What are some typical Basalt Stone sizes and their applications?

Table of Contents:

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Basalt Manufacturing Process: How different Basalt sizes form?
3. 2.1. Hand Cleave Technique
4. 2.2. Sawn Technique
5. 2.3. Water Jet Cutting
6. 2.4. Wire Sawing
7. 3. Standard Basalt Sizes and Their Applications
8. 3.1. Basalt Paving Cubes
9. 3.2. Basalt Stepping Stones
10. 3.3. Basalt Wall Bricks
11. 3.4. Basalt Kerbs and Palisades
12. 3.5. Basalt Block Steps
13. 3.6. Basalt Tiles
14. 3.7. Basalt Skirting Boards
15. 3.8. Basalt Slabs
16. 4. Obstacles encountered when seeking particular Basalt sizes
17. 5. One-stop spot for all your Basalt Sizes

1. Introduction

Basalt, famous for its timeless beauty and exceptional durability, has become a prized material for both interior and exterior designs.

One of the key factors in realizing basalt's full potential lies in selecting the appropriate sizes for a project. The size of basalt stones can significantly influence the aesthetics and functionality of the design. 

Thinner basalt is preferred for interior items, as it saves space and exerts less pressure on the building's structure. In contrast, for landscape and exterior designs, thicker stones are favored due to their ability to withstand harsh outdoor environments.

These are just initial considerations for choosing basalt sizes. The entire article will provide an in-depth explanation of how basalt is manufactured into different sizes, its various applications based on size, and insights on selecting optimal basalt sizes to meet your customer needs.

2. Basalt Manufacturing Process: How different Basalt sizes form?

Before delving into the realm of basalt sizes, it's crucial to comprehend how these stones undergo transformation into different dimensions during the basalt manufacturing process.

Basalt stone formed naturally into columnar or block shape. These significantly influence the methods employed for extraction and size customization.

To process the stone to required sizes, the basalt manufacturing process encompasses a range of techniques utilized to craft the rocks to precise size specifications.

Here, we introduce some of the widely employed techniques:

2.1. Hand Cleave Technique

Hand cleaving is a traditional method used to separate basalt columns and blocks.

This technique preserves the natural irregularities in the stone, making it ideal for applications where an organic, rustic look is desired. 

Hand-cleaved basalt is often used for irregularly-shaped wall bricks, paving stones, creating a distinctive and time-worn aesthetic.

2.2. Sawn Technique 

Sawing involves using diamond-tipped saw blades to precisely cut basalt into more uniform sizes and shapes.

This technique is commonly used for paving cobbles, paving steps, tiles and slabs. It allows for smoother surfaces and precise dimensions, making it a popular choice for contemporary designs. Besides, the sawn stone can be further processed with other surface finishes like flamed and bush hammered.

2.3. Water Jet Cutting

Another technique gaining popularity in basalt manufacturing is water jet cutting. 

Water jet cutting utilizes a high-pressure stream of water mixed with abrasive materials to cut basalt with precision.

This method is known for its ability to create intricate designs and patterns, making it a great choice for customization in various applications, such as interior flooring or decorative elements.

2.4. Wire Sawing

Wire sawing is a technique that uses a wire with embedded diamonds to make precise cuts in basalt. 

This method is suitable for cutting large slabs and blocks of basalt, allowing for the creation of sizable and impressive pieces for outdoor features like fountains or sculptural elements.

3. Standard Basalt Sizes and Their Applications

Basalt comes in various standard sizes to consider in various applications. Let's explore these sizes in detail:

3.1. Basalt Paving Cubes

Basalt paving cubes (or cobbles) are robust and aesthetically pleasing materials used in landscaping and construction. Crafted from basalt, these small, square or rectangular stones impart a natural and sophisticated look to outdoor spaces.

To achieve their appearance, basalt cubes are created using hand cleaving techniques to separate them from the original rock. In some cases, they may be sawn, followed by additional surface finishing processes, such as flaming, to create a more seamless and rough texture.

Paving cubes are perfect for creating intricate, mosaic-like patterns in driveways and pathways, infusing outdoor environments with character and charm. These stones are ideal for those looking to add a creative touch to their hardscaping projects.

To accommodate various patterns, basalt cubes are available in smaller sizes, typically ranging from 5x5 cm (2”x2”) to 15x15 cm (5.9”x5.9”) for square cubes and up to 20x15 cm (7.9”x5.9”) for rectangular ones.

