One of the finest british natural stones. Portland Basebed, also known as Bestbed, is the finest quality Portland Stone with a close pore structure and little shell. The stone is slightly less durable than Whitbed or Roach, and therefore may not be appropriate if a long life is required as a general paving stone, or in areas of very high exposure. Although originally used primarily as a monumental stone and carving stone, it has more recently been specified on high quality, prestigious office developments and used extensively for flooring.
Very tight texture making it ideal for fine carvings & mouldings as well as detailed masonry & cladding
Durability and Weathering
It is important that the results from the sodium sulphate crystallisation tests are not viewed in isolation. They should be considered with the results from the porosity and water absorption tests and the performance of the stone in existing buildings. Stone from the Portland Basebed is traditionally acknowledged as being less durable than Whitbed but it has been used extensively where a faster rate of weathering is acceptable or where its working qualities were required. It is possible to compare the results for the Basebed Stone from Jordans Quarry to those collected from buildings, exposure trials and tests on quarry samples collected by BRE during the last 70 years. This shows that the stone compares well with the traditional view of Portland Basebed. Previous research at BRE has shown that Portland limestone which has a low saturation coefficient (>0.72), a high microporosity (>11.0 of the stone by volume) and an increased amount of micritic matrix will weather more rapidly than Whitbed when used on buildings. The results summarised on these sheets show that most of the samples tested are of this type. The crystallisation test results show the stone to be Class D -E which BRE Report 141 suggests that it is suitable for plain walling and cladding. The results from the other tests suggest that soundest stone may well perform better than this class in the current environment. Where more severe exposure conditions are expected, for example high concentrations of sulphur dioxide or severe frosts, or where a long life is required (for example >50 years) then it may be desirable to use a more durable stone (e.g. Jordans Whitbed). When using Jordans Basebed it is especially important that the detailing of the stonework is designed to offer the maximum protection to rainwater and rainwater runoff.
Based on current research it seems likely that the stone would weather at a rate of between 3 and 4 mm per 100 years but it could be greater in severe exposures or on the edges of stonework.
(Weathering rates are based on the BRE interpretation of historical data dating from 1932).
These flooring / paving results are not from the Jordans Quarry but the nearby Independent Quarry, but the stones from the two sites are very similar and only Easton Lane separates the sites and at their closest point are only metres away from each other
Abrasion Resistance - EN14157
Lowest Expected Value 20
Highest Expected Value 29
Average 25 from 18 tests
Slip Resistance - TRRL Pendulum Test: Grit 120 (Flooring)
Lowest Expected Value 71
Highest Expected Value 86
Wet Average value 78 from 72 tests
Lowest Expected Value 86
Highest Expected Value 95
Dry Average value 91 from 24 tests
Internal Flooring
Jordans Basebed is suitable for all flooring applications up to semi-intensive use such as shops and offices with estimated visitor numbers of 5,000,000 with a service life without significant wear of 20 years. The slip resistance results of over 40 demonstrate that the stone will be safe in all applications
Honed, sawn
Cut to size from slabs. 20mm, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm
The average slab size is 1200 x 900
The floor should be swept frequently with a soft brush or vacuumed to remove any dust and loose dirt. Highly trafficked floors can be kept clean with the occasional use of a cleaning machine with a soft-padded scrubber/drier. For lower trafficked floors, use a mop with clean water, approximately once per week.
All spillages should be treated promptly with a damp cloth and with continuously replaced clean water and not left to soak into the tile. In most cases, this initial treatment will minimise any potential staining. However, it may be impossible to remove some old dried-in stains, particularly if they were caused by acidic liquids.
Bleach, household soaps and detergents should all be avoided. Tensid products can be used to remove most common household stains in Portland Stone floor tiles and should be applied strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Acidic products such as cola and red wine may attack as well as stain the limestone and should always be cleaned immediately.
Over time, the action of foot traffic on a Portland Stone floor will hone the surface and form a natural patina on the surface of the tiles. This action will allow the untreated tiles to develop their own rich tones and character. Despite the benefits of this natural process, it is random and will be concentrated on the areas with the highest foot traffic. For a more consistent finish, a sealant or impregnator will be required.
If a sealant is applied to the surface of the tiles, a barrier is formed and moisture can become trapped just beneath the tile. Over time, this build-up of moisture can cause discolouration and possibly even structural problems in the substrate. Conversely, impregnators allow the floor to ‘breathe’, so moisture can pass harmlessly through the floor tile and prevent the potentially damaging moisture build up. This is true of both water-based and solvent-based impregnators. For this reason, Albion Stone recommends the use of impregnators rather than sealants for Portland Stone flooring in most applications.
To some extent, all Limestone tiles will allow remaining moisture in the concrete floor slab (which requires at least six weeks to fully dry out) or the screed (which requires at least three weeks to fully dry out) to pass through them; this is one of the many advantages of Limestone floor tiles.
When compared with solvent-based impregnators, water-based impregnators have superior stain resistance but limited water repellence. They are also less durable and may therefore could require more frequent re-application; however, they are non-hazardous, odourless and have a shorter drying time than solvent-based impregnators. Water-based impregnators are typically used where stain resistance is most important, e.g. kitchen floors, halls/lobbies, receptions and internal wall linings. We recommend you contact Tensid, whose addresses and contact details are listed in the Reference Section.
When compared with water-based impregnators, solvent-based impregnators have improved water repellence but inferior stain resistance. They are also more durable and may therefore require less maintenance, but they are flammable and emit an odour; they also require a longer drying time than water-based impregnators. When used internally, consideration must be given to adequate ventilation both during application and drying. Solvent-based impregnators are typically used where water repellence is most important e.g. bathroom floors and pool surrounds. We recommend you contact Tensid ,whose addresses and contact details are listed in the Reference Section. Impregnators should be applied strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
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