Sealing sandstone

[Rick]

Going to completely re-point 135 m2 Indian Sandstone patio, which is edged & feature run with 33 m2 of clay paviors.

Just cleaned it all with the mix as advised by Lee and detailed on website (Sodium Hypochlorite and Lauryldimethylamine Oxide)

Now looks as clean as day it was laid.

Once pointing is complete - considering sealing it ..... anybody recommend a good sealer at a reasonable price.

Looked at Resiblock Indian Sandstione Sealer ... it would cost £600 to use that plus another £200 to seal paviors

[London Stone Paving]

Why are you thinking about sealing it?

IME Indian Sandstone doesn't need sealing unless its on a driveway or around a barbecue or any other area where it may get a hammering.

Not got much experience of the product you mention. Its very reasonably priced though

[lutonlagerlout]

stone has been laid for millennia without sealers
unless you are truly pedantic you do not need it
LLL

[RAPressureWashing]

As all the above, no real need to seal Indian the other thing is once you start you need to keep it up (sealing) around every 12-18 months so same expense. If it was Black Limestone then different view. Resiblock Natural Stone sealer, ok product but there are better ones out there if you really want to go this route. I've Indian Sandstone patios, and haven't sealed them, just a deep clean once a year.

[Rick]

Thanks

[Rick]

Guys ... interesting the comments above .... which say .. don't seal.

Yet the FAQ on Sandstone & Lichens states "Sealants - protect the paving by keeping it beneath an impenetrable transparent coating. As long as the sealant remains intact and competent, the lichen has nowhere to go. "

[RAPressureWashing]

Guys ... interesting the comments above .... which say .. don't seal.

Yet the FAQ on Sandstone & Lichens states "Sealants - protect the paving by keeping it beneath an impenetrable transparent coating. As long as the sealant remains intact and competent, the lichen has nowhere to go. "

We clean paving day in & day out, and unfortunately even the ones that have been sealed still have been prone the algae & lichen, we don't always know what sealer has been used, people may have either forgotten, didn't know what was used or moved into the property and were told the paving had been sealed. The one's we have sealed haven't been so prone to lichen, but even North facing sealed patios have had a bit of lichen on them.

[Rick]

Anybody experience of this:
My Webpage

Rated as No.1 and recommended by 'The Guardian' ... not that I ever read that.

[lutonlagerlout]

not saying its bad but never heard of it rick
endorsed by the guardian ,isnt really an endorsement
if it were cookie or mickg or the gaffer i might listen
or especially roger who knows evrything there is to know about sealants and bad ones
LLL :;):

[Rick]

Guys ... interesting the comments above .... which say .. don't seal.

Yet the FAQ on Sandstone & Lichens states "Sealants - protect the paving by keeping it beneath an impenetrable transparent coating. As long as the sealant remains intact and competent, the lichen has nowhere to go. "

We clean paving day in & day out, and unfortunately even the ones that have been sealed still have been prone the algae & lichen, we don't always know what sealer has been used, people may have either forgotten, didn't know what was used or moved into the property and were told the paving had been sealed. The one's we have sealed haven't been so prone to lichen, but even North facing sealed patios have had a bit of lichen on them.

Roger - in your opinion is it worth me considering sealing to prevent Lichen & Algae ... and as its mentioned you are the forum 'expert' any to be recommended (or avoided)

I looked at Resibloc but would cost at least £800 and they advise its only good for 5 yr

[RAPressureWashing]

Guys ... interesting the comments above .... which say .. don't seal.

Yet the FAQ on Sandstone & Lichens states "Sealants - protect the paving by keeping it beneath an impenetrable transparent coating. As long as the sealant remains intact and competent, the lichen has nowhere to go. "

We clean paving day in & day out, and unfortunately even the ones that have been sealed still have been prone the algae & lichen, we don't always know what sealer has been used, people may have either forgotten, didn't know what was used or moved into the property and were told the paving had been sealed. The one's we have sealed haven't been so prone to lichen, but even North facing sealed patios have had a bit of lichen on them.

Roger - in your opinion is it worth me considering sealing to prevent Lichen & Algae ... and as its mentioned you are the forum 'expert' any to be recommended (or avoided)

I looked at Resibloc but would cost at least £800 and they advise its only good for 5 yr

Rick
Thank you for the kind comment, I wouldn't necessary say I was the forum expert though
I don't know the sealer you posted above, new ones come out all the time, sometimes though just stuff re-branded or packaged. If you want to go the sealing route, brand to consider are, Auqu-Mix, Miracle, Dry-Treat (not used this one but all I've heard is good comments) Lithofin, What to avoid IMO is anything that you can get in the big DIY shed, IE Thompson's, Wickes etc etc.
The Resiblock is ok, wouldn't be my first choice though for natural stone. Are you wanting to just seal or colour enhance & seal? What you need to weigh up is once you start sealing you will need to top-up the sealer around 15-18 months. A yearly deep clean, will keep the paving looking fresh as this is something you have just done, and sounds like you were happy with the results, so why not go that route for another year and see how it holds out? as long as if you get any spillage's on the paving you attend to them straight away you really shouldn't have any problems that the cleaning process you have used couldn't handle IE algae, lichen, general dirt etc.