stone information 

sandstone

The term sandstone is used to describe almost any type of stone of sedimentary origin with a granular type texture. some other types of stone that may fall under this type of classifaction include gritstones,silkstones,greywackes conglomerates and marls.  aside from the particle size variations,the dominant factor affecting sandstone performance is the grain cement that may be siliceous,calcareous,clay bearing or iron rich.

The individual make up of each sandstone gives a wide range of colours.    A pure silica sandstone is white with colours arising from other materials.  Iron oxides can cause the stone to vary from buff or brown through to the deepest red.   Grey coloured stone is due to the prescence of clay and green could indicate the prescence of glauconite which contained potassium.

Sandstone is a natural material traditionally regarded as the building stone of the north.  However sandstone can be seen throughout the uk in many prestigious buildings from structures which form part of our heritage to modern office blocks.

appearance

Sandstone has many colours ranging from white,grey and buff to various shades of red.

Sandstones generally have an even texture,which may vary from course to fine,but the stone from some quarries also show attractive natural markings.

applications

Many types of sandstone are suitable for paving or flooring.  some can be split [ riven ] otherwise the normal finish is sawn.  tooled, sandblasted and flame textured finishes are also available.

There is a vast variety of surface finishes available from the traditional rubble walling to wrought stonework with its finishes to different forms ie. boasting,pitched,broached,hammer dressed and rusticated,to the very intricate looking vermiculated.

All in all sandstone is one of the few historic natural minerals still in use today.  It provides excellent durability and is virtually maintenance free.  It is aesthetically pleasing whilst giving great value for money.