Mainsandstein Rot

The stone comes from the Main region in Franconia, and from the adjoining parts of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, for example around Miltenberg, Dietenhan or Eichenbühl. On the market it stands for red German sandstone with a regional identity. Compared with Obernkirchener sandstone it appears more colourful and more striking, but technically it is also somewhat more sensitive on heavily loaded floor areas. For facades and dimension-stone details that is perfectly acceptable; for intensive circulation areas it needs to be planned more precisely.

Technically the stone shows exactly this profile. Depending on the deposit, bulk densities lie at around 2,250 to 2,400 kg/m³, compressive strengths at roughly 81 to 92 MPa, flexural strengths at about 5.1 to 9.5 MPa and water absorption between roughly 3.5 and 7.2 %. Frost resistance is given in principle. At the same time the stone is rated rather cautiously as a floor covering, because its abrasion resistance and cleaning effort cannot match those of a hard granite. That should be allowed for honestly at the planning stage.

A honed finish is possible only to a limited extent and is not where the material's strength lies. The finishes currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down this page. At ROSSITTIS, Mainsandstein Rot is available as a raw slab, as facade elements, window sills, wall copings, stair components, window surrounds and for other bespoke dimension-stone work. For delicate luxury interiors it is rarely the first choice; for characterful building volumes, however, it certainly is.

The frank assessment: Mainsandstein Rot is not a low-maintenance high-performance floor, nor a refined design stone for every kitchen. Its strength lies in regional character, colour and building culture. Where precisely that is what is sought, it offers qualities that many more modern materials cannot deliver.