Artificial streams can be created from many different materials, including natural stones such as sandstone. You may have this left over from building a house or laying out a terrace pavement and now want to use it sensibly. In principle, sandstone can be used for the construction of a stream, but it must be treated to be waterproof.
Sandstone is well suited for the stream in the garden
Properties of sandstone
Basically, sandstone is considered soft and not very resistant to frost and other adverse weather conditions. This assumption leads to the conclusion that the material is not suitable for the construction of a stream because it is constantly exposed to water and its movements. But no sandstone is like the other: Depending on the specific composition, some types are very hard, frost-resistant and therefore good to use for the planned project. This is especially true for types of sandstone such as greywacke. However, you should not use soft and less robust sandstones, as they would weather quickly.
Seal the sandstone creek bed well
However, hard sandstone also has the property of drawing a lot of water - which of course is not desirable in a stream. However, you can make the material more or less waterproof using appropriate means. This is particularly useful
- Pond liner / liquid pond liner: inexpensive and proven, but visually striking due to the black color
- Epoxy and other viscous sealants: clear, translucent, brushes or sprays on like paint, easy to use
You apply the means mentioned after you have designed the sandstone bed and, if necessary, grouted it with trass cement or another suitable mortar. Be sure to elevate the edge of the stream slightly so that the soil and planting along the edge of the stream doesn't absorb water from the stream.
Alternatives to sandstone
If sandstone is too delicate for you due to its lower weather resistance, depending on the type, you can fall back on other alternatives:
- Use of hard rock, such as granite
- Model the course of a stream out of concrete (and embedded natural stones).
- Build a stream out of stainless steel
- Design a natural biotope with the help of pond liner
Simple pond liner is the material of choice when it comes to building a natural biotope. Pond liner allows individual design options because it is very flexible. Well hidden (e.g. under potting soil and stones) it is hardly noticeable.
tips
Instead of building the stream out of sandstone, use the material for decoration! Arranged along the banks of the stream, the stones appear very natural and enhance the overall picture considerably.