Norse Stone aims to bring new life to their prehistoric stone by combining innovative technology with traditional methods and modern thinking. From domestic landscaping projects to sensitive restorations, contemporary new builds to commercial settings, Caithness flagstone is a versatile indigenous material ready to be integrated into any project.
Traditionally, Caithness flagstone was used as a building stone for houses, crofts and boundary walls. The splitting ability combined with its natural strength meant slabs could be kept at a larger size but thinner whilst still remaining strong. This made them ideal for flooring, roofing, paving and general building stone. The word flagstone is believed to have originated from the Old Norse word ‘flaga’ which simply means a slab of stone. Viking activity was well recorded in Caithness, with remnants of some of their Caithness flagstone forts and castles still able to be seen today, a testament to the stone’s durability.
Norse Stone has spent years understanding the unique properties of Caithness flagstone and, through this, has carefully considered every piece of equipment, every machine and every detail at every stage to get the best results. For example, our excavator is used to cut the stone out of the ground using a revolutionary floor saw attachment, our telehandlers need to lift the huge pieces of stone at the precise point where the layers have a natural separation point whilst our compact digger has been equipped with a unique breaker attachment to take on the heavy work of primary splitting.
This continues at our main base at Lieurary Quarry where our fully equipped production workshop features a range of bridge saws, CNC technology, polishers, laser engraving machinery and sandblasting equipment. All of which have been carefully laid out to accommodate not just current requirements but in anticipation for future developments as well. We have designed and built a custom paving production line to efficiently produce our wide range of paving. Even traditional techniques such as hand splitting and chiselling require regular review to ensure the PPE and tools used are providing the best outcomes for both our team and the final products.
All of this careful planning results in unlocking the full potential of Caithness flagstone allowing it to be processed and used in a wide range of finishes and products.
In its natural finish, known as riven, Caithness flagstone is used mainly for external and landscaping products including paving, building stone, coping, walling and roofing slates whilst brushed riven has been processed to have a slightly smoother texture and can be used internally or externally. Flooring to house signs, hearths to benches, it can be used for entire projects and complements a wide range of alternative materials as well. Next, known for its almost leather like surface texture, antique provides an unique texture finish which can be used in memorials, flooring, hearths and sills. One of our most popular internal finishes is matt polished, it’s smooth surface reveals and enhances the natural patterns of the stone and, finally, high polished is when the stone has been finished with a high sheen surface finish. Both matt and high polished stones are regularly used for hearths, sills and unique worktops.
Combining these surface finishes with our shaping and edging options creates a multitude of product possibilities. Our Caithness flagstone has been used extensively throughout Eilean Donan Castle and its visitor centre utilising an open colour palette, a mix of grey and weathered stone, whilst our paving can be seen in Holland, Switzerland and Belgium as well as inside and out Ulster University in Belfast. We have created memorials in Westminster Abbey, bespoke bars for breweries in Orkney and flooring used in a high-end private villa in the French Alps. Projects range from high spec residentials featuring flooring, steps, paving and cladding to create clean contemporary lines to natural edged building stone and hand finished roof slates used to restore a historic building back to its former glory, but all are individually made to each projects requirements.
Caithness flagstone’s splitting ability, strength, durability and versatility means it is a natural material which can provide an array of possibilities and opportunities whatever the project. Available in a range of finishes, each order is made with precision and care using Norse Stone’s innovative combination of traditional and modern techniques.
