly uneven texture associated with Indian sandstone paving.
- Natural split surface
- Lightly undulating texture
- Good visual character compared with manufactured paving
- Suitable for patios, paths and landscaped garden areas
- Traditional appearance that works particularly well around older properties
The amount of surface variation differs naturally from slab to slab. Some pieces may be comparatively flat, while others display more pronounced riven texture.
22mm Calibrated Kandla Grey Sandstone
Our traditional riven Kandla Grey paving is typically supplied at approximately 22mm calibrated thickness. Calibration removes excess material from the underside of the slab and produces a more controlled thickness compared with traditional uncalibrated sandstone.
This makes setting out and installation more predictable while retaining the natural riven face of the stone.
Typical features include:
- Approximately 22mm calibrated thickness
- Natural riven top surface
- Hand-cut or hand-dressed edges depending on the product
- Natural colour and texture variation
- Suitable for external paving applications when correctly installed
Kandla Grey Patio Packs and Single Sizes
Kandla Grey sandstone is available in both mixed-size patio packs and individual slab sizes.
Mixed-Size Patio Packs
Kandla Grey sandstone patio packs combine several slab sizes within one pack. They are commonly used for traditional random or repeating patio layouts and help create a less uniform appearance than single-size paving.
900 x 600 Kandla Grey Paving
Kandla Grey sandstone 900 x 600 paving slabs are suited to larger patios and more regular laying patterns. The larger format can reduce the number of joints compared with smaller-format paving.
600 x 600 Kandla Grey Paving
Kandla Grey sandstone 600 x 600 paving slabs provide a regular square format suitable for patios, pathways and geometric garden designs.
Smooth Kandla Grey Sandstone
For more contemporary landscaping, Kandla Grey is also available with a sawn and honed surface.
Instead of splitting the exposed face naturally, the stone is machine sawn and then processed to create a flatter and smoother finish. This produces a cleaner appearance while retaining the natural tonal variation of genuine sandstone.
- Sawn and honed surface
- Typically around 20mm calibrated thickness
- Straighter sawn edges
- Cleaner and more contemporary appearance
- Suitable for modern patios and formal garden designs
Available smooth options include Smooth Kandla Grey Patio Packs, Smooth Kandla Grey 900 x 600 paving and Smooth Kandla Grey 600 x 600 paving.
Riven vs Smooth Kandla Grey Sandstone
| Feature | Riven Kandla Grey | Smooth Kandla Grey |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Natural split and lightly textured | Sawn and honed |
| Typical Thickness | Approx. 22mm calibrated | Approx. 20mm calibrated |
| Edges | Hand-cut or hand-dressed | Straighter sawn edges |
| Appearance | Traditional and natural | Clean and contemporary |
| Typical Use | Patios, paths and traditional gardens | Modern patios and formal landscaping |
Kandla Grey Sandstone Setts and Cobbles
Kandla Grey is not limited to paving slabs. The same sandstone is also used to produce setts, cobbles and smaller-format paving for driveways, garden paths, edging, borders and decorative detailing.
Hand-Cut Kandla Grey Setts
Traditional hand-cut setts retain a natural riven surface and hand-finished edges.
The greater thickness of these products makes them suitable for applications where smaller paving units and more substantial construction are required. The suitability of any paving for vehicular use still depends on the complete pavement design, including the sub-base, bedding system, joints and edge restraints.
Tumbled Kandla Grey Cobbles
Tumbled setts are mechanically processed to soften the edges and create a more weathered appearance.
Examples include Kandla Grey Tumbled Cobbles 200 x 100 x 50mm.
They are particularly suitable for period-style landscaping, traditional pathways, courtyard areas and projects where a newly cut appearance would be too formal.
Kandla Grey Tumbled Pavers
Longer narrow-format products such as Kandla Grey Sandstone Tumbled Pavers 200 x 50 x 40mm can be used for borders, paths and detailed paving patterns.
Product Types and Typical Specifications
| Product Type | Finish | Typical Thickness | Common Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Patio Packs | Natural Riven | Approx. 22mm calibrated | Patios, courtyards and traditional gardens |
| Single-Size Slabs | Natural Riven | Approx. 22mm calibrated | Patios, paths and regular layouts |
| Sawn & Honed Slabs | Smooth | Approx. 20mm calibrated | Modern patios and contemporary gardens |
| Hand-Cut Setts | Natural Riven | Typically 50mm | Paths, edging, borders and appropriately constructed driveways |
| Tumbled Setts | Tumbled | Typically 50mm | Courtyards, paths and period-style landscaping |
| Tumbled Pavers | Tumbled | Typically 40mm | Paths, borders and decorative paving |
Where Can Kandla Grey Sandstone Be Used?
