Sawn indian sandstone - durability

[Homer]

Hello all,

I've looked in at this site quite a bit over the last year as I've had an extension built and will be having the garden landscscaped and patio laid in the next few months. Lots of great information (I have travertine laid in the kitchen and was thinking of having it laid outside - not anymore!).

I like the look of some of the sawn sandstones, but have a slight concern on durability based on some of the samples I have seen (a colour called walnut from a well known supplier). Some of the slabs appear to have veins/fissures that go the whole way through. On the top surface of the slab you can feel the line and I have a concern that over a few years the effects of water freezing and thawing will crack the slab. Does anyone have any long term experience or advice about this.

My brother-in-law will be laying this (he has been laying drives/patios etc. for over 20 years), but he has not got any experience of this particular product's durability, although he says it looks great when newly laid.

Any advice or information would be appreciated.

Cheers.

[ilovesettsonmondays]

hi just checked and we live in same neck of woods , what part of essex you from . weathers terrible today m8 isnt it . first good bit of rain for months

[Homer]

I'm in Billericay. Absolutely soaking today - had almost forgotten what rain was like!

[London Stone Paving]

Hi

I am not sure what type of sandstone Walnut is. Could you send a link to the website. Will then be able to give you an answer to your question

Cheers

Steve

[Homer]

Hi Steve,

This is the product:
http://www.naturalpaving.co.uk/product.php?id=6

[London Stone Paving]

How do

I've had a look at the stone. Its not an Indian Sawn sandstone. I think its a Chinese sandstone. I dont have that much experience of Chinese sawn sandstones, but I do know that they are generally very hard, so durability should not be an issue. If natural paving are supplying the product then I would not worry to much, they are a reputable company who have been in the stone business for a long time

The only criticism I would make is that the website advises that the slabs are butt jointed. I would not advise that the slabs are butt jointed. It's a common misconception that sawn paving can be butt jointed but it should not be. 6-8 mm gaps are about right.

Steve

[Homer]

Thanks Steve,

I saw that comment regarding 'butt jointing' and thought it odd, especially as the photos on the website show it conventionally laid and pointed up.

Another question, if you don't mind. Do you think it is worth sealing slabs like these?

Cheers.

[London Stone Paving]

Couldn't say for sure as I am not familiar with the stone. I'm guessing that is is a hard stone and if that is the case then you might be able to get away with not sealing it.

When you seal hard stones, because they are so dense they dont take much seal in. The sealant seem to stay up top resulting in a glossy wet look and enhanced colour. Not a good look in my opinion.

Got first hand experience of this when we sealed a couple of our ultra hard kota sawn sandstones on our display. They looked naff and we had to re-lay them.

Sealing can be done after the fact so you dont need to rush any decision. Your brother in law will no doubt have to cut a few stones during installation so you can ask him how hard the stone is. It's also worth doing a test seal on an off cut first to see how it looks

[Homer]

Thanks Steve. I had a rapid learning curve on sealants when using Aquamix on my interior travertine - no permanent harm done, luckily.

I'll leave the sealant alone for now.