What if installing a slate patio was as easy as assembling a foolproof puzzle?
Put simply, this is the key question behind a clever Finnish innovation – one that Joona Ripattila, entrepreneur at KymStone and partner of Liuskemestarit, has developed a solution to.
Ripattila, an entrepreneur from Kouvola, had spent years working on demanding slate installations. Time and again, he found himself thinking about how the work could be done more easily and efficiently.
For years, Joona Ripattila has refined his own method for slate installations: each project is measured, and the stones are precisely shaped at the workshop before being numbered, photographed, and carefully packed. The result is a ready-to-assemble slate “puzzle”, delivered to site for efficient installation.
With no need for on-site cutting or shaping, installation can proceed efficiently while keeping the site clean and well organised.
Could this concept also be made available to consumers – enabling anyone to install a slate patio without specialist skills?
Joona Ripattila quickly realised the answer was yes.
And he wasn’t wrong.
The product is now available to consumers via the Kivitori online store.
Discover the finished product here: Easystone liuskekivipatio valmiiksi muotoiltu ympyrä – Useita kokoja – Altan harmaa 2cm – Kivitori verkkokauppa
A foolproof natural stone puzzle
A few years ago, Joona Ripattila discovered thickness-calibrated irregular slate, now part of the Liuskemestarit range, which made the innovation possible. With consistent thickness across every piece, it removes one of the biggest challenges of traditional slate, variations during installation.
The easy-to-assemble puzzle is called EasyStone.
Customers receive a fully prepared natural stone puzzle from Kivitori, designed for easy installation. The pre-shaped and numbered slate pieces are delivered on clean pallets, together with clear installation drawings.
The puzzle can also be ordered fully customised to your exact dimensions.
Many homeowners see slate installation as too challenging to take on without professional help, which often prevents them from building their dream slate patio. This also naturally increases the overall cost of the project.
“With EasyStone, the customer knows exactly what quality of result to expect in advance, and it does not depend on the installer. All that’s needed is a level sand base in the garden. On concrete surfaces, the stones can be fixed using renovation mortar applied with a notched trowel. There’s no need to adjust for thickness variations, as every stone has a consistent thickness,” says Ripattila.
Watch how a first-time DIY user successfully installs a circular slate patio: EasyStone installation video (youtube.com)
EasyStone also speeds up construction projects for contractors
EasyStone also helps streamline the work of professional designers, landscapers, and contractors
Especially during peak seasons, finding skilled stone installers can be a challenge. With a customised natural stone puzzle tailored to the project, even large sites can rely on their own teams for installation.
This keeps construction moving efficiently, without delays or compromises in quality, as seen in a recent 160 m² EasyStone delivery to the summit of Ylläs.
The slate flooring for the extension of Restaurant Ylläskammi is being installed using the EasyStone method. For the contractor, this is a highly efficient and straightforward solution. They receive a nearly ready-made floor tailored to the required dimensions, which can be installed using standard fixing mortar, thanks to the thickness-calibrated slate.
Work on site becomes significantly more efficient, with no need to order extra slate, as there is virtually no waste during installation. This also improves logistics. Best of all, installation takes only a fraction of the time compared to traditional slate installation.
No specialist stonemasonry skills are required, as the contractor’s own team can assemble the slate puzzle and achieve a clean, high-quality finish.
The EasyStone project at Restaurant Ylläskammi will be featured in more detail on the Liuskemestarit blog once the extension has been completed.