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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
still hoping that there is someone here who can help me with some
current wisdom on the pros & cons of real stone vs. concrete imitation paving...?! |
#2
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
"james" wrote in message om... still hoping that there is someone here who can help me with some current wisdom on the pros & cons of real stone vs. concrete imitation paving...?! I'm looking at paving a terrace of about 60 sq m, probably next month. We have considered a number of the stone-alike cast concrete flags from Marshalls, Brett, et al. We decided that the most appropriate concrete product was Marshall's Chancery which comes in at an undiscounted price from BuilderCenter at about £34 per sq m + installation (bedding etc.) We then went along to a local stone merchant, where they have imported sandstone for about £17 per sq m. You might argue that it's immoral to use a stone which has been quarried in India and then shipped expensively around the world just so I can put my table and chairs on it, but when it's half the price of the best immitation, it's no contest. As usual, www.pavingexpert.com is the place for installation details and links to local companies who can show you what's on offer. Hope this helps Neil |
#3
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
"Neil Jones" wrote in message ... "james" wrote in message om... still hoping that there is someone here who can help me with some current wisdom on the pros & cons of real stone vs. concrete imitation paving...?! I'm looking at paving a terrace of about 60 sq m, probably next month. We have considered a number of the stone-alike cast concrete flags from Marshalls, Brett, et al. We decided that the most appropriate concrete product was Marshall's Chancery which comes in at an undiscounted price from BuilderCenter at about £34 per sq m + installation (bedding etc.) We then went along to a local stone merchant, where they have imported sandstone for about £17 per sq m. You might argue that it's immoral to use a stone which has been quarried in India and then shipped expensively around the world just so I can put my table and chairs on it, but when it's half the price of the best immitation, it's no contest. As usual, www.pavingexpert.com is the place for installation details and links to local companies who can show you what's on offer. Hope this helps Neil I considered using imitation stone products, but I eventually went for a 'nothing fake' philosophy and went for real stone. It's more expensive, and more difficult to use, but it has the advantage that it will always look good however much it wears, whereas I notice that concrete prodcts look at first, but any imitation 'stone' profiling will eventually wear smooth, also the aggregate in the cement product ( which you can see if you look at the bottom of any imitation stone product ) will appear as the cement isworn away. Just my opinon, go for stone if you can, Andy. |
#4
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
"andrewpreece" wrote in message ...
"Neil Jones" wrote in message "james" wrote in message still hoping that there is someone here who can help me with some current wisdom on the pros & cons of real stone vs. concrete imitation paving...?! We decided that the most appropriate concrete product was Marshall's Chancery which comes in at an undiscounted price from BuilderCenter at about £34 per sq m + installation (bedding etc.) We then went along to a local stone merchant, where they have imported sandstone for about £17 per sq m. You might argue that it's immoral to I considered using imitation stone products, but I eventually went for a 'nothing fake' philosophy and went for real stone. It's more expensive, and more difficult to use, but it has the advantage that it will always look good however much it wears, whereas I notice that concrete prodcts look at first, but any imitation 'stone' profiling will eventually wear smooth, also the aggregate in the cement product ( which you can see if you look at the bottom of any imitation stone product ) will appear as the cement isworn away. Just my opinon, go for stone if you can, I agree that concrete is a second rate substitute. I was surprised at the £34 sqm figure, I just assumed if you needed to economise with concrete youd use a mould and pour your own for closer to £1 sqm. If economy isnt the issue then stone is going to be clearly the better choice. BTW will sandstone withstand saturation and repeated freezing? I thought it was quite porous stuff, and one of the softest stones. Youve looked at granolithic concrete too? I dont know what it costs but saw it in one building and it looked lovely. Regards, NT |
#5
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
BTW will sandstone withstand saturation and repeated freezing? I thought it was quite porous stuff, and one of the softest stones. Not all sandstones are created equal, as I understand it. York stone has been used for paving for hundreds of years and is still working OK. I believe some stones are subject to delimination when subject to the freeze-thaw cycle, but if you go to a reputable supplier you should get something which will last OK. Neil |
#6
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
"andrewpreece" wrote
"Neil Jones" wrote "james" wrote still hoping that there is someone here who can help me with some current wisdom on the pros & cons of real stone vs. concrete imitation paving...?! I'm looking at paving a terrace of about 60 sq m, probably next month. We have considered a number of the stone-alike cast concrete flags from Marshalls, Brett, et al. Another alternative I saw on one of the makeover shows was a moulded pattern pressed into the concrete. A colour powder was thrown over to colour it (obviously !) and act as a mould release agent. Not really my taste, but certainly an alternative for a large area ... Cheers Paul. |
#7
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
"N. Thornton" wrote:
BTW will sandstone withstand saturation and repeated freezing? I thought it was quite porous stuff, and one of the softest stones. There are many sorts of sandstones, as there are bricks! It can be friable and permeable, or otherwise. J.B. |
#8
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
thanks for this info
interesting that you are expecting a 50% cost saving on materials using this stone compared with the readymade moulded concrete version, but on the pavingexpert.com site i'd noticed it said "...stone paving is considerably more expensive than the concrete alternatives..." (http://www.pavingexpert.com/york01.htm) imported sandstone for about £17 per sq m. incidentally, how thick is the stone at this price? You might argue that it's immoral to use a stone which has been quarried in India and then shipped expensively around the world (yeah, talking of which, my guess is that the pay & working conditions of the labourers who quarry that stone in India are worse than atrocious...) |
#9
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
"james" wrote in message om... thanks for this info interesting that you are expecting a 50% cost saving on materials using this stone compared with the readymade moulded concrete version, but on the pavingexpert.com site i'd noticed it said "...stone paving is considerably more expensive than the concrete alternatives..." (http://www.pavingexpert.com/york01.htm) Yes - it probably is if you compare real York stone (ie from Yorkshire) with some of the concrete products. I was comparing the top of the range concrete (Chancery). Incidentally, Marshall's own real stone products (Haworth Moor) are also slightly cheaper than Chancery. It's imported stone too, of course, although they try to disguise it with the name... imported sandstone for about £17 per sq m. incidentally, how thick is the stone at this price? nominally 35mm, but it varies between 30 and 45. You might argue that it's immoral to use a stone which has been quarried in India and then shipped expensively around the world (yeah, talking of which, my guess is that the pay & working conditions of the labourers who quarry that stone in India are worse than atrocious...) Yes, well, on the other hand, if we didn't buy it they wouldn't have a market, or a job... |
#10
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re paving - real stone or concrete imitation...?
"Neil Jones" wrote in message ...
"james" wrote in message om... interesting that you are expecting a 50% cost saving on materials using this stone compared with the readymade moulded concrete version, but on the pavingexpert.com site i'd noticed it said "...stone paving is considerably more expensive than the concrete alternatives..." (http://www.pavingexpert.com/york01.htm) Yes - it probably is if you compare real York stone (ie from Yorkshire) with some of the concrete products. I was comparing the top of the range concrete (Chancery). Incidentally, Marshall's own real stone products (Haworth Moor) are also slightly cheaper than Chancery. It's imported stone too, of course, although they try to disguise it with the name... imported sandstone for about £17 per sq m. I just dont understand why the OP would consider paying twice the price of stone for inferior concrete. Regards, NT |
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