Stone Streets
First published in 2000, by the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS), Natural Stone Surfacing – Good Practice Guide, was responding to the following regarding their city center streets.
“The techniques used in installing stone surfaces which perform well, vary throughout Europe. They are based on semi empirical, traditional, guidance borne of experience rather than engineering knowledge. No unified guidance exists.
This guide has been developed to address this lack of engineering understanding and is based on a programme of research, tests and trials from which practical guidance based on engineering principles has been developed.”
Lost Knowledge
In the 1950’s as many as 30% of Scottish city streets were paved with stone. Beauty, long life and repairability headed the list of reasons. 60 years later, it was found that the traditional skills and knowledge associated with stone laying had been lost. These skills were generally handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth and little documented information exists. As a result, many professionals have commented that design teams can draw on little or no guidance. Others highlighted the need for detailed analysis of the performance of stone paving in both successful and failed modern uses. The result was this manual, now in its updated 2nd Edition.
Must Have Publication
This is a must have publication for design, specification and construction of stone paving. A digital version can be found and downloaded. These techniques and specifications all apply to porphyry pavers, cobblestones, granite pavers, and porphyry in general.
Porphyry’s composition determines its high compression strength, resistance to stains, slip resistance, and high freeze/thaw ratings. The stone is the most popular paver in Europe, and is favored for its flexibility in design, beauty, durability and low maintenance requirements. ADA Compliant Porphyry pavers are also adaptable to a permeable paving set. The stone is by far one of the most durable pavers in the world. These materials are available from Milestone Imports. – www.milestoneimports.com
