What are the best terrace tiles: the Brachot outdoor guide

Basalt is a volcanic rock created by the solidification of lava. This gives the rock its predominantly grey colour and, like granite, it is a very hard material. The colour and structure of basalt blend perfectly with modern, minimalist living styles.

Due to its great durability, basalt has been used for paving for centuries. It is also suitable for driveways, terraces and facade cladding.

With Kilkenny Limestone, you bring a durable, high-quality and authentic bluestone from Ireland's interior into your home. The stone is quarried in our own quarries in Kilkenny.

As this is natural stone from our own quarries, we control the entire process. From quarrying through production (sawing and processing) to distribution. As standard, Kilkenny Limestone is available in stonewashed, flamewashed, cleaved, sanded and flamed finishes. Other finishes are always available on request.

The versatility of Kilkenny Limestone shows in numerous applications: terraces, facades, driveways and paving. With its blue-grey hue, Kilkenny Limestone integrates perfectly into a wide variety of living and building styles.

A traditional and widespread outdoor natural stone type is Belgian Bluestone. This bluestone is a fixed value that guarantees durability, charm and tradition.

The applications of Belgian Blue Stone are almost limitless. Think of driveways, terraces, porches, sills, ornamental elements, and so on.

Solidified at great depths, slowly cooled and compressed over millions of years. Granite has a long formation process, making the material incredibly hard and particularly wear- and scratch-resistant. It is no coincidence that granite is often chosen for facades, squares, terraces and driveways.

Granite radiates simplicity and style in every application: kerbstones, pool copings, steps, terrace tiles, etc. Its austere character is partly shaped by its light-grey to dark shades. But granite also comes in other colours. Easy maintenance is a nice bonus.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock in which we often find fossils. It comes in different colours, such as cream, brownish grey or even dark grey.

Limestone comes in two varieties: soft, porous white stone or the hard variety. French white stone is the best known. You often see it as a terrace tile in dry and sunny climates. The harder version, on the other hand, is perfectly at home in a Western climate. It is also found indoors as a floor or interior finish with a warm southern touch.

Limestone is available in many formats and finishes. It is a popular material and easy to maintain.

Sandstone is the perfect combination between a rough appearance and a soft, warm colour. The stone is just about universally applicable and extremely suitable for terraces, driveways and pavements alike. Whether you are going for a rustic look in a rural setting or a visual and qualitative added value in a modern home.

The colours of sandstone range from soft grey and blue to gold and pink. Some types of sandstone are porous and thus more suitable for a dry, sunny location.

To contribute to the sustainable and responsible extraction and sourcing of this material, Brachot supports the TruStone for Fair Sandstone initiative. More information on www.trustone.be.

Slate is a layered natural stone with a variety of colours and a rough, natural appearance. As a result, slate suits a wide variety of architectural styles. From classic and rustic to modern and minimalist.

Slate can be found just about anywhere in the world. As a result, the price-quality ratio is good. The material is best known as a roofing material and can therefore take a beating. Why not use slate for your floor, façade or wall cladding, indoors or outdoors? A surprising choice for daredevils.