Portland Stone
Sometimes called ‘The Queen of Stone’ Portland stone is widely used in Public Buildings, including in many famous sites, especially in London, including cladding to Buckingham Palace.
Similar in many ways to Bath Stone, it is 95% Limestone, sufficiently dense and durable to last for many years, it is not so compact that it cannot be carved and shaped to create statues and finely detailed works.
Because it is so pure and workable, it is mainly used in homes and gardens for steps and wall cladding where durability is important. Costing four times more money than many imported stones, it tends to be considered a specialist material, used by craftspeople to construct flights of steps leading into city houses. (See Steps, Risers & Treads.)
It is recommended that you seal Portland (and Bath) stone using a dry-treat stain proof prior to installation to protect against efflorescence and ensure ease of future maintenance.
Photo credit – Portland Stone Steps Ltd.
A magnificent flight of steps in a London Town House by Eddie Best of Portland Stones Steps Ltd.
