Slate grey, softly aged.

About the Stone

Kurnool Grey Limestone — also known as Ash Grey, Dove Grey, Andhra Grey or simply South India Grey — is excavated from the mines of the Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, southern India. It presents a uniform slate-grey hue with subtle brown streaks or white speckles, and a tactile “orange peel” texture that gives it both an elegant finish and genuine non-slip performance.

It is a sedimentary limestone composed of calcium carbonate in the form of calcite and aragonite. Two properties set it apart: it is notably resistant to high temperatures, and it is oil-resistant — which is why it is specified so often for flooring in commercial complexes, airports, hospitals, railway stations and public parks, as well as domestic kitchens. It is also easy to cut and reshape, so it adapts to whatever an architectural design demands.

Its rough texture is the point. Where Kota Blue and Tandur Grey are chosen for flatness, Kurnool Grey is chosen for that tactile surface — it adds grandeur to a wall elevation in a way smoother stones cannot. That is why its most common use is wall cladding, though it performs equally well as landscape paving, pool coping, sills, mosaics and interior flooring.

Never use acid on limestone. This is the one rule that matters most. Limestone is calcium carbonate, so acidic cleaners and patio cleaners react chemically with the stone itself — the damage is permanent and irreparable, not a stain you can lift. If you take nothing else from this page: pH-neutral only, on Kurnool Grey and on every limestone.

Use a slurry primer underneath. Paint a slurry primer onto the back of each slab before bedding. It prevents salt and mineral staining leaching up from the mortar bed — a common cause of patchy discolouration that appears weeks after laying and cannot be reversed.

Mix your crates. Sort through all crates on arrival and draw evenly from each so colour variation is distributed across the whole area. Set aside any slabs with heavier chipping or markings to use as cuts.

Sawn edges chip — that is normal. Limestone paving has machine-sawn edges rather than hand-dressed ones. Small chips to corners, edges or the back are an unavoidable result of production and transport, and are not a defect. Once laid and pointed, they are almost never visible.

Order 10% extra. Standard for any natural stone — covers cuts, breakage and undercounted measurements.

Care & Maintenance

Sweep with a soft broom and wash occasionally with a mild, pH-neutral detergent. Never use an acid-based cleaner on Kurnool Grey, either as a wash or to shift mortar stains — the chemical reaction between acid and limestone permanently damages the surface of the stone. There is no fixing it afterwards.

Sealing is recommended. A breathable, impregnating sealer helps resist staining and organic growth through wet British winters while letting the stone breathe. Reseal every two to four years depending on exposure.