mrsstonestore

Suppliers of building materials direct to the public have been weathering the recessionary storms, hoping for better times ahead.  Some have taken a proactive approach and invested in strategies to support their long term ambitions and success.  Among this group is Mrs Stone Store, a respected importer of Brazilian slate and Portuguese limestone, which is expanding to meet demand.

Libby Lloyd Jones, director, explains:  “Mrs Stone Store is a family business which was set up in November 2007, building upon our 15 years’ experience in the natural stone trade.  Three years on we have a large stock of products to ensure swift turnaround for our growing list of retail customers.”

Mrs Stone Store recently invested in a move to Hilton Business Park in Derbyshire, which offers easy transport links to the A38, A50 and national motorway network, a significantly improved working environment for its staff and 25,000 square feet of warehousing.

Here, the firm processes orders for thousands of tonnes of stone for a range of customers. Demand has increased of late. Libby and her husband believe this is attributable to the growing number of  homeowners and landlords who – finding themselves in negative equity as the average value of houses continues to drop – are investing in their properties rather than selling them.

Mrs Stone Store’s programme of investment also includes an interactive, online presence which Libby believed would be helpful to the business, its customers and suppliers. The site www.mrs-stone-store.com not only acts as a 24/7 global shop window but also offer practical fitting advice, best for purpose information, best methods of installation and lots of other really useful functionality.

“Customers can visit www.mrs-stone-store.com at 0830 GMT and see our real-time stock levels and place orders online, either from stock or as a future shipment from overseas,” says Libby.

“Mrs Stone Store specialises in the import and retail of Brazilian slate and Portuguese limestone, holding approximately 30,000m2 and 10,000m2 respectively at any one time. We offer a variety of slate finishes, including brushed and honed, and have recently imported a new range of uniquely designed mosaics.”

Asked to explain the popularity of Brazilian slate, Libby’s husband, Simon, says that it is much less expensive than Welsh slate and far superior to slate from China.  “Brazilian slate is also much easier to package and pallet because it has a flat surface unlike Chinese slate which often has ridges or clefts,” he adds.

“We also offer a range of calibrate slate which is a consistent 10mm thick so that there is no need to sort the product into different thicknesses prior to fitting or tiling, thus saving time and effort.

Thinking about why they are bucking the trend, Simon goes on: “We offer a very unique approach to our customers.  We provide our amazing ‘Concept to Completion’ support and I am pleased to say that many of our customers think of us as a project manager.  , shipping product – from one unique piece of material, such as a hand-split slate tile measuring up to 1200mm x 900mm, to a few tiles or a few crates.”

“We continue to consider all avenues to make trading with us as straightforward as possible which, combined with our knowledge of natural stone and reputable supply chain, may explain our success to date and optimism about the future.”

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Slate paving slabs are amazing durable products to install on an external flooring installation, may it be on a garden path, a patio or a driveway, over time these products weather & if not chosen correctly can end up looking awful. The most important thing to consider when using slate paving in an outdoor project is to choose a type of slate paving slab which is suitable for this application.

Below we will highlight some of our recommendations to you based on years of experience supplying these materials & passing on to you the types of slate paving it is best to use or generally avoid.

Chinese Slate Paving:

Generally Chinese slate paving is not always a good choice, initially once installed they look great but this appearance can soon deteriorate. This slate paving has a high lime & salt content within the slate & over time white blooming will show itself on the surface as efflorescence. It may start off as small patches appearing, but over time as water soluble salts move through the material they carry the salts to the surface. The water then evaporates and leaves the white powder behind. While efflorescence can become a problem it can be removed but it can take a very long time for this process to fully develop & long term the overall look is disappointing. Iron Pyrite (also known as fools gold) is also very common in some slate paving especially in Chinese slate paving. The form of iron pyrite found in these slate pavers can once wet, rust very heavily & cause bleeding patches of rust to appear over the surface. Fault lines in slate especially coloured slates can often indicate iron oxidization, this slowly shows itself as red veining or veins. While mainly harmless when installed indoors can when installed externally cause moisture to rise to the surface of the slate & during the process rust internally similar to what happens when iron rusts, it will become brittle & over time break

Indian Slate Paving:

Indian slate pavers are a good choice, again more so in the darker colours especially black pavers. Light coloured slate from India has a tendency to be quite soft & over time its layers can delaminate easily so you should stick to a dark coloured slate. Again iron pyrite is evident in these slate slabs but to a lesser degree and in much smaller quantity. Overall Indian Slate Pavers are a good economical option.

Brazilian Slate Paving:

Some of the best slate paving on the market has to be Brazilian slate paving. These slate pavers are very flat with no large clefts & can be hand split to almost any thickness. Brazilian Slate Pavers tend to be very clean and free from high lime and minerals and iron pyrite is not evident in this slate paver, overall the Brazilian slate paving is considered to be the best material available for using externally.

Things To Consider

Low Absorption Rates:

When using stone of any kind outdoors it is important to have a low absorption rate. This means that the pores found within the surface of the stone will not soak up moisture. When water gets into these pores, it can freeze, which causes it to expand, and which can shatter the stone. Slate is generally a good stone to use outdoors because it has a very low absorption rate, often as low as 2% compared to other materials such as sandstone which can be as much as 10% absorbent. Then again the actual absorption level varies somewhat between different types of slate, for this reason to get optimal long life you may want to research the materials you have chosen.

Layers:

When choosing a material try and get a few samples so you cans see exactly how it behaves. If the material flakes apart along highly visible layers, it may have trouble maintaining its integrity while suffering from weathering over the course of several years. Ideally you want slate pavers that are relatively no directional in the way that it breaks, and which shatters in chunks rather than lines.

Weathering:

When installing anything outdoors, it is important to be aware of the fact that this installation will be subject to the full power of the weather 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With natural slate paving, this means that some weathering may occur to the colours in the stone. This is not necessarily an unattractive thing. Many people love the rustic patina that slate develops over the years, which can give a project a classic, aged look.

Correct Slate Paving Installation:

It is extremely important that your slate pavers should be fitted correctly when used on an external application. If your builder fails to provide a compact even subsurface for the slate paving to install on top of, voids may appear underneath the slate paving, into which water could creep. This rain water may then freeze, expand, and consequently sabotage the work. Full bedding whenever possible is critical to minimize this type of occurrence from happening.

Sealing For Protection:

There are sealer’s which should be applied to any natural slate project that you are creating outside, which will offset many of the negative effects that weather can have on your material. At the very least a water barrier sealer should be applied to the stone after installation. If you want to enhance the colours and protect the stone from weathering, then you can apply a non yellowing protective finish to the surface, every few years.

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