Natural Stone Setts
Natural stone setts are a paved surface made of small individual units of natural stone: cubes, bars and tiles with a sawn, split or flamed surface. They are most often made of granite, less often of basalt, sandstone, dense dolomite and limestone. Such paving lasts for decades, withstands vehicle loads and does not lose its colour.
The key selection criterion is matching the rock, thickness and base to the expected load: almost any dense stone will do for a footpath, whereas driveways and parking areas need strong rocks of sufficient thickness on a reinforced base.
Setts are chosen for private courtyards, driveways, squares, pedestrian streets, and the grounds of public buildings and residential complexes. Other uses of stone are covered in the section Natural stone for facades and interiors.
Types
Stone setts are distinguished by manufacturing method and material.
By manufacturing method:
• Split: all faces produced by splitting; uneven surface, historic look, wide joints.
• Sawn-split: sawn sides and bottom, split top. Even laying and a textured, non-slip face: the most popular option.
• Sawn: all faces sawn; an even surface with narrow joints, comfortable for wheels, pushchairs and heels.
• Sawn and flamed: even, but with a rough top face.
• Tumbled: processed in a drum to round the edges, looks “aged”.
By material:
| Rock | Features | Where to use |
|---|---|---|
| Granite | high strength and frost resistance, many colours | any area, including roadways |
| Basalt | dark, very dense | driveways, squares, accent patterns |
| Sandstone | warm shades, non-slip | footpaths, courtyards |
| Dolomite | light; dense grades are strong enough | pedestrian areas |
| Limestone | light, softer than the others | decorative paths in warm climates |
Sizes
The sizes of natural stone setts are not standardised as strictly as those of concrete pavers, but typical formats have become established on the market.
| Format, mm | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 50×50×50 | small cube | patterns, fan laying, pedestrian areas |
| 100×100×50 | cube tile | footpaths |
| 100×100×100 | cube | driveways, squares, roadways |
| 200×100×50–60 | bar | paths, patios |
| 200×100×100 | bar | driveways, parking areas |
Large-format paving slabs (300×300, 400×400, 600×300 mm, etc.) at least 30 mm thick are also produced; these are paving slabs rather than setts, but the two are often combined.
Thickness is the main parameter for load: the higher the load, the thicker the unit. Split setts have noticeably larger dimensional tolerances than sawn ones, which must be taken into account when designing the base.
Laying
Correct laying matters more than the choice of stone: most paving problems (subsidence, loose stones, puddles) are caused by the base.
1. Design and setting out. Falls (usually 1–2% for run-off), drainage, the position of kerbs and drains are determined.
2. Excavation to a depth depending on load and soil; removal of topsoil.
3. Geotextile separates the soil from the crushed stone and stops the base sinking into the ground.
4. A crushed-stone sub-base compacted in layers; for driveways the thickness is increased, and on weak soils a concrete base is built.
5. Kerbs are installed before the setts to hold the edges of the paving.
6. A bedding layer of sand, stone dust or cement-sand mix.
7. Laying the setts in the chosen pattern: rows, herringbone, fans, arcs, circles.
8. Jointing with sand, stone dust or polymer jointing compounds for setts; re-compaction with a plate compactor fitted with a rubber mat.
On a rigid (concrete) base, setts are laid on adhesive or cement mixes and joints are filled with mortar grouts; this system is used on squares and in high-traffic areas.
Loads
The load determines the rock, the thickness and the base construction.
| Area | Rock | Sett thickness | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden paths and footpaths | granite, basalt, sandstone, dolomite | from 30–50 mm | crushed stone + sand |
| Patios, courtyards | granite, basalt, sandstone | 50–60 mm | crushed stone + sand or mix |
| Car driveways | granite, basalt | from 60 mm, more often 80–100 mm | reinforced crushed stone, sometimes concrete |
| Heavy vehicle access | granite, basalt | 100 mm or more | concrete base by calculation |
The values are approximate; for public areas and roadways the pavement construction is determined by the design. Stone strength and frost resistance are confirmed by batch test reports.
Besides static loads, paving is subject to dynamic actions: braking and turning wheels shift the units, especially at edges and entrances. That is why trafficked areas need a rigid kerb, a strong interlocking bond (herringbone or staggered rows) and fully filled joints. Small 50 mm cubes are used in trafficked areas only on a rigid base.
Point loads are considered separately: bin store supports, canopy posts, forklift wheels. The base is locally reinforced in such places.
Care
Caring for stone setts is simple:
• regularly remove debris and leaves, as organic matter in joints encourages grass and moss;
• wash with water and, if necessary, stone cleaners; direct pressure washing at an angle so as not to wash out the jointing;
• top up joints with sand or stone dust as it washes out;
• remove weeds from joints mechanically or with special products;
• impregnation is optional for granite and basalt; for sandstone, dolomite and limestone water-repellent treatment is advisable;
• in winter, use plastic shovels and sand or granite chippings instead of salt de-icers; metal scrapers and ice picks damage the edges.
If a section subsides, the setts are lifted, the base is restored and the same stones are relaid: the repair is local and requires no new materials.
Examples from TECHNOFORMA Projects
TECHNOFORMA specialises in facades, so there are no paving case studies in the TECHNOFORMA projects section. The company supplies natural stone for landscaping (granite, basalt, sandstone, dolomite, limestone) from its warehouse in the Moscow region or to order; its equipment processes both soft and hard rocks. Granite on a company project was used, for example, on the facade of the Dinastia club house in Kislovodsk (700 m²).
If you need an entrance area as well as paving, read the article “Natural stone steps and porches”.
FAQ
Why are granite setts better than concrete pavers?
Granite setts are stronger and more frost-resistant, do not fade or wear; they last for decades and the same stones can be relaid during repairs.
Can limestone setts be used?
Yes, for decorative footpaths in warm climates. For driveways and regions with harsh winters, granite or basalt is more reliable.
How thick should setts be for a car driveway?
Usually from 60 mm, more often 80–100 mm, on a reinforced base.
Which setts are least slippery?
Sawn-split, split or flamed. Polished surfaces are not used outdoors.
What is best for filling the joints between setts?
For a flexible base, sand, stone dust or polymeric sand; for a rigid concrete base, mortar grouts for setts.