A main houses patio uses a wall of the propertys secondary unit to help create a private outdoor living space, Low water bills and minimal maintenance are just part of the beauty of this handcrafted backyard deck and patio, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, http://www.conproco.com/pdfs/ConproShieldMX_PDB.pdf, Landscape Paving 101: How to Use Bluestone in Your Garden, 3-Season Rooms: Fire Warms a Pergola-Covered Pennsylvania Patio, Terraces, New Plantings and Basketball Transform a D.C. Backyard, Patio Details: Hamptons Patio Invites Visitors to Unwind, Renovation Detail: 4 Popular Brick Patterns for Patios, Patio Details: Awning-Covered Patio and Playhouse for a Shared Property, Patio Details: Simple Materials Make for a Sophisticated Space. We recommend Concord Stoneworks. Similar to slate, bluestone can be used indoors or on a porch. But, I can not promise any of them will remove the black since I dont recognize the issue. Bluestone is a staple product in our bag, but certainly not the only tool we use. If your flagstone seems slick when it is not raining, there has to be a coating on it of some kind. Which of these four patterns is right for you? Sometimes we meet people that never knew this was an option and once they see it's a done deal. Pennsylvania bluestone is unique to its part of the United States. Bluestone is very dense and workable making it a stone artists dream. I would power wash and even use an outdoor cleaner such as CLR. Colorful, beautiful and easy to maintain. The most common situation where we see failure occur is when Bluestone is wet laid and water gets trapped under the stone. Is it dangerous to clean it too much even if its with a low enough psi? I am assuming due to all the rain/wet weather we have had here in VA for the last year, we have noticed several of our stones seem to be very slick when wet. Is this lichens, algae, or something else? We have a bluestone sidewalk and front porch. We have collected stones with seashell fossils, petrified wood, iron deposits and hold some of the coolest ones in our personal collection. Another example would be bluestone in the bathroom compared to bluestone in the veranda. Read on if you plan on installing a bluestone in your house or if you just want to learn more about general maintenance. Thanks, Stoneguy. Figure 2: Bluestone exhibiting contour scaling. It is, however, the only good stone cleaner I am aware of. I could just hear my young kids standing by the grass, unable to enter the back door via the bluestone! This causes the surface of the stone to "pop" which leaves a dimpled surface similar to a golf ball. great work on a new front walkway, would recommend to a friend and use them again for sure. Sometimes clients want the imperfect side down, most of the time they want it facing up. The term gauged refers to the consistent dimensions of the stone commonly created by laser guided saws and precision milling equipment. Sandblasting although very interesting does add a step which carries additional cost and skill requirements. I just had 20 yards of 3/4 bluestone put down and the color is a light gray the bluestone I have up front is a deep blueish will the new stone turn darker once the rain has hit it a few times? They range in sizes from 3 1/2 ft by 2 1/2 ft to small 10 inches x 10 inches and in varied thicknesses 1/2 inch to 2 1/2 inches. Combination of Rock Faced and Sawn blocks make this stately retaining wall design. Irregular bluestone cost less in material but is much more labor intensive to install than other types of bluestone patios. It is a hard, dense sandstone that is geologically classified as feldspathic greywacke containing quartz, feldspar, mica and iron. The striations (layers) do not commonly occur in limestone deposits. If your bluestone is stained, just add some vinegar and water to the surface and scrub it out, although you can purchase specialty cleaners for unusual or severe stains. Hello! Our job had a couple of challenges that required creative problem solving, and Jed made some great recommendations to us. Can these stones be resurfaced somehow? When I was looking for stone, I saw material from India or China that looked like bluestone but was very fragile and flaked easily. Required fields are marked *. We can't tell you whether or not Bluestone is right for your project. Depending on the density of the stone, the cubes are then treated in one of two ways. The treatment also reopened calcite-filled pores, allowing hydroscopic clay minerals within the stone space to expand when wet. Heres is a short step by step guide as to how to do this: There may still be some leftover marks on your bluestone. Less powerful washers will not get it out. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'whatblueprint_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',110,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-whatblueprint_com-medrectangle-4-0')};Depending on where you live, Bluestone can refer to many different types of rocks. Some it's just one layer, some it's multiple. Rock Facing - The process of chiseling and hammering the stone to create a controlled yet rough surface. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. These two zones within the stone behave vary differently, expanding and contracting at different rates when heated or cooled by the elements or soaked by rain. You can try to power wash it to clean and remove loose flakes but it will continue to do this over time. Technically all of the above could be also called flagstone since the term simply refers to slabs of flat stone. If we install more bluestone in our back patio, is there any preventative measure we can take to reduce staining on the new bluestone? This layering is also its Achilles heel, as bluestone most frequently deteriorates by delaminating along these natural layers under freeze-thaw and other forms of weathering. Try a local hardscaping dealer to see if they carry any of these specialty products. The domination of the hardscaping industry by corporate concrete makes total sense. Weak layers in the stone allow the stone to be separated into slabs leaving a textured and undulating surface. Installing solid-surface backsplashes is not only for functionality but can improve the aesthetics and overall design of your kitchen or bathroom. Walk around and put your hands on various stones you fancy. The varied thickness and irregular surfaces, however, make itmore labor intensive to install. For the sake of this article and for general usage, well be referring to bluestone as to any natural rock used for building purposes. Sandblasting leaves a surface that is slightly undulated though different from natural cleft. If they say that things have to be resealed every 5 years, I must be almost past the worst of the flaking. I had an extensive bluestone patio installed 7 years ago by a very good stone mason. Lol, Looking to remove deck approx 700 sq ft and replace with either a bluestone patio or a timber tech evolutions deck. All outdoor materials (e.g., flagstone, concrete, siding, shingles) are subject to some change in appearance driven by environmental factors. This is normal aging. As you can see this really does come down to personal tastes and style. From the