It is the most common question we get from UK and European stone buyers: should I go with Kandla Grey or Buff? These two Indian sandstone varieties together account for the majority of Indian sandstone paving sold in the UK market, and for good reason — both are excellent choices. But they suit different aesthetics, different buildings, and different garden styles. Choosing the wrong one is not a disaster, but choosing the right one will make your project look significantly better.

As exporters who have supplied both varieties to thousands of buyers across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and Australia, we can give you an honest assessment — not a sales pitch for one over the other.

Colour: The Fundamental Difference

Kandla Grey

Kandla Grey has a cool, neutral grey palette with natural buff and cream tonal variations. Most pieces in a calibrated Kandla Grey supply are predominantly grey-toned, with occasional warmer buff pieces adding natural variation. The overall visual effect of a laid Kandla Grey terrace is cool, clean, and contemporary. The grey tones photograph exceptionally well in both natural light and overcast UK conditions. In wet weather, Kandla Grey darkens slightly and the natural tonal variation becomes more pronounced — many buyers and designers consider it even more attractive when wet.

Buff

Buff Indian sandstone is unmistakably warm. It ranges from pale cream-beige through warm golden tones with natural variation across pieces — no two flags are identical in a natural way that looks genuinely organic rather than manufactured. In direct sunlight, Buff takes on a warm amber quality. In shade, it sits at a neutral cream. Buff weathers differently from Grey: over years of outdoor exposure in the UK, Buff sandstone develops a naturally patinated appearance — the warm tones become slightly muted and the stone takes on the character of aged limestone, blending into the landscape in a way that feels organic rather than newly installed.

Which Matches Your Building?

This is, in our experience, the most useful framework for choosing between Kandla Grey and Buff. Natural stone paving should complement the materials of the building it adjoins.

When to Choose Kandla Grey

• New-build houses with grey render, brick, or cladding
• Contemporary and modernist architecture (flat roofs, floor-to-ceiling glass, zinc cladding)
• Gardens designed around grey, blue-grey, or white planting schemes
• Urban gardens where a clean, sophisticated aesthetic is desired
• Gardens viewed predominantly under UK’s overcast skies — grey harmonises with the light quality
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When to Choose Buff

• Traditional red or yellow brick houses (Buff connects naturally with warm brick tones)
• Cotswold stone or sandstone buildings (Buff echoes the honey-coloured local stone aesthetic)
• Cottage gardens with warm planting schemes — lavender, roses, grasses
• Country houses and rural properties
• Gardens where a sense of age and established character is desired from day one
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Durability: Is There a Difference?

For practical purposes, calibrated Kandla Grey and calibrated Buff from the same Rajasthan quarry region have very similar physical properties. Both are sandstones with comparable density, water absorption, and compressive strength. Both perform well in UK freeze-thaw conditions when correctly installed and sealed.

One caveat: Buff sandstone — with its warmer, more porous-looking tone — can show staining from tannins (fallen leaves, bird droppings) more noticeably than Kandla Grey if left unsealed. This is a maintenance consideration rather than a quality issue — both stones should be sealed before and after laying, but the visual impact of unsealed Buff is more pronounced. If low maintenance is a priority, Kandla Grey is marginally more forgiving.

Pool Surrounds: Which is Safer?

For pool surrounds, both Buff and Kandla Grey in natural split or sandblasted finish perform similarly in terms of slip resistance. However, many pool designers choose a textured sandblasted or flamed finish specifically for pool edge and surround applications — this applies equally to both colours. For pure aesthetics around a pool, Buff tends to look more ‘Mediterranean holiday’ while Kandla Grey suits contemporary architectural pool designs. Consider also that Buff sandstone has a naturally warm colour temperature which makes pool spaces feel more welcoming.

Price: Are They Different?

Kandla Grey and Buff are typically priced very similarly at both the import and retail level — they come from the same Rajasthan region, use the same processing methods, and have similar logistics costs. Any price difference you encounter will reflect supplier margin decisions or quality grade differences rather than inherent cost differences in the stone itself.

The Verdict: Our Recommendation

If you have a contemporary house or garden with grey, white, or neutral tones — choose Kandla Grey. If you have a traditional home, warm-toned brickwork, or a garden where a sense of warmth and age is valued — choose Buff. If you genuinely cannot decide, consider using both in a pattern — alternating Kandla Grey and Buff flags in a traditional garden setting creates a beautiful, natural-looking variation that takes advantage of the complementary tones.