SSQ Riverstone Architectural

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No two projects are the same – we can provide products to your bespoke specification – whether it’s for flooring or cladding, stair treads and risers, skirtings, copings or sills, worktops or exterior applications as town centre pedestrianisation schemes, paving and patios.

SSQ Riverstone is a natural stone product and is an excellent choice for flooring and architectural applications.

The Source

SSQ Riverstone is produced at the San Luis Quarry in Argentina. The quarry contains enormous reserves of the local regions most important natural resource. The stone dates back 560 million years to the Cambrian era for centuries Riverstone has been used by the quarry’s neighbouring communities and is prized for its durability and aesthetic qualities.

The Stone

clearly true slate and true phyllite, meaning that it is harder, and thus more durable, than slate. SSQ Riverstone has a slightly coarser grain size than most slates, which provides it with a rougher surface texture that imparts a more rustic feel providing the additional benefit of increased slip resistance. The hard minerals offer good resistance to abrasion providing a surface that would offer few maintenance problems in office and similar environments. If used externally, SSQ Riverstone offers good all round resistance to natural weathering effects.

Equally suited to domestic or commercial projects, SSQ Riverstone’s distinctive yet subtle grey/green tones will complement and enhance all environments.

SSQ Riverstone is a natural grey/green colour, but the different surface treatments means that the appearance alters dependant on the chosen finish and the ambient lighting.

Features and Benefits

Fire: SSQ Riverstone is non-combustible

Optical: SSQ Riverstone’s colour is natural and devoid of artificial pigments. It is non-fading.

Climate: The rock is resistant to frost and cycles of wetting and drying. The very low co-efficient of expansion means that it is unaffected by changes in temperature.

Pollution Resistance: SSQ Riverstone is stable with no adverse reaction in polluted environments (e.g. acid rain and salt)

Standards and Testing

SSQ Riverstone has been subjected to a wide variety of tests normally carried out on stones used for both internal flooring and external paving purposes. In addition to these tests a number of other tests were conducted to investigate more thoroughly the properties of the stone. The analysis concluded that SSQ Riverstone is ‘an excellent choice for flooring purposes’.

Properties

Specification	Test	Standard
Terminology	ASTM C119	Phyllite
Density, kg/m3	ASTM C97	2775
Absorption, %	ASTM C121	0.11
Modulus of Rupture, MPa	ASTM C120	89
Abrasion Resistance	ASTM C241	10
Weather Resistance, mm		<0.30
Slip Resistance:
Patina Finish	ASTM E303	Wet: Low (43) Dry: Low (59)
Honed Finish	ASTM E303	Wet: Moderate (33) Dry: Low (54)

Standard Sizes

Flooring tiles and slabs:

Size (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Finish
Size (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Honed	Patina	Flamed	Natural
300 x 300	10, 13, 20, 25, 32	●	●	●	●
400 x 400	10, 13, 20, 25, 32	●	●	●	*
400 x 300	10, 13, 20, 25, 32	●	●	●	*
500 x 300	10, 13, 20, 25, 32	●	●	●	*
600 x 300	10, 13, 20, 25, 32	●	●
600 x 400	10, 13, 20, 25, 32	●	●
300 x random length		●	●
400 x random length		●	●
500 x random length		●	●
* Subject to availability

Slabs (scants):

Frame sawn slab with manufactured finish to 1500 mm x 2000 mm

Sills, treads and risers:

Sawn strip with manufactured finish to 500 mm width by 2000 mm length

Paving and miscellaneous:

Paddlestones (tumbled finish) 200 mm x 200 mm, thickness to 50 mm

Crazy paving 10 mm x 25 mm thick

Technical and Fixing Details:

SSQ personnel are able to offer architects, specifiers and contractors a full technical support service, ranging from advice on the selection of the appropriate product, through guidance on the required detailing and fixing options to assistance on site. The support service is supplied free of charge by the SSQ team of expert technical representatives.

SSQ Riverstone floor tiles can be laid on both solid and suspended floors. They make an ideal finish on heated floors. The floor must be strong enough to accept the weight – approximately 30kg per m2. Concrete floors and cement screeds should be level and dry. New floors should be allowed to dry for at least 8 weeks before laying SSQ Riverstone flooring. Timber floors should be designed to carry the additional weight of the tiles. Additional rigidity can be given to the existing timber floors by fixing two layers of exterior or marine ply in opposing directions; this should be fixed using countersunk stainless steel screws.

Installation:

SSQ Riverstone floor tiles can be fixed with mortar or an adhesive, all tiles can be laid with narrow 3mm wide joints.

Mortar (thick bed) Method:

Wet the concrete base and remove any excess surface water. Apply a neat cement slurry to the surface of the concrete. Lay a 25mm thick base of 1 part cement to 3 parts sand. Coat the underside of each floor tile with slurry mix and tap the tiles into place.

Adhesive (thin bed) Method:

Use a proprietary adhesive such as ARDEX or BAL. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Grouting:

Allow the tiles to firmly set in the mortar or adhesive before grouting.Specialist resin based and cement based grouts are available from ARDEX or BAL. Again, carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for a good finish.

Sealing:

SSQ Riverstone flooring tiles may benefit from the application of a proprietary stain inhibitor. Some products will alter the appearance of the tiles to a greater or lesser degree. There are many sealants available, such as LITHOFIN.

Maintenance:

The hard constituents minerals, high density and low porosity of SSQ Riverstone presents a hard wearing surface and should resist infiltration of general dirt. This makes the stone relatively easy to clean and maintain. In most situations, little more than an occasional wash with water, possibly with mild detergent, should be necessary. There are specialist stone cleaning detergents available.

Cutting tiles:

SSQ Riverstone tiles can be cut with an angle grinder with a diamond blade attachment. Appropriate safety wear should be used when this is carried out.

Under floor heating:

SSQ Riverstone retains heat well and is suitable for using with under floor heating. There are many systems available, some using pipework and others using an electric mat system.

For further technical information on any technical aspect of the SSQ Riverstone Natural Flooring range, click here for contact details.

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