Hoodoos at Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness AreaSandstone formations occur when particles settle in one area and become compacted by the pressure of overlaying deposits. This causes distinctive bands with unique colouring, including red, brown, white and black – no slab ever looks the same, ensuring that designs are always unique.

Tones can be identified with different regions, while beautiful sandstone formations have developed across the world, such as, the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, the Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia and the Hoodoos at Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Area, North Mexico.

Sandstone can adapted to suit almost any architectural landscape scheme – here, the Hardscape team reveal the advantages of using the stone:

  1. Known for its remarkable durability, Sandstone is resistant to weathering yet easy to work with. It has been proven to withstand extreme freeze/thaw cycles and does not alter in density or hardness over time, nor does it react to acid rain that can chemically degrade other stone.
  2. Sandstone takes on colour and character as it ages, darkening richly over time, rather than bleaching out and losing colour in the sun. The original colour can easily be brought back by power washing the stone, if desired.
  3. There is absolutely no maintenance required – no sealers or special mortars are needed as the tightly porous surface provides a strong bond.

Sandstone - Uluru rockCreating a contemporary finish:

Sandstone has a textured surface which is great for slip and skid resistance – an important consideration for public realm projects – available in a variety of finishes, including:

Diamond Sawn which showcases the full spectrum of colours and character of the stone, with a smooth surface that reduces the need for regular cleaning. Shot Blast – a secondary process to this – adds a stippled texture and exposes the grain to create an aged look.

Honed: A smooth, even, and non-reflective finish – similar to an eggshell -achieved by polishing the stone with a series of increasingly fine abrasives. This process also deepens the colour while maintaining its unique characteristics.

Bush-Hammered: A high impact pitting device creates an evenly textured, non-slip surface, suitable for high traffic external areas. This finish also lightens the colour and dulls any patterning found in a stone’s natural state.

Hand Riven: A traditional process which splits the stone along it’s natural bed and is usually produced with ‘fettled’ edge – a soft organic line, instead of a dead-straight edge – to complement the traditional character.

Hardscape can supply many different colours, types and textures, always ethically sourced from both the UK and worldwide quarries.