About Natural Sandstone

Sandstones have different surface textures which vary according to their formation. However, nowdays, the stones are fabricated to the desired texture depending upon their usage. There are seven main types of surfaces that are in use.

 

Natural
The natural surface texture is achieved when sandstone blocks are extracted from a natural or quarry face utilizing the bedding planes and vertical joints. A series of boreholes are sometimes drilled vertically and/or horizontally and the blocks removed by a technique known as feather wedging. The surfaces of the
extracted blocks have a rustic finish, i.e. a rough or natural stone finish, which reveals the natural grain and texture. This texture gives an undulating surface with great character. The surface comes with natural clefts giving a very natural look. Parting lineation, which takes the form of low parallel ridges, may be present on the surface of the sandstone. Sandstones are generally softer and more easily worked than other kinds of stone.

Flamed
Texture provides a rough, uneven surface. The roughness in the surface is a result of bursting of crystals when the stone is heated by means of an oxy-acetylene torch. Such a surface gives an irregular textured finish.

Polished
Polished surface texture is a reflection of polished crystals. Such texture brings out the brilliant colors and grains of natural stones. The shine on stone surface comes from polishing bricks and powders (carborundum) used during fabrication and not from any coating. The elevated hardness of quartz compared with feldspar in black granite or calcite in marble means that it is more expensive and time-consuming to physically polish sandstone.

Honed
The honed texture is produced by grinding a surface with high grit material to a uniform specification, such that it does not produce a reflective surface. Thus honed stone colors are not as vibrant as polished stones. A smooth finish with a slight sheen is produced by using a polishing head. This surface is very smooth, but often very porous.

Bush Hammered
A pounding action using a hammer enables a textured surface to be formed. The top surface is pneumatically tooled to produce a pitted or grooved surface finish.

Sawn
Sawn surface is coarsely polished leaving a semi-smooth, regular finish. It is achieved by using a gang saw.

Sand Blasted
Producing a finish similar to cleft, sand blasting involves projecting a high-pressure airline coarse-grained grit onto the top surface of the stone. It is characterized by a textured surface with a matte gloss.

 

Sandstone has several benefits:

• It is easy to install
• It is durable and versatile
• It can be produced in a wide range of dimensions
• An economic benefit is that it will last a lifetime, since it is very hard wearing, ages very well retaining its colour and is generally unaffected by air pollutants or acid rain.

Sandstone is suitable for both domestic and commercial use. It is highly acclaimed for its natural beauty that makes it useful for interior as well as exterior decoration. Because of its architectural properties, sandstone is a suitable medium that is used to clad walls and floors and churn out an enamoring range of handcrafted artifacts such as garden ornaments, sculptures and other decorative items.

Underwritten by: Dr. Douglas Cole | Geologist at Council for Geoscience SA
Initial Design by Ricardo Kinshella | Website by The D3signs Studio