Limestone and sandstone are both excellent natural stone choices for Los Angeles outdoor patios, with similar installed costs of $16–$38/sqft. Limestone is denser and harder — better for pool decks and high-traffic areas. Sandstone is more naturally textured with warmer tones — ideal for garden paths, rustic patios, and covered outdoor spaces. Both require sealing every 1–3 years. The right choice depends on your design goals, traffic level, and whether pool chemicals are a factor.
Tegula Stone has installed limestone and sandstone pavers across Los Angeles for 35 years. Get a free expert estimate for your project.
Both are sedimentary natural stones widely used for patios, walkways, pool surrounds, and outdoor living spaces in Los Angeles. Here’s how they compare across every major factor. For a broader cost overview of all natural stone types, see our natural stone cost guide.
Composition: Calcium carbonate (calcite) — same mineral family as travertine and marble
Hardness: Mohs 3–4 — harder and denser than most sandstones
Colors: Cream, beige, grey, silver, soft brown — generally cool, neutral tones
Surface: Honed (smooth matte), tumbled, or brushed — natural faces available in flagstone form
Porosity: Low-to-moderate (denser than sandstone, less porous than travertine)
Acid Sensitivity: High — reacts to pool chemicals, citrus, and acidic cleaners
Slip Resistance: Moderate to good (honed); excellent (tumbled or brushed)
Material Cost: $8–$22/sqft
Best Uses: Pool decks, high-traffic patios, formal outdoor spaces
LA Popularity: Very popular — Silver Limestone and Bluestone-style limestone are widely specified
Composition: Quartz grains cemented by silica, calcite, or iron oxide — mineralogy varies significantly by source
Hardness: Mohs 6–7 (silica-cemented) or Mohs 3–4 (calcite-cemented) — highly variable
Colors: Buff, tan, rust red, terracotta, golden brown — warmer, earthier tones than limestone
Surface: Natural cleft (split face), sawn, or tumbled — naturally rough and textured
Porosity: Moderate-to-high (most sandstones are more porous than limestone)
Acid Sensitivity: Low (silica-cemented varieties) to High (calcite-cemented varieties)
Slip Resistance: Excellent inherently — rough natural cleft provides grip without treatment
Material Cost: $7–$20/sqft
Best Uses: Garden paths, rustic patios, covered outdoor living rooms, accent walls
LA Popularity: Moderate — popular for Spanish colonial, Craftsman, and ranch-style homes
Understanding how limestone and sandstone perform in real-world Los Angeles conditions helps you choose the right stone for your specific project.
Limestone: Lighter-colored limestone (cream, silver, beige) reflects solar radiation well, keeping surface temperatures 10–20°F cooler than concrete. Darker grey limestone can get warm in direct afternoon sun. For full comparison of stone heat performance, see our best stone for hot climates guide.
Sandstone: Natural buff and tan sandstones have good solar reflectance. Darker rust-red varieties absorb more heat. The naturally textured surface of sandstone also stores less heat than smooth honed limestone. Both stones are comfortable in direct morning and early afternoon sun; both require caution in intense mid-afternoon LA summer heat.
Limestone: Limestone’s density makes it highly resistant to impact, chipping, and surface cracking. It performs well under furniture loads, heavy foot traffic, and vehicle-adjacent areas (though not driveways at standard thickness). High-traffic commercial outdoor projects often specify limestone for this reason.
Sandstone: Silica-cemented sandstones are remarkably hard and abrasion-resistant — some Indian sandstones achieve Mohs 7 hardness. Calcite-cemented sandstones are softer and more prone to surface wear. Know which type you’re buying before specifying for high-traffic areas. Ask your supplier for compressive strength data.
Limestone: Limestone’s lower porosity means pool chemicals penetrate less deeply than they would in more porous stone. With consistent sealing, limestone performs well as a pool deck material. The acid sensitivity is a real limitation — improperly balanced pool water (pH below 7.0) can etch limestone surfaces. Tumbled limestone finishes provide excellent slip resistance near water. See our limestone pool deck guide.
Sandstone: More porous sandstones are not ideal for pool deck surrounds — pool chemicals absorb deeply and sealer maintenance is more demanding. Silica-cemented sandstones are an exception — their low porosity and high hardness make them suitable for pool areas. If you’re considering sandstone for a pool deck, confirm the specific sandstone’s water absorption rate is below 3%.
Limestone: Limestone’s neutral palette — creams, beiges, soft greys — complements Mediterranean, contemporary, transitional, and Tuscan-style homes. It reads as refined and formal. Available in consistent sawn formats (predictable sizing and thickness) as well as natural flagstone forms (irregular shapes).
Sandstone: Sandstone’s warm earthy tones — buffs, reds, golds, rusts — pair naturally with Spanish colonial, Craftsman, ranch, and desert-modern LA architecture. Its inherent texture variation gives outdoor spaces a grounded, organic quality that no manufactured product achieves. Natural cleft sandstone flagging creates particularly characterful garden paths.
Limestone: Seal every 1–2 years with a penetrating impregnating sealer. Use only pH-neutral cleaners — acidic products etch the calcite surface. Limestone shows oil stains more readily than sandstone (lower porosity means surface oil doesn’t absorb away, it sits visible on the surface until cleaned). Annual professional cleaning recommended for high-use areas. For full maintenance instructions, see our limestone maintenance guide.
Sandstone: Seal every 1–3 years (more porous varieties need more frequent resealing). Sandstone’s open texture can trap grit and organic matter — more frequent sweeping required than for smoother limestone surfaces. Avoid metal furniture legs directly on sandstone without pads — rust staining is a risk. For sandstone maintenance, see our sandstone maintenance guide.
Both stones install using the same process: excavation, compacted gravel base, setting bed (sand or mortar), tile placement, grouting, and sealing. For full base prep and installation steps, see our ground leveling guide.
Key differences: Sandstone natural cleft pieces have variable thickness, requiring more careful setting bed adjustment and more skilled tile-setting labor. Sawn limestone arrives at consistent thicknesses and is easier to install. Complex patterns (herringbone, Versailles) are more commonly executed in limestone because the consistent thickness is easier to work with. Irregular flagstone work (natural shapes, organic layouts) is executed equally well in both stones.
Limestone and sandstone are priced similarly in Los Angeles. The cost difference between them is typically less than $3/sqft on material, and installation labor is identical. Project size, site conditions, and pattern complexity drive cost differences more than the choice between these two stones. Email [email protected] for a free detailed estimate.
✓ You’re building a pool deck or pool surround
✓ You want a formal, refined aesthetic that matches Mediterranean or contemporary architecture
✓ The area has very high foot traffic or will support heavy furniture
✓ You want consistent sawn tile sizes for a regular pattern (herringbone, straight-lay grid)
✓ You prefer neutral cool tones (cream, grey, silver)
✓ The installation is near pool equipment or outdoor kitchens with chlorine or acidic chemicals — limestone’s lower porosity resists chemical penetration better than most sandstones
✓ Long-term durability and low surface wear is a priority
✓ You’re building a garden pathway, casual patio, or covered outdoor living room
✓ You want warm earthy colors (buff, tan, rust, terracotta) that complement Spanish colonial or Craftsman architecture
✓ Natural cleft, irregular flagstone aesthetics appeal to you
✓ Slip resistance is the top priority — natural cleft sandstone’s texture provides excellent grip
✓ Budget is tight — entry-level sandstone is slightly less expensive than entry-level limestone
✓ The installation is not poolside or where acid exposure is a regular concern
✓ You want an organic, naturalistic look that varies in color and texture across the surface
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