Journal

Technical notes for the UK stone trade

Specification detail on standards, finishes, logistics and material selection, written for merchants, distributors, architects and contractors who already know stone.

Impregnating sealer being worked into a honed Shahabad limestone floor with a microfibre pad — Impregnating sealer worked into a honed Shahabad limestone floor.

Maintenance22 December 20257 min

Sealing and maintaining limestone floors: a general guide

Limestone is a forgiving, long-lasting floor, but it is not a maintenance-free one. Setting expectations correctly at specification stage avoids most of the complaints that follow.

Specification16 December 20256 min
Why limestone looks different wet than dry, and why it matters for specification
A limestone sample that looks pale and neutral in a showroom can turn noticeably darker and richer the first time it rains. That shift should be shown to a client, not discovered by them.
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Sourcing10 December 20258 min
Ten questions to ask before you import limestone
Buying limestone direct from an overseas quarry removes a layer of margin, but it also removes a layer of hand-holding. Here is what to ask before you commit.
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Specification1 December 20258 min
Riven, honed, polished, sawn: comparing limestone finishes
The same limestone can look and behave very differently depending on how its surface is worked. Here is how the four common finishes actually differ.
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Compliance24 November 202510 min
Understanding BS EN standards for imported natural stone
BS EN standards for natural stone split into product standards and test methods. Knowing the difference stops a merchant asking a supplier for the wrong document.
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Specification4 November 20259 min
Choosing limestone for UK external paving: what actually matters
Frost and wet slip are the two things that decide whether an external limestone floor survives a British winter. Here is what to ask about, in plain terms, before you specify.
Read

Technical notes for the UK stone trade

Sealing and maintaining limestone floors: a general guide

Why limestone looks different wet than dry, and why it matters for specification

Ten questions to ask before you import limestone

Riven, honed, polished, sawn: comparing limestone finishes

Understanding BS EN standards for imported natural stone

Choosing limestone for UK external paving: what actually matters