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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:43 pm
by stephent
looking to seal a slate patio, do you guys recommend anything?
Does it really need sealing and what are the advantages of sealing it?
thanks
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:07 pm
by worldofpaving
Stephen,
Would recommend that you do seal your slate, the main advantages are that it prevents the ingress of any spills during BBQ's, etc., but also against general staining from such natural occurances as bird droppings (lime content makes them quite aggressive).
Sealing also stops chlorophyl from plants, algae, etc. from getting a foothold on your precious stone.
If you decide to seal, you have a choice to make between film forming and non-film forming products.
If you wish to keep the exact same finish and colour as you have now, go for a non-film forming product, often known as an impregnator.
If you quite like the look of the slate when wet, go for a film forming sealer, decide whether you want gloss or matt and whatever you do, test anything you plan to use on an offcut.
If the supplier does not have sample pots, send them an offcut and ask them to coat it with the alternative products and return it to you, bear in mind the initial sheen will fade over time due to climatactic and physical attrition.
I can't recommend specific brands, perhaps another post will be able to do that.
Good Luck,
WOP
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:16 pm
by msh paving
lithofins stain stop, get it hear http://extensive.co.uk/
there is all the info you need MSH 
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:25 pm
by Tony McC
I can't recommend sealing slate. Why would you?
But if you must, then MSH is pointing you in the right direction.
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:21 pm
by worldofpaving
If it will absorb a drop of water I would seal it, if it doesn't, I wouldn't bother.
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:11 pm
by stephent
would sealing help prevent against colour loss?
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:09 pm
by Tony McC
What slate is this that it's losing colour?
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:24 pm
by stephent
it hasnt lost any colour as of yet, i am just presuming that it does!
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:29 pm
by msh paving
It don't pay to presume,look at slate roof's MSH
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:00 am
by stephent
yes i know that slate roofs do not tend to fade.
The thing is that my girlfriend has had complaints in work about slate chippings fading. (she works for trading standards).
Indicentilly i have just pointed it using rompox easy and the resin has left a sheen on the slabs that really intensifies the colour. I must say that it really does look good. Is there any way i can keep this sheen without spending out on an expensive sealant?
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:11 pm
by Tony McC
Complaints to Trading Standards about fading colour in slate waste? That suggests the complaint comes from someone who has little or no experience with natural stone or the stuff has been covered in dust/detritus. Slate just doesn't fade.
As for the enhanced colour provided by the jointing product, you can make that permanent by using a suitable colour enhancer or sealant. At Chelsea Flower Show I saw one show garden exhibitor rubbing chip fat (well, vegetable oil) into the Penrhyn slate to bring out the lovely purple hues, but you could use summat like the Romex Universal colour enhancer or the usual MN StainStop
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:32 pm
by MBPM
"At Chelsea Flower Show I saw one show garden exhibitor rubbing chip fat (well, vegetable oil) into the Penrhyn slate"
Add a dash of water and bingo! An all weather ice rink 
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:13 pm
by lutonlagerlout
and there was me thinking proper chips had to be cooked in beef dripping :;):
when we lay blue staffs ,we polish them up afterwards with wd40 and a rag,i have seen lads using diesel as well, but that didn't look to clever
not sure what the wd40 does but it gets rid of those pesky mortar stains you get laying impervious bricks, and makes them look nice
<<ready to be shot down in flames any second>>
LLL
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:23 pm
by seanandruby
Think we've been here before. When i was a lad one of my jobs was rubbing every engineering brick and all the channels in new build manholes, to make them shine for the clerk of works to pass them off. There was zero tolerence on the brickwork, no straight perps and the bedding for the frame could'nt be to thick. Quality work back then.
Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:53 am
by Tony McC
I was talking manholes last week with one of the few brickies I know who doesn't drag his knuckles on the floor, and we were bemoaning the fact that apprentice brickies are not made to spend a couple of months building manholes any longer. It was a great way for them to learn a trade, and they weren't at a height where they could drop mortar or bricks onto unsuspecting flaggers below. He reckons the NVQ doesn't even mention manholes. What a waste!