The Brew Cabin

We have just finished laying about 90m2 of beautifull indean sandstone in large flags in our garden - I would like them to stay beautifull - how can i protect them ? - Can I prime or eseal them with anything? Does this alter the looks of the stone? Please advise pros and cons... thank you very much for a great website.....

You can protect your sandstone flags with a sealant, Anneli. There's some basic info on the Sealants page, but you must ensure the sealant you choose is suitable for stone pavings, not just for concrete.

Pros and cons - the paving is well protected from stains, it's less likely to be affected by moss/lichen and other vegetation, and the colouring is enhanced, but the treatment may need to be repeated every so often and some people are none too keen on the glossy 'wet look'. Some sealants offer a semi-matt finish which is more acceptable to some, but thgis tends to offer less protection that the 2-coat 'wet look'.

It all boils down to what look you like. Personally, I wouldn't use a sealant on stone flags outdoors, as I like the way they weather and the way the mosses and other vegetation take over, but I know that's not to everyone's taste.

thank you very much for your fast respons -
Anneli