Kandla Grey is a versatile landscaping stone and can be used in a wide range of residential garden applications.
- Garden patios
- Outdoor dining areas
- Courtyards
- Garden paths
- Walkways
- Raised-bed surrounds
- Garden edging and borders
- Traditional landscaped areas
- Driveways when suitable setts and an appropriate structural installation are used
How Kandla Grey Works with UK Properties
One of the main advantages of Kandla Grey is its relatively neutral colour palette. It can sit comfortably alongside many materials commonly found around UK homes.
It works particularly well with:
- Red and brown brick houses
- Rendered contemporary properties
- Natural timber fencing
- Granite edging and steps
- Gravel landscaping
- Dark garden furniture
- Green planting and lawn areas
Because the paving contains several related grey tones rather than one artificial solid colour, it is comparatively easy to integrate into an existing garden.
Installing Kandla Grey Sandstone
Natural sandstone should be laid as part of a correctly constructed paving system rather than directly onto loose soil or isolated spots of mortar.
For a typical patio installation, the important elements include:
- A suitable and properly compacted sub-base
- A full mortar bedding layer
- Correct falls so surface water can drain away
- Consistent and properly filled paving joints
- Mixing slabs from different packs to distribute natural colour variation
A full mortar bed provides continuous support beneath the paving slab and reduces the risk of movement or unsupported areas beneath the stone.
Because sandstone is a natural material, the installer should inspect and arrange the slabs before final fixing rather than expecting every piece to be identical.
Joint Widths
Traditional hand-cut Kandla Grey paving is normally installed with visible joints because the slab dimensions and edges have natural tolerances. Attempting to create extremely narrow porcelain-style joints is generally inappropriate for hand-cut sandstone.
Sawn products have straighter edges and allow a more controlled joint arrangement, although the exact joint width should still reflect the paving specification and installation method.
Does Kandla Grey Sandstone Need Sealing?
Sealing is optional rather than compulsory.
A suitable natural-stone sealer may help reduce the penetration of moisture, dirt and certain stains, particularly in areas exposed to:
- Tree debris
- Food and drink
- Barbecue grease
- Persistent shade
- Heavy organic contamination
However, sealing changes the maintenance regime and some sealers can alter the appearance of the sandstone. Any product should therefore be confirmed as suitable for natural sandstone and tested on a small inconspicuous area before treating the complete patio.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Kandla Grey sandstone generally requires straightforward routine maintenance.
- Sweep regularly to remove leaves and loose debris
- Wash periodically with clean water and a suitable stone-cleaning product where necessary
- Remove organic contamination before it becomes heavily established
- Avoid aggressive chemicals unless specifically approved for sandstone
- Check joints periodically and repair damaged areas when necessary
Natural stone changes gradually as it is exposed to weather, foot traffic and the surrounding environment. This ageing process is part of the character of genuine sandstone.
Does Kandla Grey Change Colour When Wet?
Yes. Like most natural sandstone, Kandla Grey normally appears darker when wet. The original lighter grey appearance returns as the stone dries.
This wet-and-dry colour change is a normal property of natural stone and should be considered when choosing paving from samples or photographs.
Natural Variation and Samples
A small sample is useful for assessing the general colour and surface of Kandla Grey sandstone, but a single piece cannot represent the full variation contained in a complete patio pack.
Customers should expect a finished installation to include several complementary grey tones rather than exactly matching one individual sample.
Kandla Grey Sandstone Prices
The price of Kandla Grey sandstone depends on the format, thickness, finish and pack quantity.
In general:
- 22mm calibrated riven paving is one of the more competitively priced natural stone paving options.
- Sawn and honed sandstone normally costs more because additional machining and finishing are required.
- Setts and cobbles have different manufacturing and packing requirements and are therefore priced separately from paving slabs.
For accurate current pricing, pack coverage and stock availability, refer to the relevant product page rather than relying on historical price guides.
Why Choose Kandla Grey Sandstone?
Kandla Grey has remained a popular paving choice because it combines several characteristics that work particularly well in UK landscaping:
- Genuine natural sandstone
- Neutral grey colour palette
- Natural variation between individual slabs
- Traditional riven and contemporary smooth finishes available
- Mixed-size and single-size paving options
- Matching setts, cobbles and pavers
- Suitable for both traditional and contemporary garden designs
- Competitive pricing compared with many other natural paving materials
Explore the Full Kandla Grey Sandstone Range
View our complete selection of sizes, finishes and formats in the Kandla Grey Sandstone Paving Collection.
From traditional 22mm calibrated riven paving to smooth sandstone slabs, patio packs, setts and tumbled cobbles, Kandla Grey provides a broad range of options for creating durable and naturally varied outdoor paving.
