Patio slabs as coping stones

[stuarta]

Noticed an old post from 2010 on here but just wondering if the same is true. We are in the middle of doing our garden with slabs, turf and gravel. We have some painted coping stones that we want to replace but curious as to whether you can cut up and use slabs.

We both like the flat style and my theory is that you could get three 150mm wide stones out of a 450mm slab and be a lot cheaper. Not sure if this sounds too simple though and a reason why flat coping stones are a lot more money.

 

[Alastairreid]

No problem using slabs if you can cut them straight and uniform.

 

[WabbitPoo]

Be aware that if the slabs are concrete you will get an ugly-ish edge when you cut into them (ie it wont look like stone all the way thru) and if you are taking 3 slabs from 1, one of them will have a bad edge on both sides.

If they are real stone then obviously that wont apply.

 

[seasickstevie]

... if the slabs are concrete ... (ie it wont look like stone all the way thru)

But surely most concrete slabs look like concrete even if they're not cut.

 

[WabbitPoo]

No they don't, if they have been made to look like stone. Even non looky-likey concrete slabs at least are uniform grey in colour - when you cut into them you expose the aggregate within, giving the cut edge a completely different colour/finish.