Indian sandstone patio wearing out

[Marcello]

I got a new patio installed about 3 years ago, with Kandla Grey Indian Sandstone slabs from a large and I (still) think reputable supplier. They had natural variation, but I've noticed after last winter that some of the flags are definitely showing wear - like mini "grand canyons"......and there are new small areas of pooling on some of the flags where they have worn down to create little troughs.

I'm worried that this process will continue each winter and I'll need to replace the flags.....so I'm looking at any product that will inhibit this process.....

I called the stone supplier and they said it's just natural "flaking" and that once those bits have gone the erosion should stop, and he said it was something to do with them being hand cut. But I'm not so sure....why would erosion just stop?

Although some of the products I have seen claim to protect the stone from ice-damage (and I do think that may be the main culprit, plus all the heavy rain we've been having may be simply eroding them), most of the product reviews and tests seem to concentrate on reducing staining. I'm not bothered about staining or appearance, I just want them to stay as strong, durable flags for years to come.

Any advice on what kind of product I can use to protect them from further erosion? Grateful for any ideas or information. I've read the various test results but as I say they seem to focus on stain resistance rather than their ability to protect the flags from erosion.

[lutonlagerlout]

this is a very unusual post
kandla is one of the hardest indian stones and the least likely to suffer from flaking
I have modak rose at home which is far more riven and get the occasional flake but nothing to write home about?

its millions of years old ,I doubt ice will cause much damage
LLL ???

[Tony McC]

Kandla Grey is, as LLL says, one of the toughest of the imported sandstones and not really prone to delamination (flaking).

Which raises two questions:

1 - are you sure it's eroding/weathering? Do you have photies from when it was installed that you can comper to show how much it has worn?

2 - Are you sure it's Kandla Grey???

[Marcello]

Thanks both - it was described as Kandla Grey when I bought it, so I'm assuming it is. A friend has also bought Kandla Grey and his looks pretty similar. I'll see if I can dig out any "before" photos and current ones - it's possible I'm imagining it but I really do think some of the stones are wearing out whereas other ones seem fine. Not sure why only some wear and not others. I'll find some photos and figure out how to post them. Thanks again for replying.