“We were pleasantly surprised to meet Dan, who took the time to drive us around the yard and help us find the perfect stone. He was extremely knowledgeable and patient throughout the process, making the experience both easy and enjoyable.”
— Jamie Hamilton
For generations, bluestone has defined Northeast landscapes. Quarried from natural sandstone, this durable and versatile material complements diverse architectural styles, from traditional New England homes to modern commercial spaces. Its enduring popularity makes it one of the most frequently specified paving materials for residential and commercial outdoor projects.
Its appeal extends beyond appearance. Bluestone is a dense sandstone that holds up through Connecticut's freeze-thaw cycles, and it comes in enough finishes, formats, and color ranges to suit a Colonial walkway as easily as a modern pool deck.
Connecticut Stone has supplied bluestone to Connecticut contractors, landscape architects, and homeowners for more than 75 years. We stock thermal (also called flamed) and natural cleft flagging, thermal treads for steps and coping, and bluestone slabs, each in both Blue Select and Full Color Range. Our Milford shop cuts pieces to size when a project calls for it.
Bluestone is a dense, fine-grained sandstone quarried mainly in New York and Pennsylvania. Most people picture its blue-gray tone, but the color runs wider than that. Blue Select is the more uniform blue-gray material. Full Color Range includes blue, gray, lilac, rust, gunmetal, and green tones that give a finished patio more color variation.
Because it is a natural material, no two pieces are exactly alike. Color and texture vary from stone to stone, even within a single pallet. This variation contributes to the character of a finished installation and is one reason bluestone remains a preferred choice among homeowners, landscape architects, and contractors.
Bluestone comes in two surface finishes.
Natural cleft is split along the stone's bedding planes, which leaves a textured, slightly uneven surface with more grip underfoot. It suits traditional and rustic designs and is a common pick for walkways and garden paths.
Thermal, also called flamed, is finished with high heat that gives the surface a flatter, more even texture. It is easier on bare feet and works well for patios, pool decks, and contemporary designs where a cleaner look matters.
Bluestone is dense and absorbs very little water, which is why it holds up through Connecticut winters. Water that gets into a porous stone freezes, expands, and cracks it from the inside, so low absorption means less freeze-thaw damage. Set the stone over a compacted, well-draining base, since water pooling underneath is a common cause of failure.
Bluestone gets its grip from surface texture, not from a coating. Both natural cleft and thermal finishes are slip resistant, which is why they work on pool decks, steps, and walkways that stay wet.
Finish and layout set the style more than the stone itself. Natural cleft in an irregular or random pattern reads traditional and suits a Colonial walkway or a garden path. Thermal in clean rectangular patterns reads more contemporary. Blue Select gives a calmer, more uniform surface, and Full Color Range brings more variation across the patio.
Maintenance requirements are relatively modest compared to many other outdoor materials. Routine care is simple. Sweep and rinse the surface, and scrub with mild detergent and a stiff brush when it needs more. In shaded or damp spots, moss and algae can grow on any outdoor stone, bluestone included, and the same scrub clears it. Check the joints each spring and refill if they have washed out.
We don't recommend sealing bluestone used outdoors. Left unsealed, the stone breathes naturally, so moisture can move through it and out.
Connecticut Stone offers a wide range of bluestone products to support projects of all sizes and scopes.
Square and rectangular pieces in thermal or natural cleft, from 12" x 12" up to 24" x 36", with larger sizes available. Sizes are nominal, and each piece is cut slightly smaller to allow for a grout joint. We stock 1" and 1 1/2" thicknesses. Thickness is also nominal, so expect some range from piece to piece. One-inch pavers are typically set in mortar over a concrete base, and 1 1/2" pavers are typically set dry over a compacted base. Used for patios, walkways, and pool decks.
Mosaic flagstone, also called mosaic flagging, keeps the natural, irregular shape of the stone as it comes out of the quarry, so no two pieces have the same outline. Installers, usually masons, chisel the pieces to fit together like a puzzle. It suits garden paths, informal patios, and stepping stones. Available in 1" or 1 1/2" nominal thickness, usually in natural cleft.
Thermal stair treads in Blue Select and Full Color Range. Standard widths are 12", 14", 16", 18", 20", and 24", with lengths from 4' to 10'. Standard thickness is 1 1/2" or 2". Each tread has a thermal (flamed) finish on the top and along one long edge, and the other three edges are sawn. Larger or thicker treads are available by special order. They are used for front entrances, landscape stairways, pool coping, wall coping, and hearths.
Our Milford shop cuts custom pieces from bluestone slabs, which run from 4' x 8' up to 6' x 10' and from 2" up to 6" thick, in Blue Select and Full Color Range. Most of our custom work is radius cutting: curved pool coping, spa coping, and radius wall caps. We also cut to your dimensions, edge profiles, and thicknesses for residential and commercial projects.
A typical project might use thermal pavers for the patio, stair treads at the steps, and treads or radius-cut coping around the pool. Because they are all bluestone in the same color range, the pieces coordinate from one area to the next. Bring your plan to either location and we can work out quantities and which pieces fit where.
We welcome you to visit our Milford showroom and Stamford stoneyard to see full-size pieces, compare thermal and natural cleft side by side, and put Blue Select next to Full Color Range.
If you can't make it here, we're happy to show you the stone remotely. We'll send photographs of the actual material, walk you through it on a video call, and do our best to show you the natural range of color and texture before you confirm your order.
Either way, bring or send your plan, a sketch, or photos of the space, along with rough measurements. We can talk through which pieces fit your project, how much you'll need, and what's in stock versus special order.
Milford showroom: 138 Woodmont Road, Milford, CT 06460 (203) 882-1000
Stamford stoneyard: 39 Larkin Street, Stamford, CT 06907 (203) 967-2937
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