Sealing limestone

[Dave999]

Hi
I have just laid 50 sqm of Kotah Black Limestone and I'm thinking of using Rompox Easy to point it, is this any good ? only pedestrian use. Also should I seal the stones, what good does sealing do? Any advice would be welcome. Thanks

[Jason Herring]

Rompox Easy will joint your paving just fine. I'd go for the grey colour as the neutral won't go with the black stone and the basalt will make it all look too black.

Once you have brushed the Rompox back and to across the surface of the patio some of the resin will be left behind on the surface of the stone and will provide some sealing anyway without you using anything else.

I think a lot of Kota Black has found to be prone to fading to a grey colour. I can post you a picture of a Kota Black driveway job jointed with Grey Rompox D1 which was done just over 2 years ago to illustrate if you like.

If you do want to seal your work afterwards I'd be really careful on which product you use. I'm not a much of a fan of anything I've tried including some quite expensive sealants. UV damage and wear in more travelled areas can lead to an uneven finish after time.
Good luck!

[Dave999]

Thanks for advice, Jason. With regards to the sealant, I would rather not seal it, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything important. Perhaps this will be the best way forward. If you could post the image, that would be great - cheers.

[Pablo]

With regards sealing and fading the decision has been inadvertantly made for you already. Good sealants need a warm dry spell of weather so you won't be able to seal until next april at the earliest by which time the limestone will have done most of it's fading. I have never seen black limestone not fade and when it does it really looks no different to or better than concrete. If you want to bring the colour back then use colour impregnator before you seal it and after a good cleanning of course. I use either lithofin or Larsen acriseal. I prefer the acriseal as it is very durable has a really good finish and won't break the bank. I use it on my own brick and flag paving and although i re-do it annually it stretches to 2 years easily.