End-grain cobbles were a well-known 19th Century flooring, paving and road surfacing product. This was often manufactured from high density, high durability hardwood timbers to provide excellent wear resistance. Another approach was to use durable softwoods including Douglas fir and Cedar, or to treat less-durable softwoods with preservatives, oils and creosotes. Wood paving remained popular as a road surface until the motorcar replaced horse-drawn vehicles, but use has continued in many mews and stables to this day. Cobbles also saw extensive use in the 1920s in engineering shops and factories to provide a more forgiving surface if metal components were dropped. A modern resurgence of interest was harnessed by the Endgrain project, and investigated applications in designer floorings and paving for pedestrianised areas or cycle tracks. This paper reports work undertaken for the Endgrain project to consider resin treatment as a method of enhancing the durability and wear resistance of Welsh grown Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) for flooring and paving applications.

A resin modification was conducted on blocks of 90 x 100mm cross section and three different longitudinal dimensions (20mm, 40mm and 70mm), using phenol formaldehyde. Resin uptake at time of treatment, and weight percent gain (WPG) after curing were evaluated, and revealed permeability differences between pine and beech. Treated and untreated cobbles were exposed to two cycles of soaking, freezing and thawing to investigate stability under a range of weather conditions likely in exterior applications. The PF resin treated end grain cobbles were more stable than untreated cobbles of the same species, and have potential for exterior applications. Issues for further consideration and product development are discussed and highlighted.