Blue limestone
Blue limestone is a timeless classic thanks to its great versatility and its technical features.
Bluestone is a compact dark limestone. The most famous are Kilkenny Limestone, from our own quarries, and Belgian Blue Stone. These materials have been used for centuries for indoor and outdoor applications. Due to its very dense structure and hardness, this limestone is ideally suited for paving, terraces, interior flooring, wall cladding and building products (window sills, lintels, stairs...).
The distinct colour of this natural stone is attributed to the remnants of ancient carbon dioxide. Bluestone typically exhibits varying shades of blue-grey, with Irish bluestone being notably bluer than its Belgian counterpart and containing fewer fossils.
Blue limestone in our product range:
Best-selling finishes
The finishes below are a selection of the most popular finishes available for bluestone. At Brachot, we are also constantly developing new finishes and optimising existing ones. So we always find the finish that best suits the material, your taste and the style of the house.
Diamond-sawn
This finish highlights the natural unrefined appearance that results from diamond frame-sawing. Light-grey in colour, the saw-marks remain clearly visible on the face. Often well-utilized on limestone for cladding and kerbing, this ready-rough finish is suitable for a multitude of uses.
Blue Honed
The smooth and even appearance rendered by the blue honed finish is achieved through the use of a range of grits. When a honed finish is applied to Irish blue limestone, the coarseness of the grit used will directly impact the colour of the final finish. The coarsest grit (100) achieves a pale blue-grey colour and produces a smooth and matt texture with a faint pattern of circular scores. Honed finishes are suitable for interiors such as worktops, flooring and cladding but are also used externally for furniture, window sills and plinths.
Flamed
Flamed faces have a slightly translucent speckled grey colour, varied by slightly and randomly developed lighter areas. The surface is smooth but with an irregular texture of minor creases. This finish is the result of the torching of the stone surface with a white hot open flame, lending a modern finish with a truly original texture. With excellent slip-resistant properties, flamed Irish limestone is perfect for outdoor uses, including paving and landscaping works, paths and terraces. The distinctive aesthetic of this finish has also made it popular for cladding and indoor use.
Bush Hammered
The bush hammered finish delivers a dark blue-grey background with randomly distributed, closely spaced and contrasting paler blue-grey indentations. The surface has a smooth background which is in contrast to a pattern of fine dimpling. Due to its superior slip-resistant qualities, Irish blue limestone with a bush hammered finish is an ideal choice for outdoor use on paving, kerbs and steps. This finish is also applied for decorative purposes and to showcase the various characteristics in a large piece of Irish blue limestone.
Line chiselled
This classic masonry technique involves incising the limestone surface with a series of parallel thin lines. These rows of incisions in the limestone appear dark grey or black set against the smooth curved surfaces of the stone. The chiselled finish achieves a paler blue-grey colour with the ancient crinoids revealing themselves as a randomly distributed pattern of paler grey flecks. Chiselled blue limestone is an excellent finish for both internal and external applications such as cladding, ashlar, lintels, mouldings, pavilions, setts, kerbs and steps.
In the picture: Kilkenny Limestone
Irish Blue Limestone, one of Ireland’s most precious resources, has been treasured and used for centuries. This charismatic and multifaceted stone has many destinies, from the centrepieces of contemporary home design to the principal theme of architectural projects from rural Ireland to downtown Manhattan.
Various shade and finish combinations tease the stone into its many expressions of colour and texture, as it courts the light and develops in complexity with time. Fully appreciating the rarity and uniqueness of the stone, Kilkenny Limestone has dedicated itself to its correct and appropriate usage in contributing to the great buildings and landscapes of our modern age.
Kilkenny Limestone’s system of CE marking highlights the performance standards expected from our products. The products are produced from ATGcertified materials.
Variety of applications
There are plenty of possible applications for this bluestone. You can use this natural stone for kitchen worktops, flooring, interior finishes and so on. This bluestone stands its ground indoors and outdoors.
Indoor applications
Blue limestone is a versatile choice for indoor applications, offering elegance and durability in equal measure. From sleek kitchen worktops to striking wall cladding, its adaptability knows no bounds. Its rugged beauty lends itself perfectly to interior flooring, where its timeless appeal adds character to any space. Whether used for stairs or bathroom cladding, blue limestone exudes sophistication while standing the test of time. With a wide range of finishings available, including honed, brushed, or polished, it effortlessly complements any interior design style, making it a favored choice for discerning homeowners and designers alike.
Outdoor applications
Blue limestone is not only a formidable contender for indoor use but also a stalwart option for outdoor applications. Its resilience makes it ideal for terraces, where its paving slabs withstand the elements with grace, providing a sturdy foundation for outdoor living spaces. As pavers, blue limestone lends an air of elegance to pathways and driveways while enduring the rigors of daily use. Façade cladding crafted from this durable stone offers both aesthetic appeal and long-lasting protection for buildings. Whether used for outdoor flooring or as building materials like window sills, blue limestone stands firm against the forces of nature, retaining its strength and beauty for years to come. In 2024, bluestone pavers have emerged as a prominent trend, showcasing the enduring popularity and timeless allure of this remarkable material.
Urban renewal
Kilkenny limestone stands as a beacon of urban renewal, seamlessly blending durability with architectural finesse. Its versatility shines through in a myriad of applications, from paving to street furniture, kerbstones to capstones. As palissades, it delineates spaces with a timeless elegance, while stairs crafted from blue limestone invite exploration with every step. The material's durability ensures longevity, enduring the daily hustle and bustle of urban environments with poise. With sizes ranging from tiles to strips and cube stones, blue limestone offers endless possibilities for creative expression in urban design. Its architectural advantages are undeniable, adding a touch of sophistication to city landscapes while standing the test of time.
Our blue limestone products
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Useful guides
Kilkenny Limestone/Blue Stone maintenance leaflet
How do I maintain my Kilkenny Limestone/Blue Stone kitchen worktop? Discover it in our maintenance brochure.