Black Granite Setts

Granite setts are very hard and durable, making them long-lasting and perfect for landscaping areas where higher footfall or vehicle movements are expected. Granite is a very dense stone, which explains its strength and durability. Its dense structure also means it has low porosity, so that it does not easily absorb water or moisture. This near impermeable make-up means that the chemical and physical erosion from water that other more porous natural stones would be susceptible to, have less effect on granite.

Driveway Paving

These granite cobblestones are ideal for driveway paving due to their density and strength. Granite is incredibly strong, especially under compression (the sort of downward force you would expect under the weight of a vehicle). The small form-factor of these setts is also ideal for driveways, as their smaller size ensures that shearing and tensile strength are not an issue when vehicles pass over them. With granite being so hard, these setts also resist abrasive damage (wear and tear) much more effectively than other forms of natural stone.

Creating driveway paving with cobblestone style setts allows you to create a period look and feel that is both timeless and appropriate for older, more traditional building. The natural beauty and character of a black granite driveway will certainly raise the kerbside appeal and value of your home.

Traditional/Period Cobblestone Paving

There are many paved areas and architectural features that need a specific aesthetic, that is olden or period in nature. These can range from traditional driveways and in-out carriageways at the front of the house, through to coach yards and stable yards, quads and porticos, mews and courtyards. In each of these cases, black granite setts would work superbly, providing a beautiful paving surface that is appropriate and in keeping with these historic and period settings.

Garden & Patio Designs

Not all gardens have to be laid with traditional flags. Sett Pavers are full of character, so incorporating these into your garden adds a bold personality to your home. The beauty of the small form-factor of setts means they can be easily laid to create patterns and motifs in your pave areas. Setts are traditionally laid in a variety of patterns:

• Circles & Half-Circles
• Waves/Serpentines
• Fans

Garden Pathways

These setts are the perfect addition to your garden to create a fabulous walkway and give your garden an elegant path. As discussed, the small form-factor of setts means they can be easily directed and manipulated to the topography and terrain of your garden, making laying a paved pathway that much easier.

Edgings & Borders

Sett Paving is extremely common for using as an edging to border your patio and driveway. Don’t be afraid to use a different material or colour for your border. A different colour & style creates a contrasting appearance, emphasising the natural beauty of the product and enhancing the characteristics of the slabs or blocks you have chosen to lay.

Laying Sett Paving

Setts should be laid as bound blocks (e.g. they must be laid on a full bed of motor). This applies to driveways, garden paving, pathways, edges and borders - you must lay these blocks on mortar. For light use Pavements & Driveways, we recommend a 4:1 mix of coarse sand and cement for the bedding layer (laying course). 

When laying setts on a full bed of mortar, we recommend, adding an SBR additive within the mortar mix or using a priming slurry. As granite setts have low porosity, a priming slurry is very important to ensure the blocks bond properly with the bedding mortar. Brush the underside with the priming slurry at the point of laying - this will significantly improve the bond between the stone setts and the bedding - extending the durability and lifespan of the final job. 

Sett paving should be laid to a plumb line (taut string) to guide accurate alignment and level. Generally, you will have a variable joint width to accommodate the variation within the setts. Please allow a small tolerance due to the products being hand-cut.

To point your setts (fill the joints), if using for a pathway then for ease-of-use we recommend a brush-in grout, such as Pointfix. If using the setts for a driveway, then a traditional sand and cement mortar to point is recommended.

Please remember when pointing to clean as you go, to avoid any resin or cement stains. If you are unfortunate to spill some residue on the product, we have a range of dedicated Pavestone Cleaner to remove any residue, such as Pavestone Resin remover or Pavestone Cement & Grout  Residue remover.  We strongly advise using a dedicated cleaner as suggested, rather than an acidic cleaner such as brick acid, which can lead to permanent staining and void your manufacturer's warranty.