What is bluestone?

Bluestone is not actually a geological term and the stone doesn’t fall into any particular category such as igneous or metamorphic. In Australia, bluestone is a type of basalt and is characterised by its blue-grey colour tones.

One of the key characteristics of bluestone is the naturally occurring cat’s paws. These markings are formed from gas extrusions during the stone formation millions of years ago. Most bluestone orders should see the cats paws prominent in 15-25% of their batch subtly breaking up the blue-grey palette.

It is also common to see brown rust coloured tones in bluestone. This colour pigmentation occurs during formation from the natural matter in the ground. While rust in colour, this does not cause rust stains.

One natural imperfection that occurs in bluestone basalt tiles is tiny, fingernail-sized shallow holes that create a desirable texture. In quality bluestone, these irregularities are infrequent and will not affect the integrity of the stone tile itself.

What are the advantages of using bluestone?

Bluestone is a highly popular stone to use in indoor or outdoor environments due to its attractive finish. The blue-grey colour tones can suit a variety of architectural styles including both modern and traditional. It’s also not a polarising material and can work seamlessly alongside other popular finishes such as concrete and timber.

Bluestone is very durable which is why it is used in a variety of applications from pathways and pool decks to steps, entryways and bathroom flooring. The stone can withstand temperature fluctuations, is extremely dense and has a higher breaking load limit above other materials such as concrete.

Another advantage of choosing bluestone is the large variety of formats, sizes and surface textures it is available in. Tiles can be of a small format to a large rectangular. You can create a modular pattern for added interest or opt for a more natural aesthetic with crazy paving and organic steppers.

Bluestone cobbles are another popular format which is ideal for driveway and path applications. There is also several edge options including bullnose, square or rebated square edge allow bluestone to be used as pool coping or step treads.

To see the Eco Outdoor range of Bluestone products, click here.