Which type of stone is best? - Help

citronella · Post: # 60270Post **citronella** Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:51 pm

We are planning to lay a natural stone patio. Looking for advice please, as to pro's and cons of limestone, sandstone and slate.

Post: # 60282Post **seanandruby** Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:29 pm

....Main index under .....natural stone paving :;):

citronella · Post: # 60294Post **citronella** Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:01 am

Thanks. I read the main page info, but it didn't really answer my question. I get the impression that slate and limestone are more durable/less porous than sandstone. Is this correct? We've now narrowed our choice down either Brazilian green slate or blue limestone. Would one of these be less porous/less prone to flaking than the other? Any other factors we should consider? Would really appreciate some expert advice on this.

Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:53 pm

limestone is less prone to algae than sandstone
but the cost reflects that
slate is very hard wearing but can be scratched
sandstone is fine for most general purpose patios
its all about your choice,your budget,and your house/garden
if that makes sense
LLL

Noony · Post: # 60302Post **Noony** Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:11 pm

limestone and slate are more dense than sandstone, and therefore less porous, and then less likely to allow to algae to penetrate the surface. some sandstone can be fairly "soft " in terms of cutting, and these tend to be more porous. we are just laying a sandstone one now which is as described.

all three types are durable without question. the darker limestone (ie black) has been known to fade to a silver/grey before now too.

as luton said it probably down to choice, cost and preference really

noony

mickavalon · Post: # 60307Post **mickavalon** Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:50 pm

I've found all the Limestone in the popular colours fades pretty quick, best to seal it. I've started steering clients away from it, its hard to cut, quite brittle and has to many fault lines in it.
We've just took delivery of 5 packs from Pavestone, most of which is chipped, breaks as soon as we lay it or has hairline cracks running through it which appear as the Mortar sets and moisture is drawn into the Slab. The supplier has offered to change all the broken slabs, but it's the last time I use it if I can help it.

London Stone Paving · Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:20 am

Brazilian slate is very dense and amongst the best quality slate available so you should not have too many issues with the surface flaking. The slate will also be less porous than limestone I imagine (I am asuming were talking Kota blue indian limestone?) but its not really critical for a residential patio. Just choose what you like the best.

Black limestone is well known for fading in colour and will need sealing reguarly if you wish to maintain the black colour. Not doubting Micks experience but I have not seen the fading problem with the blue and brown limestone as yet

citronella · Post: # 60349Post **citronella** Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:39 pm

Thanks a lot everyone you're wonderful!- I really appreciate your expert advice. Think we may go for the green slate....

Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:15 pm

link pls citronella?
LLL

mickavalon · Post: # 60360Post **mickavalon** Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:21 pm

We've had problems galore with Limestone LSP mate, the obvious fading with Black, and also Yellow/Buff, not so much with the Blue/grey I admit. Also have had a lot of Problems with damage or breakages with it, lots of Faults running in the Stone, veins of other minerals, especially Quartz, which looks great when it's down, but can be a B@#*$%d to lay.
If I was recommending a Stone for a novice to go at, I wouldn't opt for Limestone unless the supplier is prepared to replace damaged stock.
Mind you I think a lot of the problems lie in the dozy Tw@#s who drive the wagons for our suppliers, lucky their not a glazing firm. The guy off loading the crates we opened Monday must of dropped them a good foot off the ground, we've had 40% returns

London Stone Paving · Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:49 am

Like you have said in your previous post Mick, limestone is brittle which makes it sensitive.

You cant really legislate for lorry drivers doing that. It is also really important that the slabs dont rock or move in the crate during the long journey from India to the customer. Our stuff is calibrated to 25mm and we have spent a lot of time on the packaging to make sure movement is kept to an absolute minimum.

Having said that you still get a couple of breakages per crate.

mickavalon · Post: # 60453Post **mickavalon** Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:36 pm

I'll change that to 50% returns as we've cleaned down today and quite a few we've laid have hairline cracks in whch didn't show before. I'm now having to lift and replace over a score of damaged Slabs as well as the broken 20m2 we've already crated ready to return.
Shame you don't supply up here mate, I could do with a source that knows and cares about their Products.

London Stone Paving · Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:21 pm

We do deliver nationwide Mick. A lot of the stuff we deliver nationwide tends to be our own products which we have developed ourselves as opposed to standard products available everywhere. Its usually cheaper to source standard products locally because of the dreaded delivery costs. If you ever get stuck though give us a shout.

What have the supplier ssaid about the damages?

mickavalon · Post: # 60512Post **mickavalon** Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:11 am

There going to replace with new, which they have, and we've got 2 full crates to go back.
To be fair they've been very helpfull, and the Driver has been given a bit of a bollicking, He has a bit of a History of being arsey.
We have noticed that the new stuff is slightly yellower, but we have enough chipped pieces to cut into size and mingle. It's just a pain when your paying guys to labour and lay it and this happens. I'll have to check your products out mate, what would be delivery rates to Brum?

Gordon@stone-cellar (UK) · Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:27 pm

mickavalon wrote:There going to replace with new, which they have, and we've got 2 full crates to go back.
To be fair they've been very helpfull, and the Driver has been given a bit of a bollicking, He has a bit of a History of being arsey.
We have noticed that the new stuff is slightly yellower, but we have enough chipped pieces to cut into size and mingle. It's just a pain when your paying guys to labour and lay it and this happens. I'll have to check your products out mate, what would be delivery rates to Brum?

First post here guys so wish me luck - I agree with London Stone - We are an independant company in East Kilbride Scotland and we source and import our own stuff. We like London Stone are on top of the quality at all times. Never had a problem with our travertine or limestone happy to say.