Effect of Salt on Sandstone

[Gone West]

I had a small piece of horsetail growing up next to the sandstone path leading to the house. I put a small amount of salt (NaCl) on it to kill it, as I often do for horsetail growing on its own. Unfortunately I didn’t know how damaging salt can be to sandstone until I searched the internet. The effects of de-icing on sandstone buildings in some Scottish cities is well documented. It’s a pity I hadn’t heard about it and this is the result. Needless to say I won’t be de-icing my paving with salt this winter.

[Cpd]

Everyday is a school day. As a stone mason in Australia I had to repair quite a lot of sandstone stonework that had been re pointed with cement as it causes terrible damage. 

[scottishjohn]

I take it that will be why there are no sandstone cliffs next to the sea?

Edited October 19, 2019 by scottishjohn