Rainbow Indian Sandstone · Sawn & Honed
Bold swirls and banding of orange, purple, beige and gold — nature's own artwork, sawn and honed to a smooth contemporary finish. The most characterful paving we export.
Sandstone forms in layers, and in no stone is that more visible than this one. Diamond-sawn, calibrated and honed to a smooth finish with a slight sheen — with surface quartzite that catches the sunlight.
About the Stone
Rainbow Sandstone is a unique Indian sandstone defined by its distinctive pattern of multicoloured veins and swirls, which create a wave-like movement across every slab. It is composed primarily of sand-sized mineral and rock grains — most commonly browns, yellows, reds and tans — with bands of purple and orange running through. Sandstone is formed in layers, and in this particular stone that layering is extraordinarily evident.
It is weather-resistant, hardwearing and well suited to cold weather, with a low absorption rate, strong compressive strength and a homogeneous texture that makes it straightforward to work with. Rainbow has been a UK favourite since it was first imported in 2009, and remains a premium-grade choice for landscapers who want a patio with genuine character rather than uniformity.
The smooth, sawn surface suits either modern or traditional patio designs, providing a wealth of design opportunities. Because every slab is different, Rainbow rewards thoughtful laying — we recommend opening all crates together and drawing evenly from each to distribute the colour range across the whole area.
Standard mixed packs are calibrated to 22mm and cover approximately 18.5 m². Slabs, cut-to-size tiles, bullnose steps and feature spheres all available — gangsaw slabs run 2′–7′ × 2′–5′.
Rainbow is a natural, high-variation stone. A few honest notes that will make your project go better.
Mix your crates. Open all packs at the same time and take slabs evenly from each. Using one crate at a time before opening the next will cluster the colours and look uneven. This matters more with Rainbow than with any other stone we sell.
Seal it. Sawn sandstone is more porous at the cut face than riven, and Rainbow should be sealed with a quality water-based impregnating sealer that still lets the stone breathe. Seal only when the stone is completely dry with 24 hours of dry weather ahead. Sealing before laying, on all six sides, gives the best long-term result.
Expect some pitting. Rainbow occasionally shows small surface pinholes, similar to travertine. This is natural to the stone and does not affect performance or durability — but we'd rather you hear it from us than be surprised on delivery.
Order 10% extra. Standard practice for any natural stone — it covers cuts, breakages and any undercounted measurements.
A premium statement patio — bold colour that works in both modern and traditional gardens.
Indoor and outdoor cladding where the banding becomes the design element.
Outdoor lawns and footpaths — hardwearing and well suited to cold weather.
Bullnose step edges and Rainbow spheres for ornamental focal points and water features.
Close, but never identical — and that is the point. Rainbow has deliberately high colour variation, so the exact mix of orange, purple, beige and gold can never be pre-determined. Mix slabs evenly from every crate as you lay to get the full spectrum distributed across the area. If you need predictable uniformity, Kandla Grey Smooth is the better choice.
Sawn and honed sandstone has a natural level of slip resistance and is not known to be slippery when wet, provided it is properly maintained. Riven surfaces do grip better than honed ones, so if maximum slip resistance is the priority — around a pool, for example — consider a riven stone such as Kandla Grey or Fossil Mint.
Yes, we recommend it. Sawn paving is more porous at the cut surface than riven, so use a quality water-based impregnating sealer that lets the stone breathe. Seal when the stone is fully dry with at least 24 hours of dry weather ahead — ideally on all six sides before laying.
Small surface pitting, similar to travertine, occurs naturally in Rainbow sandstone. It is purely cosmetic and does not affect the performance, strength or lifespan of the paving.
Yes. Rainbow is hardwearing, frost-resistant and specifically well suited to cold weather. It has been laid in UK gardens since it was first imported in 2009 and stands up to harsh weather for decades.
Rainbow is primarily supplied sawn and honed — that smooth finish is what shows the colour banding at its best. If you want a riven surface with comparable warmth and variation, Buff Rippon or Autumn Brown are the closest options.
A standard Rainbow patio pack is calibrated to 22mm and holds 60 slabs covering about 18.5 m²: 16 at 900 × 600 mm, 16 at 600 × 600 mm, 16 at 600 × 290 mm and 12 at 290 × 290 mm. Thicknesses of 20, 25 and 30 mm, cut-to-size slabs, steps and spheres are made to order.
Sawn and honed Rainbow is a value-added finish, so allow about 30 days from order to FOB Mundra, then about 4 weeks from port to a UK yard. We quote FOB Mundra or CIF to your UK port, and ocean freight is charged to the buyer's account. Ports, lead times and packing are set out on our manufacturer & exporter page.
Tell us the thickness, quantity and destination — we'll come back with pricing and confirmed lead times. Samples shipped worldwide so you can see the colour range for yourself.
Rainbow is a sawn, honed stone. These are the alternatives UK buyers most often weigh against it — other smooth sawn options for contemporary schemes.
Speak to our team for pricing, samples, MOQ details and shipping options to your country. Direct from India since 1996.
