Would shale be a good choice of building materiel in a wet climate?

Answer 1

When mixed as part of concrete (E.G for a building foundation or hard-standing), yes, shale is an excellent building material. Do NOT confuse concrete with cement or mortar. Mortar is useless and unworkable if you put shale in it! Boring holes into shale-concrete is labourious work, so if you intend to do that I suggest you make the mixture lighter on shale the closer to the surface you get. It is not very usefull by itself, and would not make a suitable foundation for any structure. As a decorative feature, shale is an easy and visually pleasing way of (for example) resurfacing a drive, pathway or patio, although if placed directly onto soft soil it will sink and become part of the topsoil relatively quickly. Above all, it is cheap and readily available.

Answer 2

Diorite is a hard igneous rock that is very strong and thus provides excellent support for structures. Shale is a sedimentary rock derived from clay. It has weak bedding planes and may be prone to shear failure along these planes. Thus, in general, diorite would provide much support for the building.

Answer 3

i think shale would be a good building material but not in the wet climate because it may desolve

Answer 4

no shale would not be a good shale because it is a dry sedement

Answer 5

Either could support a building if they were thick enough; diorite, however, would have a much greater tenacity (resistance to breakage) than would shale, which is fissile.

Answer 6

no not porous