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Replies

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  Torin January 10, 2013 at 7:52am

  Hi Jeremy

  Tricky one ! Has the drive been cleaned of any moss/grime buildup since last spring ? If not then this may help.

  Alternatively have a word with this company, http://www.smartseal.co.uk/imprinted-concrete-sealer/anti-slip-addi... they do a anti slip additive for concrete sealer but i am not sure if the product would be suitable for natural stone ? I have had some dealings with them and they are very helpful, what ever you decide do a test area first, or you could end up leaping out the firepan and into the fire.

  Best of Luck
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  David Cox January 10, 2013 at 9:27am

  If it is limestone - it will become very smooth and slippery over time anyway - limestone is soluble afterall and erodes (relatively) easy meaning use makes it polished.... Also (the limestone found in yorkshire anyway that Im familiar with) it seems to attract algae if its in any shade or moisture making it more slippy.
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  Steve London Stone January 12, 2013 at 11:50pm

  If those limestone setts are from India (I have had a look on natural pavings website and it does not say) and its very possible that they are, then under no circumstance use any kind of acid on them. Indian dolomitic limestones are sensitive to all chemicals but acid in particular will make a real mess of them.
  
  I've got no experience of the product but Natural paving are one of the best stone suppliers and would not introduce any products without doing their homework.
  
  I fully agree with the above though, some of the crap being passed off as stone is laughable. A couple of recent examples are rainbow and teak wood . Avoid like the plauge
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  Daniel Johnson III January 13, 2013 at 1:09am

  Woops! Limestone will get slippery and I assume as its a driveway its got a bit of a slope to it.
  There are supposed to be antislip coatings but these wear off anyway and you dont want to be going back every year to recoat.

  I think the only way to deal with it is to do a couple of days regrouting .. with a sharp sand mortar. Or... you can cut lines across the driveway with your grinder and regrout that. Its possible you can make it look natural.

  You would have to make your regrout a little bit proud... big fuss I know but I cant think of anything else

  Although it just sprang to mind that (I haven't seen the job) maybe the drainage is a bit slow .. maybe just cutting some runnels into the driveway to improve drainage could help a lot (i.e. take out enough mortar to create channels) ... or even a strip drain?
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  Daniel Johnson III January 14, 2013 at 3:19am

  David
  we're trying to find a solution to the slipping ... mortar like 2mm proud may do that and not ruin the look. Forget the science and british standards ... the solution is all that's relevant
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  Steve London Stone January 14, 2013 at 9:56am

  I think it would be good to hear back from Jeremy. There are lots of questions to be answered. It would also be good to see some photos as well
• PRO

  Tony Goodridge January 16, 2013 at 10:38pm

  I am actually suffering a similar problem with what sounds like the same products, laid before they purchased the property, although in this case it's the path that leads up to the house and a crazy 1 in 3 ramp that leads down to the lower garden which I have closed off for the customer and their guests safety. We have tried pressure washing and it simply doesn't work. I have recommended they change the path for perhaps flint cobbles. It's a shame as its a lovely looking product but as has already been said practicality first aesthetics second. Please let me know if you find a suitable solution. Good luck!!
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  Jeremy Bevan January 18, 2013 at 4:13pm

  Finally a reply from me the original poster. (Sorry for the delay in getting back to this vexing matter, just moved house and office so pretty busy right now.)
  Anyway thanks everyone for showing an interest, and to answer the questions raised: the paving is laid unbound as block paving, ie on a screeded sand bed, tight jointed so no pointing, as recommended. I have attached 2 photos, taken just after paving was laid, but before job finished, in February 2012. It is laid to a fall, as you can see in photo 2 - greater slope than you would normally use but had to be to take in existing slope of site.

  
  
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  Steve London Stone January 18, 2013 at 5:41pm

  "Tight joints are generally bad practice with any natural stone but with limestone the problems are made worse. If this was recommended I take issue with those who made the recommendation. It's the sort of thing a salesman might say, not someone knowledgeable and experienced with natural stone paving"

  Its a block paved driveway, the product is designed to butt up. In fact it has to butt up because its installed on sand which allows for movement. Also if it was installed on free draining bedding course, there would still be movement, so it would still have to butt up. Any kind of jointing used on sand or a free draining bedding course (both which allow for movement)would be useless in a matter of weeks, so the joints have to be tight
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  Steve London Stone January 18, 2013 at 6:11pm

  I've read all your responses David and to be fair you haven't addressed the slipperiness issue yourself. In truth there is no real response to the slippy issue, other than to rip up and relay, which i doubt the client is going to be willing to do.

  While I don't necessarily disagree with a lot of what you have said, you are coming from a very commercial angle, which is not as applicable, or important on a 10m2 domestic driveway