By Sean Alvarez, President, Perennial Gardens Bedford
For a terrace on a Westchester property, bluestone is the usual first choice: it is regional, it suits the fieldstone walls already on the land, and it can be laid formal or loose. Fieldstone and flagstone suit a garden terrace with an older feel. Granite is the most durable and the most formal. Concrete pavers are uniform and economical, but they rarely look as if they belong to an old Bedford property.
The right stone depends on the house, the walls already standing, how the terrace is used and how much sun it takes.
A random-pattern stone terrace with dining room, on one of our Westchester projects.
The materials at a glance
| Material | Look | Underfoot | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluestone, natural cleft | Blue-gray with variation into brown; a riven, textured face | Good grip; slightly uneven | Terraces, walks and steps with a regional character |
| Bluestone, thermal finish | More uniform color; a flat, flame-finished face | Smooth and even; good for furniture | Formal terraces, pool surrounds, treads and coping |
| Fieldstone and flagstone | Irregular, weathered, regional | Uneven by nature | Garden terraces and paths near old walls |
| Granite and Belgian block | Gray, precise, formal | Very hard-wearing; block is bumpy for furniture | Edging, borders, steps and formal paving |
| Concrete pavers | Uniform; wide range of colors and shapes | Even | Budget-led or contemporary designs |
Bluestone
Bluestone brings the character of the region's stone walls to flat surfaces. It can be laid as random flagstone, with irregular joints that read informal, or as gauge-cut rectangles in a pattern that reads architectural. A natural cleft face has texture and grip; a thermal finish is flatter and more even, which suits dining furniture and pool decks.
Two cautions. Darker stone holds heat, so a bluestone terrace in full afternoon sun is warm underfoot in July. And bluestone has moderate salt sensitivity, so use an alternative deicer on bluestone steps in winter.
Cut stone laid in a pattern reads more architectural than random flagstone.
Fieldstone and flagstone
Fieldstone is the stone of Bedford's old walls. As paving it gives a looser, older look, best for garden terraces and paths that sit near walls already on the property, with planting allowed into the joints. It is less even underfoot than cut stone, so it suits strolling more than dining.
Fieldstone walls and a stone path laid to sit with the land.
Granite and Belgian block
Granite is the hardest-wearing of the natural stones. Belgian block, which is cut granite, is used for edging and borders, the crisp line between a terrace and a lawn or a drive. Bedford-sourced granite has the gray-with-pink-flecks character of the walls already standing across town. We compare Belgian block, bluestone and cobblestone underfoot in our guide to stone driveways.
Concrete pavers
Manufactured pavers are uniform, quick to lay and economical, and individual units can be lifted and replaced. The trade-off is character: they do not match regional stone, and color and surface weather over time. On a property with old fieldstone walls, natural stone almost always looks more at home.
Dry-laid or mortar-set
Dry-laid stone sits on a compacted gravel base with sand or stone-dust joints. It flexes with the freeze-thaw cycle, drains through the joints and is simple to repair. Joints need occasional topping up.
Mortar-set stone sits on a concrete slab with mortared joints. The result is tighter and more formal, but it depends entirely on a base that does not move; when a slab cracks, the stone above it follows.
In both cases the base does more of the work than the stone. Most failed patios in this climate failed underneath: too little compacted base, or water with nowhere to go.
Stone treads and fieldstone walls stepping down to a pool.
How we approach a terrace
We start with the house and the walls already standing, then the way the terrace will be used: a dining terrace wants an even surface, a garden path wants character. We walk the property, talk through what you want from it, and follow with a detailed proposal covering material specifications and a timeline. See our stone walls, steps and patios page for how we build.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best patio stone for a Westchester property?
For most Bedford-area houses, bluestone. It is regional, it suits the fieldstone walls already on the land, and it can be laid formal or informal. Fieldstone suits a looser, garden-style terrace; concrete pavers suit a budget-led or very contemporary design.
Does bluestone get hot in the sun?
It can. Darker stone absorbs heat, so a bluestone terrace in full afternoon sun is warm underfoot in summer. Shade, a lighter thermal finish or a planting plan that shades the hottest hours all help.
Is bluestone damaged by road salt?
It can be. Bluestone has moderate salt sensitivity, so use an alternative deicer on bluestone steps and terraces.
Dry-laid or mortar-set?
Dry-laid stone sits on a compacted gravel base, flexes with the freeze-thaw cycle and is easy to repair. Mortar-set stone sits on a concrete slab for tight, formal joints, and depends on a base that does not move.
