Indian Sandstone Sealing - Conflicting Advice
Discussion
So this is bounced off my other thread as I am getting conflicting advice...
Resiblock has been recommended to me, and I have found the specific Indian Sandstone Sealer which retails at 110 quid, which I thin is a lot. But I don't mind paying money if the product delivers. I have also found another sealant at 80 which claims to give a wet look. The directions for these is a simple jet wash, brush, and dry which seems common sense.
Now I have spoken to a friend who has paid a ridiculous amount of money to have the same stone laid out the back, round the side and all the way out front of his house. This was all done in January at the same time as mine, but has only just been pointed this week, as the bloke would not point it until it was warmer apparently.
Ours looks ok, but is very light/bright - almost chalky. The grouting has lightened significantly and discoloured, with patches of dark, light and also green. Some of the stones have stained, mud needs regularly washing off. It is only 3 months old, but looks a little patchy to my perfectionist eyes. Hence, I want to seal. However, this guy who has done my mates patio, says do not seal Sandstone under any circumstances, big no no etc. Something about it being a porous rock, and also apparently he spends weeks at a time unsealing bad seal jobs. He is going to suggest something that he uses to my mate, but I don't know what it is yet.
So I feel confused - seal or not seal? I want to seal, but, am put off now...
Resiblock has been recommended to me, and I have found the specific Indian Sandstone Sealer which retails at 110 quid, which I thin is a lot. But I don't mind paying money if the product delivers. I have also found another sealant at 80 which claims to give a wet look. The directions for these is a simple jet wash, brush, and dry which seems common sense.
Now I have spoken to a friend who has paid a ridiculous amount of money to have the same stone laid out the back, round the side and all the way out front of his house. This was all done in January at the same time as mine, but has only just been pointed this week, as the bloke would not point it until it was warmer apparently.
Ours looks ok, but is very light/bright - almost chalky. The grouting has lightened significantly and discoloured, with patches of dark, light and also green. Some of the stones have stained, mud needs regularly washing off. It is only 3 months old, but looks a little patchy to my perfectionist eyes. Hence, I want to seal. However, this guy who has done my mates patio, says do not seal Sandstone under any circumstances, big no no etc. Something about it being a porous rock, and also apparently he spends weeks at a time unsealing bad seal jobs. He is going to suggest something that he uses to my mate, but I don't know what it is yet.
So I feel confused - seal or not seal? I want to seal, but, am put off now...
Sealed ours with Everbuild Geo Fix natural stone protector sealer - about £30 for 5 litres IIRC
Looks beautiful still (12 months on)
https://www.everbuild.co.uk/product/geo-fix-stone-...
Looks beautiful still (12 months on)
https://www.everbuild.co.uk/product/geo-fix-stone-...
We had some grey Indian sandstone laid last summer and has come through its first winter with just some expected algae here and there which was taken care of with a careful power wash.
The guys who laid it used an Easyjoint type compound for the grout which so far hasn't given any issues and looks good.
As far as sealing is concerned I did consider it myself but after doing some research on pavingexpert I decided against it, at least for now. IIRC it should be left for at least 1 year to allow any efflorescence to settle. Are your light chalky spots efflorescence?
There's plenty of information on pavingexpert about the pros and cons of sealing natural stone. I just clean regularly with a brush and some dilute water bleach solution and it looks good to me.
The guys who laid it used an Easyjoint type compound for the grout which so far hasn't given any issues and looks good.
As far as sealing is concerned I did consider it myself but after doing some research on pavingexpert I decided against it, at least for now. IIRC it should be left for at least 1 year to allow any efflorescence to settle. Are your light chalky spots efflorescence?
There's plenty of information on pavingexpert about the pros and cons of sealing natural stone. I just clean regularly with a brush and some dilute water bleach solution and it looks good to me.
I’m about to use this on my Indian Sandstone Raj Blend:-
https://www.smartseal.co.uk/patio/natural-stone/na...
£89 delivered, should be plenty for my 20 m2
Will get before & after pics (although next year a better test!)
https://www.smartseal.co.uk/patio/natural-stone/na...
£89 delivered, should be plenty for my 20 m2
Will get before & after pics (although next year a better test!)
JPJPJP said:
Sealed ours with Everbuild Geo Fix natural stone protector sealer - about £30 for 5 litres IIRC
Looks beautiful still (12 months on)
https://www.everbuild.co.uk/product/geo-fix-stone-...
Could you post a pic ?Looks beautiful still (12 months on)
https://www.everbuild.co.uk/product/geo-fix-stone-...
Jimboka said:
I’m about to use this on my Indian Sandstone Raj Blend:-
https://www.smartseal.co.uk/patio/natural-stone/na...
£89 delivered, should be plenty for my 20 m2
Will get before & after pics (although next year a better test!)
https://www.smartseal.co.uk/patio/natural-stone/na...
£89 delivered, should be plenty for my 20 m2
Will get before & after pics (although next year a better test!)
Half done!
2 coats applied, half an hour apart. I used roller, quite satisfying !
Does bring out the colour as you can see.
5l will easily be enough for my 20m2
Think I replied to your previous thread, anyway, we had our new sandstone patio sealed.
In a nutshell, looked great for about 2 months, then patches started to appear. Put simply its the water being absorbed from below. Now there is no evidence of the sealant.
Complete waste of time & money.
In a nutshell, looked great for about 2 months, then patches started to appear. Put simply its the water being absorbed from below. Now there is no evidence of the sealant.
Complete waste of time & money.
Oh, that's not good... in which case, Jimboka can you report back in Summer as to how it is looking?
I am still happy to shell out for a tub and simply see what happened, even if it disappears in a few months, at least I will know whether it's worth it or not, out of interest what product did you use and how did you apply etc?
I am still happy to shell out for a tub and simply see what happened, even if it disappears in a few months, at least I will know whether it's worth it or not, out of interest what product did you use and how did you apply etc?
Did this today. Unsure how I feel. There is a difference but it seems very subtle to me. It is still drying, pic were taken almost instantly after I applied. I did 2 coats within around 30 mins, and really chucked it on. Same product as above, Smartseal Indian Sandstone enhancer. £90 for the tub and the patio literally drank it up.
The first pic is before and the second is after. I applied in direct sunlight but it made sense to do this.
Will see what tomorrow brings, as I type it is still sticky.
The first pic is before and the second is after. I applied in direct sunlight but it made sense to do this.
Will see what tomorrow brings, as I type it is still sticky.
Some real life/real world trials of paving sealants here Paving Expert paving sealants
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