What’s the Best Portland Stone Bed for External Paving in the Modern Era?

When it comes to selecting the right bed of Portland Stone for external paving, it’s important to understand how each option performs under long-term exposure to the elements. One of our most popular beds, Jordans Basebed, is often considered for its clean, consistent appearance – but is it the right choice for external paving?

We generally do not recommend Basebed for external paving. While recent testing has shown that it is resistant to freeze–thaw action, even when damp, the stone is more susceptible to salt crystallisation damage than other Portland beds. This damage typically presents as accelerated surface weathering and pitting but can also exploit undetectable micro faults in the stone, ultimately affecting its durability.

That said, Basebed has been used successfully in paving applications – but only when best practice is followed. We would strongly advise the following precautions:

1. Do not apply de-icing salts onto any stone paving – All porous stone paving is susceptible to damage by the application of de-icing salts or most chemicals onto ice already established on its surface, and the Basebed with its low resistance to salt damage is particularly susceptible.  De-icing salts also often contain contaminants that can stain the stone if applied regularly. 
2. Sufficient proximity away from public highways which are subjected to regular winter de-icing programmes – reduces/negates the potential of “splash back” by passing vehicular traffic onto paved area.
3. Laid to a fall (1:80) minimum – eliminate pooling and thereby a concentration of salts and debris.
4. Free draining substrate which will allow the water to pass through the stone and drain through to the sub-base and ensure that the stone is not sitting in water that through evaporation becomes increasingly salt concentrated which eventually leads to the damaging crystallisation.

A Better Option: Whitbed

To ensure durability and long-term performance, we typically recommend using one of our Whitbeds for external paving. These include:

• Jordans Whitbed
• Stonehills Whitbed
• Grove Whitbed
• Fancy Beach Whitbed
• Heritage Portland Stone

These beds offer improved resistance to salt crystallisation while still maintaining the iconic look of Portland Stone. If you're looking for a particularly clean, fine-grained option, Stonehills Whitbed is a popular choice.  However, the Grove Whitbed is the most popular as paving with its the pronounce shell formation is evidently natural stone. 

A Note on Historic Use and Weathering

Historically, many buildings across London used a mixture of Basebed and Whitbed for cladding and paving. Over time, as the shell content in the Whitbed dulls through natural weathering, the surface appearance of both beds tends to become more alike – often taking on the cleaner look of the Basebed. This natural blending means that even mixed-use applications can achieve a uniform and timeless finish in the long term.

Tags: basebed paving