Their substantial thickness, which ranges from 5-12 cm (2”x4.7”), ensures that these paving stones can withstand the high compressive forces of everyday outdoor traffic, making them a durable and practical choice. Additionally, the smaller sizes give the cubes the ability to withstand damage from thermal expansion and contraction due to the joint gaps between them.

3.2. Basalt Stepping Stones

Basalt stepping stones, a type of paving stone, find their place in creating pathways through natural lawns or dirt tracks. Placed atop these natural paths, they serve a dual purpose as focal points and sturdy stepping platforms for pedestrians.

Stepping stones play a significant role in landscaping design, seamlessly blending with the natural environment and adding a dynamic, engaging touch to gardens. Unlike smaller basalt cubes, stepping stones tend to be larger, and their various shapes offer intriguing options for designers.

One particularly unique variation is the polygonal basalt stepping stone, derived from natural basalt columns in quarries. These columns are carefully cut (sawn) into flat pieces of rock, with surface treatments like flaming or bush hammering applied as finishing touches. Alternatively, some may retain their original sawn surface.

The diameter of these polygonal stepping stones can vary depending on the original basalt column formation, but ideal dimensions for walking steps range from 40-55 cm (15.7”-21.7”) in diameter, with a thickness of 3-4 cm (1.2”-1.6”).

For rectangular-shaped basalt stepping stones, stepping surfaces come in sizes like 20x10 cm (7.9”x3.9”) or larger options such as 60x30 cm (23.6”x11.8”). These stones have a thickness that can vary from 5-6 cm (2”-2.4”). In addition to their role as stepping stones, they can also serve as outdoor flooring, such as for patio floors.

3.3. Basalt Wall Bricks

Basalt wall bricks (or wall blocks, wall stone), as the name suggests, are primarily used for constructing exterior walls. These square or rectangular pieces introduce a natural and sophisticated element to architectural designs, combining robustness with aesthetic appeal.

These wall bricks can be cleaved from original basalt rocks to achieve a rustic appearance. However, for those who prefer a smoother surface and consistent size, the basalt wall bricks can be sawn to the desired dimensions, followed by splitting to create a more natural look.

The typical length of basalt bricks is 20 cm (7.9"), with various width options ranging from 10 to 20 cm (3.9" to 7.9"). Additionally, you can choose between thickness options of 35 or 40 cm (13.8" or 15.7").

3.4. Basalt Kerbs and Palisades

Palisades and kerbs (or curbs) are long basalt stones used to construct vertical walls (palisades) or horizontal borders (kerbs). They serve to delineate driveways, garden beds, pathways, and separate various garden areas. 

These basalt products can be manufactured by naturally splitting the stone. However, for longer basalt stones, they may need to be sawn to maintain a straight appearance and then undergo additional surface processes like flaming and brushing.

In some cases, palisades and kerbs can be used interchangeably, but their specific applications often dictate the preferred choice. Palisades are typically used in constructing walls like retaining walls in landscaping projects or to replace the wall bricks mentioned earlier.

The dimensions of basalt palisades offer a range of options to accommodate various wall thicknesses. Lengths can vary from 8-12 cm (3.2”-4.7”), and widths range from 12-25 cm (4.7”-9.8”). The height of palisades varies to meet different wall height requirements, extending from 30 cm up to 2 m (11.8” to 6 ft 7”).

In contrast, kerbs lie horizontally on the ground, with one end touching the other. Basalt kerbs are commonly used for walkway borders. There are relatively short kerbs, with dimensions of 30x15x10 cm (11.8”x5.9”x3.9”), as well as longer options with a width and height of 10x25 cm (3.9”x9.4”), and lengths varying from 30 cm to 200 cm (11.8” to 6 ft 7”). These variations make them suitable for different landscaping needs.

3.5. Basalt Block Steps

Basalt block steps (or stairs) are substantial and robust basalt blocks designed for facilitating the movement of individuals across landscapes with varying ground levels or outdoor stairs.

For smaller-sized basalt block steps, they can be cleaved to the required dimensions. However, larger block steps require sawing to achieve the proper size, followed by surface processing methods like flaming, brushing, or natural splitting.