initial estimate to their work onsite to the final job close out, they were timely, neat and professional. Should I worry about any solution they use affecting our Bluestone walk? You cant undo that, unfortunately. The experience of our initial meeting with Jed and from there to a quote, to adjustments to a contract and the actual building was a pleasure. Any idea what's causing this? Very often the "sawn" stone is then thermalled for texture. This provides non-slip properties while at the same time blending well with the outdoor environment. Are you sure you got bluestone and not a look-alike? Typical offerings include 1.5" and 1" thick slabs and thicker are available and commonly used to create counter tops and stairs. Concord Stoneworks did a great job restoring a retaining wall associated with a 200 year old barn foundation. I think you're right that the sealer was the culprit (even though it says permeable http://www.conproco.com/pdfs/ConproShieldMX_PDB.pdf). About 2 years ago, on the advice of a good stone quarry, I sealed with Compro MX to reduce the food stains and other associated problems that come from young twins. Great usable space! I had my bluestone turn black. That said, you can clean flagstone as often as you wish; it should not impact the beauty of the stone. At the end of the day though none of the pavers you looked at seemed quite right. Wash the bluestone and scrub down the areas that have flaked with a scrub brush. Frequently cap stone, stairs, and large slabs are cut from the same material due to their consistent makeup. I'm not familiar with the named sealer, but it appears the sealer was indeed detrimental to the stone.It was likely a top-coat type material that did not allow vapor transmission through the surface. Affected stones appear as if a 3 to 10 mm crust has detached, like peeling an orange. He was fair with both the initial estimate and the change orders we had, and our project was on time and on budget. More so the knowledge of how to work with materials that are not always perfect, not always the same thickness, imperfect, just the way nature intended. Theres a term called micro-climate in site development studies done by architects in which they observe how a specific spot experiences the elements. Flagstone is bound together by minerals such as calcite, silica, and iron oxide. These include: Depending on several factors, the sealant you use should be in line with the bluestones current use. It can be manipulated into numerous textures and almost any shape. Thank you for reading and we look forward to speaking with you soon! In this article, well be going more into bluestone, the different types, how to minimize its flaking and how bluestone could be used. It developed about 360 million years ago, when the seas pushed sand into the Catskills. Treatments for contour scaling are limited. This allows it to finished and manipulated in many ways. Bluestone is such a versatile material because of how the stone can be worked to fit all kinds of purposes. 2B clean, aka 3/4 bluestone, does not come from the same quarries as Pennsylvania bluestone but it is formed in the same environment so the same minerals are at work creating color. The salesman said that it stains and is hard to care for. They look natural and have been stacked up outside for years. Now there is a rusty stain the length of the nail on the stoop. A specialized sealant for natural stones is usually applied. February 20, 2019 It doesnt require sealing and is cleaned with only water and a brush. Architects and interior designers also utilize bluestone to differentiate spaces. SRW also makes a stone sealer. Bluestone is layered sandstone that comes in a range of colors, from a gorgeous blue to green, lilac, rust and more. At Sierra we provide nature inspired outdoor living areas for homeowners who want to get closer to nature. This is common in countertop and pool coping situations where a super smooth surface is desired. The same is true for your house but on a lesser scale. The color of flagstone is caused by the minerals in the ground which forms it. The nature of natural stone allows it to change over it's lifetime and even day to day. SRW makes a stone cleaner but Im not sure exactly what Penn Sandstone is so not sure it will work on it. Concord Stoneworks 2016 All rights reserved. Wedekind, W., C. Gross, C., van den Kerkhof, A. Modern stones do not have this legacy though the same structural characteristics hold true today. Flagstone is probably not a good material for a shower. Snapped Edge - Snapped edge stone is that which has been broken to expose a very rough and irregular texture. if left unchecked. link to What Tools Do You Need To Renovate A House? The only thing thats within your control is changing your materials nearby environment to lessen the effects of weathering. Last year I began to notice some flaking in a few spots. Several styles of Rock Facing exist and proper Rock Facing requires special tools and knowledge of the material. Both thermal and natural clef flagstone materials are excellent for any application. Im guessing it was installed sometime between the 20s and the 50s but Id love to know more about when bluestone may have bugun to pop up as a patio material in rural New Hampshire. Once weathered in it is often challenging to pinpoint the creation era of a natural stone feature. The only real problem is that at the time this article was written (pandemic 2021), getting your hands on most concrete pavers is almost impossible. The most common use we see is with countertops, hearths, and stairs. We have seen pieces of Bluestone over the years with a variety of imperfections. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'whatblueprint_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',115,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-whatblueprint_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0')};If your bluestone has already flaked, the only thing you really can do is smooth out the flaked areas and to reapply a stone sealant to the bluestone. Although they will not be identical, they will be compatible. When we commonly refer to Flagstone we are really referring to "irregular" flagstone which is slabs of stone that has not been cut or milled giving each stone a unique shape and appearance. - Bluestone gets hot. Bluestone is nothing new. However, I have never heard of flagstone turning black; so, I have no idea what is causing it. Thanks in advance for any thoughts! Is there an acceptable range of stone thickness for 1 Natural Cleft Bluestone and 1 1/2 NC Bluestone? We are renovating a bathroom and were wondering if any of the bluestone would work for the shower walls. Please help ! Timeless Flagstone compliments a 200 year old home. Sounds beautiful. In order to transform bluestone from the natural state found in the wilderness to stone that is ready to use in homes or businesses, it is cut out of the quarry into cubes. Think that might help? Lovely products, thoughtful landscape/architectural advice. Here is a list of why our clients have purchased and installed Bluestone in the past. Because the stone does not need to be premium selected it typically carries a slightly lower cost than mono color variants such as true blue.