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Carpets of Stone
Swimming pools with carpets? Doesn’t that sound good? Indeed. Provided, of course, we’re referring to carpets made of stone granules and not soft textile fibers. Made of grit and gravel, “stone carpets” may not be as fluffy as flokati or shag pile carpets. They are, however, much more robust and easy to care for – and far more versatile.
Stone carpets are probably the most versatile carpets in use. Invented in the 1970s, they have become increasingly popular in recent years. There are many reasons for this: being robust and durable and thanks to their anti-slip properties, stone carpets are ideal in areas that are exposed to high foot traffic, for example stores and malls. Stone carpets can be laid on all kinds of surfaces, in both indoor and outdoor areas such as balconies and decks. You could, in fact, say they are almost predestined for swimming pools, saunas and spas. Depending on their area of application, regular vacuuming and, occasionally, a little steam are enough to keep a stone carpet clean.
Versatile Solution with Many Advantages
- Extremely versatile – for indoor and outdoor applications, even as a wall covering
- Robust, durable and non-slip – perfect for high-traffic areas
- Seamless and water-permeable – ideal for swimming pools and spas
- Easy to process – can be laid on all substrates
- Easy to clean – conveniently with a vacuum or steam cleaner
- Safe – free of solvents, isocyanates and tin catalysts
Robust and “Easy to Clean”
Stone carpets are ideal for outdoor use. Typical applications include driveways, steps, paths, swimming pools, and decks.
Mixed, Not Woven
Of course, you can’t use stones to weave a carpet. But you can mix them to make a carpet: stone carpets consist of up to 96% granite chips, quartz or marble pebbles with a diameter of 2 to 4 mm. These components are held together by a synthetic resin that acts as a binder. The term “stone carpet” is derived from the fact that – just like a carpet, and unlike tiles, for example – the floor covering covers the subfloor without joints.
What Keeps the Carpet Together
In order to demonstrate their strengths, stone carpets need a suitable binder. For example, SILRES® BS 6920, a binder based on WACKER’s patented α-silane technology. These hybrid systems combine the typical properties of silicones and polyurethanes. In other words, they possess high elasticity and mechanical strength. Unlike polyurethanes, however, they do not contain solvents or potentially harmful isocyanates and tin catalysts. SILRES® BS 6920 cures as soon as it comes into contact with moisture. After curing, it holds the particles in the stone carpet firmly together. If required, the carpet can be sealed with a finish coat.
Advantages of SILRES® BS 6920 for Stone Carpets:
- Single-component binder for easy application
- Transparent
- Solvent-free
- Heat-resistant and fireproof
- Fast-drying, ready for foot traffic in 3 to 4 hours
- Water-permeable
Swimming Pools with Carpets? Doesn’t that Sound Good?
One of the biggest advantages of stone carpets with SILRES® BS 6920 is their high tolerance to moisture. Instead of sealing the floor completely, they form a pervious layer. Furthermore, SILRES® BS 6920 is “breathable” and water-vapor permeable. On the one hand, this allows moisture to escape from the substrate and, on the other, water can drain off through the open-pored coating. Stone carpets are therefore well-suited for swimming pool copings or for spas and sauna areas. What’s more, the addition of special light stabilizers to the binder also makes stone carpets UV and weather-resistant.
“We sometimes jokingly refer to SILRES® BS 6920 as ‘GORE-TEX® for concrete’ because the water vapor can escape.”
Dr. Udo Anders, Business Development Manager, WACKER SILICONESLay Your Stone Carpet in Three Steps
To begin with, apply a thin layer of primer based on SILRES® BS 6920 to the substrate in order to ensure proper adhesion of the stone carpet.
Mix the stone granules with the hybrid binder. Add one kilogram of binder to approximately 25 kilograms of stone granules to ensure that the particles are adequately moist.
Now spread the mixture of hybrid binder and stone granules over the substrate prepared with SILRES® BS 6920.
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