How much scratching / scuffing on blocks is ok?

[elise999]

Just has a patio done with concrete tumbled blocked paving (Sorrento). Around a third of the blocks have scruffs / scratches on them. If I wash them, the marks reduce but don't 100% go.

Should I be too concerned about this or will it weather naturally ?

Thanks

[Tony McC]

It will definitely weather and in a year or two, you won't even see it.

The process used in the manufacture of Sorrento creates these overly-noticeable surface markings. Some people like them; some don't really notice; and for some, they are a sore thumb type problem, which is why it's always advisable to see other work using the same product before committing.

There are blocks with far worse markings than Sorrento. Some of the 'antiqued' blocks manufactured using Schindler Hammers have a very noticeable parttern of marks on the surface that seems to take at least a couple of years to weather out.

[mickg]

we have laid the sorrento carrara stone and it does have the scratches on the surface due to the tumbling process but the vibrating plate and kiln dried sand spread on the surface of the paving normally remove them, if they are very bad they get put to one side and either used as a cut if possible or scrapped

have you any photos showing the problem ?

[elise999]

Hope this works and gives a feel for how it looks. If it is just part and parcel of the way the blocks work (being tumbled around etc) then it's fine and as Tony says it is probably something I ought to have been aware of before. If it is part of the installation that should have been avoided I'm not sure where to go next

http://tinypic.com/r/1fdy1i/5

http://tinypic.com/r/2a7cuva/5

http://tinypic.com/r/wkgu9k/5

[mickg]

yeah that's exactly how they look when they are first laid

[elise999]

Thanks for the responses - much appreciated and will stop fretting now !

[Tony McC]

This is the sort of scratching we see with the Schindler hammers....



....I find that really off-putting, but it does weather out.

[mickg]

I have seen it time after time Tony, looks like a zig zag zebra stripe across the face of the paving and only show when the paving is dry

the vibrating plate does remove some when the final compaction is taking place but not all of the marks, like you say it does weather out over time

[GB_Groundworks]

In case anyone wondered what schindler hammers looked like like I did

http://www.sr-schindler.de/index.php?id=18&L=1

[mickg]

yeah I checked earlier Giles, its the only part of the production line they don't let you see and is encased behind a steel shed

[Tony McC]

I have photies and video of the hammers in use.

One of the other new sections I've been working on is an expansion of the manufacturing techniques part of the website but, as ever, the problem is finding the time to create un-sponsored content.

The level of supposed secrecy in the paving manufacturing industry amuses and annoys me in roughly equal measures. The manufacturers are all aware of more-or-less every secondary processing technique on the p[anet and can usually identify exactly how such-and-such a style was created. So why the secrecy? Why the steel covers which Mick mentions? I can understand the fine detail such as, say, vibration frequency, or shot duration, but the general principles are fairly bloody obvious to anyone with a vague interest.