The basalt block steps typically feature a stepping platform with a width of 35 cm (13.8") and a height of 15 cm (5.9"). These block steps offer versatility, with various length options ranging from 80 cm to 150 cm (31.5" to 59.1"), making them suitable for a wide range of landscape and stair applications.

3.6. Basalt Tiles

Basalt tiles are an excellent choice for various flooring and wall cladding applications, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use (excluding driveways).

Due to their relatively thin nature, these tiles can only be produced by sawing the basalt stone into flat, right-angle pieces, with additional surface finishes like flaming, brushing, honing, or polishing applied later.

There are three types of basalt tiles to consider:

• Standard tiles: These refer to regular tile sizes with a thickness of 2 cm and above.
• Custom tiles: These tiles may be larger and offer customization, ideal for creating creative offset flooring patterns. They can be 60-120 cm (23.6”-47.2”) in length and 40-60 cm (15.8”-23.6”) in width. Given their larger size, their thickness may also be increased to maintain tile integrity, ranging from 2-4 cm (0.8”-1.6”).
• Thin tiles: These tiles are characterized by their thinness, with a thickness of 1-1.5 cm (0.4”-0.6”). They come in various surface sizes and are lightweight, making them suitable for wall cladding applications, besides interior flooring.

3.7. Basalt Skirting Boards

Basalt skirting boards, also known as baseboards, share similarities with basalt tiles. However, their primary purpose is to cover the interior wall base to protect it from damage.

These skirting boards are relatively thin, typically measuring 1-2 cm (0.4”-0.8”) in thickness. They are designed with a lengthy span, ranging from 40-70 cm (15.7”-27.6”), and a height of 8-10 cm (3.2”-3.9”), ensuring sufficient coverage for the lower section of the wall.

3.8. Basalt Slabs

Larger and slightly thicker than tiles, basalt slabs are an excellent choice for creating seamless and robust countertops, tabletops, and bar surfaces. Their generous size makes them perfect for applications where a continuous, unbroken surface is desired.

Similar to tiles, basalt slabs are produced by sawing the stone to the required dimensions and then applying further surface finishes. These slabs are typically found in rectangular shapes due to the limitations imposed by the size of natural basalt columns.

Basalt slabs come in two primary thickness options, 2 cm or 3 cm (0.8” or 1.2”). Their width can range from 60-80 cm (23.6”-31.5”), while their length can extend from 120 cm to 240 cm (3 ft 11” to 7 ft 10”). It's worth noting that longer slabs can be challenging to deliver and may have limited real-life applications due to their size.

4. Obstacles encountered when seeking particular Basalt sizes

The sizes and applications of basalt stones mentioned above can certainly guide you in selecting the appropriate basalt dimensions for your portfolio. 

However, it's essential to consider that certain basalt stone applications go beyond standard box shapes and require additional consultation and detailed customization to align with specific project requirements. Examples of such applications include pool coping, wall capping, seats, tables, and various decorative basalt stone elements like pillar fountains and blocks.

On the other hand, as a type of natural stone, basalt sizes are limited by their natural formations, typically found as columns or blocks with uneven surfaces. Therefore, finding large-sized basalt stones can be particularly challenging. It necessitates natural basalt formations that are substantial enough to be cut into those larger dimensions and a sufficient quantity to meet high demand.

For thin basalt products, the basalt manufacturing process demands higher precision with machines, as there's a greater risk of stones breaking during production and delivery. Therefore, quality control is crucial.

5. One-stop spot for all your Basalt Sizes

Considering the above challenges, you might find it frustrating to seek out multiple suppliers for a variety of basalt stones in different sizes. 

Handling multiple transactions, quality controls, and logistics can be time-consuming and costly. Moreover, if you require just a few units of each basalt stone, collecting them from various sources may not be an economical solution.

The solution is simple: find a reliable supplier capable of providing you with the right quantities of different basalt sizes. The time and effort you save in sourcing basalt stone can then be invested in delivering exceptional services to delight your clients. And we are here to assist you.

A Plus is a supplier and exporter of Vietnam's natural stone, with Basalt being one of our key product lines. 

We maintain a system of quarries and manufacturing factories located in major Basalt reserves in Vietnam. This affords us the capacity to meet your basalt requirements with scalable resources. 

In addition, our extensive experience in producing and exporting natural stone positions us as a valuable consultant and partner for your stable basalt sources. Moreover, we offer cut to size options for complex projects, underscoring our role as a comprehensive source for all your basalt sizes.