Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Cobble Stone - The Best Architectural Stone

!±8± Cobble Stone - The Best Architectural Stone

Cobblestones are stones frequently utilized in the street pavements. These stones are formed with the help of smooth stones derived from riverbeds. The stones are thereafter cobbled. Cobblestones are set into a similar material. These stones can also bet set in sand.

Cobblestone pavements let a road to become durable. It also prevents rut build ups found in dirt roads. These roads do not get muddy in wet weather.

Cobblestones that are set in sand and possess the environmental advantage. Cobble stoned streets are ideal for macadam roads. These modern roads cannot do without cobblestones. You would be surprised to know that many old streets and roads in Europe are still paved with cobble stones.

Several old cities including Pittsburgh, Boston, Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia are paved with cobblestones. If we talk about cobblestone architecture, several wonders can be seen in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. Most architecture of the Pre Civil War era have used cobblestones for walls. These days, you can find around six hundred cobblestone buildings are fixed as historic locations whereas other are still used as private homes. Cobblestones were also used to build barns, stores, stage coach taverns, schools, cemetery, factories and churches.

Here are some of the most common uses of cobblestone:

a) Footpaths:

Footpaths become very durable with cobblestones.

b) Demarking:

Cobblestones are widely used for demarking areas.

c) Pavements:

These stones can be used to make pavements using two or more than two colors.

d) Pedestrian crossings:

Cobblestones make great pedestrian crossings

e) Tree surrounds:

Cobblestones can be used to make tree surrounds.

f) Grass verges:

In many areas, cobblestones are used to make grass verges.

g) Grass patterns:

With the help of cobblestone, you can make best of grass patterns.

Other uses:

Cobblestones are also used to make pool surrounds, garden edges, speed bumps, feature walls, roundabouts, fire place surrounds, warning strip before school crossing, anti roller blade, skate board areas, feature walls, commemorative dates, designs set in concrete.

Cobblestones can be used via combining with other paving products such as granite, concrete, marble and ceramic.

Combination of green and grey porphyry and dark red granite cobblestones are used combined with brick paving for road paving. Dark red granite cobblestones can make effective and simple roundabouts. Black granite cobblestones and porous paving are utilized for tree surrounds.

Cobblestone are best utilize for road pavements. These stones make great material for these pavements.


Cobble Stone - The Best Architectural Stone

Sakar International Free Shipping

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Sealing Natural Stone

!±8± Sealing Natural Stone

The sealing of stone is quite different to sealing other floor types. When sealing wooden floors for example a protective coat is added to the outside. When sealing stone the pores in the rock, or the spaces between the crystals that make up the rock are filled with the sealant with no trace of the sealant on the outer surface.

The purpose of this process is to stop liquids seeping into the stone and staining it. A sealant does not protect the stone from physical damage as a sealant on another surface would.

So what is the best sealant to use?

Natural stone must be allowed to breathe. What does this mean, because stone does not breathe like we do. Stone is made up of a variety of crystals. Each crystal is made up of different minerals. The minerals that make up the crystallised structure of the stone determine whether it is marble, or limestone or granite. To maintain the integrity of these crystals they must interact with the air and the component parts of the air in particular the oxygen. Hence they must be allowed to breathe. It is also essential that any water that gets into the stone is able to evaporate by moving through these spaces until it reaches the surface and can evaporate.
Most importantly and a little considered aspect of stone structure is the interaction between the crystals of the stone and the many millions of bacteria that live in these pores. Very slowly research is demonstrating that bacteria would seem to play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the stone in ways that are as yet little understood. In order for these bacteria to survive and prosper the sealant used should be one that does not damage them but possibly promotes their activity.

Acrylic type sealants or impregnators should be avoided at all costs because they fill up the pores killing the bacteria and blocking completely the movement of water through the stone. This can ultimately lead to the stones cracking if the underside becomes wet for any reason. They are also very difficult to remove if excess sealant is applied and not properly removed whilst still wet. What you end up with is a covering of sealant on the surface of the stone which discolours and dulls it.

The best sealers to use are those based on natural products and made up of fatty acids such as soap. These can be applied in the normal cleaning process to top up the seal and clean at the same time. Any excess is washed off with pure water. Most importantly these fatty acids fill the spaces but not in a rock hard manner. Because fat is hydrophobic it repels water stopping it penetrating during any spillage so preventing absorption into the stone and subsequent staining. Being semi hard only it does not stop the natural movement of water through it so it can still escape by evaporation. Most importantly it encourages the bacterial population by providing another source of nutrient and a comfortable environment in which to live and reproduce.


Sealing Natural Stone

Buy Resmed Machines Lem Grinders Save You Money!


Twitter Facebook Flickr RSS



Fran�ais Deutsch Italiano Portugu�s
Espa�ol ??? ??? ?????







Sponsor Links