Sandstone
Contents |
Material analysis
MasterFormat Number: 00 00 00
Traditional uses
- Structural
- Flooring, pavers, beams, collumns, doorway and window sill frames, walls, roofing, pillars
- Decorative
- Figurines, detail molding and mantle work, countertops,
Emerging uses / trends
Reclaiming sandstone for Reuse & Recyclability (Ensure reclaimed sandstone meets ASTM specifications before using for structural purposes)
- Example applications:
- Landscaping
- Retaining walls
- Walkways
- Fill
- Re-installation on new buildings
Finish and aesthetic qualities
- Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray and white. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions.
Surface forms / shapes
- Sandstones can fall into several major groups depending on the region giving variation to their mineralogy and texture.
- Sandstone can be broadly categorized into three groups:[1]
- Arkosic sandstone: If the sandstone have a significant amount of feldspar grains, it is called arkosic sandstone. It has a high percentage of quartz, but also contain identifiable feldspar grains.
- Quartzose sandstone: These sandstones have a high quartz content.
- Argillaceous sandstone: It has a significant clay or slit content.
Cost analysis
- Price varies depending on the type of Sandstone selected and availability. Further charges depend on distance and weight.
Material properties
Primary structural use
- Suitable for domestic and commercial use sandstone rocks can be used for interior as well as exterior purposes. Sandstone has a wide range of application from structural uses to simple ornamental decoration.
Material performance
- Exterior & interior applications: lifetime
- Damage may be caused by acidic cleaners, abrasive contact,or water absorption[2]
Dimensional and opening restriction
- The most common dimensions of sandstone on the market are:
- BLOCKS: Maximum 10ft x 6ft with height of 5-6ft
- SLABS: Maximum 10ft x 6ft with minimum thickness of 1in
Manufacturing process and assembly
- Sandstone is a coarse-grained sedimentary rock formed by the consolidation and compaction of sand and held together by a natural cement, such as silica. An extremely hard and tough material, it consists of consolidated masses of sand deposited by moving water or by wind. Largely the cementing material often determines the color of the rock, iron oxides causing reddish-brown or red sandstone, and the other materials producing white, yellowish, or grayish sandstone.[3]
Environmental impact
Sandstone is a type of sedimentary rock. It is made up of particles of preexisting rocks and minerals. These particles are usually igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks or even other sedimentary rocks.
Sandstones are originally clastic. They are generally found under seabed, riverbed, or under desert areas. Under the influence of some type of current (wind, waves, flowing water, or glacier) the layer of particles starts depositing one above another. They are composed of fragments or particles of older rocks or previously existing solid matter. The cement binding these grain are especially silica, calcites and clays.
LEED
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Life Safety & Rating Standards
Flammability rating
- non-flammable
Coefficient of friction
- Depends on how Sandstone is finished.
References
Notes
- http://www.sandstone-handicrafts.com/sandstone-uses.html
- National Association of Home Builders. 2007. Study of Life Expectancy
of Home Components. <http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_details.aspx?contentID=72475>.
Student contributions
- Sinead Rabasca, Spring 2010
