Sandstone block above fireplace

[skier-hughes]

Is this common?

It appears to be quite some size, at 56" x 15" x about 12"

Unfortunately the gysum plasterers hacked great lumps out of it all over the face as they plastered over it.

What were they used for? Giant lintel?

I suppose it'll just be plastered back over, so leaving the chuncks will be best?

We have some other sandstone blocks in the outside of this chimney, dotted around, but this is the first I've found inside or any chimney.

http://www.myvideoproblems.com/testfiles/personal/kitchen/kitchenhole.htm

Graham

 

[Nemesis]

Are blocks holding it up?

 

[skier-hughes]

Bricks, picture up now.

 

[MdB]

Worth a direct link I think:

(nobody is on dial up are they??)

My guess - Large fireplace (outside bricks + sandstone block) is stage 1. Small fireplace is then built inside it as stage 2 before finally being blocked up as stage 3. I guess you will find out more when (if?) you open it up.

 

[charlie-ia]

thats beautiful! does it sparkle? we just found a similar shape block (though much smaller 2'6x10"? and without the tooling) on our chimney brest and it twinkles enchantingly. unfortunately its supposed to be plastered over.
i was always told never to use sandstone as hearthstones round a campfire as they might explode due to trapped moisture. our whole house is sandstone, including the chimneys. how come they dont explode in this situation? (the chimney hasnt been used for atleast 25years and is damp)

 

[skier-hughes]

MdB,
That was our guess.

We are going to open it up, but that'll come when I've nearly finished work in the room, as I don't want the unneccessary draft of an open fireplace just yet!!

Charlie
It sparkles in the small amount that isn't covered in plaster or paint

 

[chuckey]

Sandstone is extremely variable in its hardness, some of it can be cut through with a spade, other. . . I would try with a wire brush and see if it will clean up (if its the soft stuff). If its the hard stuff, I would personely sand blast it. Its a filthy job and because of all the gear you have to wear a very difficult one to do and it fills the room with dust, but the effect is really good, it'll add £10,000 to the value of the house.
frank

 

[Nemesis]

Sandblasting is very, very dmagibg to a great deal of stone. It will in many cases devalue the house.

We have fireplces made of sandstone - I mean literally. Apart from the firebars.

 

[skier-hughes]

It doesn't appear to be very hard, I'd think sandblasting it would reduce it to nil.

I'm going to try a gentle brushing with a stiffish bristle brush, then go to brass and wire if neccessary, just to remove the paint. It isn't going to add any value to our house in the state it's in, I'd have to remove the top 1/2" to level it off, then it'd be slightly recessed and look stupid.

Am I looking at plastering over it or leaving it open?

Graham

 

[Nemesis]

Try Nitromors and then a good scrub with soapy water. A green pan scourer is good too.

You could fill the worst hole...

 

[charlie-ia]

pink pan scourers dissolve in nitromors.

 

[chuckey]

Dont worry about the lintel sitting behind the plaster line, at least your edges look as though they are straight. Just chamfer the plaster edge to the block. Mask the surface though, because else you will be cleaning it up again.
Frank

 

[inwood]

I think these sort of lintels are fairly common.

Here's a link to a photo of mine.

http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/php...&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=fireplace

People will be pleased to know that this is now properly supported by stone work. I've extended the tiny 20-30mm bearings to about 125mm by putting a concrete lintel underneath - not strictly historic but safety outweighed that. It was a heartstopping moment when I finally took the acros out but it's now very stable.

 

[MdB]

Do you have an updated photo? Would love to see how it looks now.

 

[Jon Maine]

Hello all, I thought I would pop in to say I was still alive.

No sandblasting should ever be allowed near historic fabric. Steam cleaning with the Dof system is a good option for gunk on masonry.

My advice on this lintel would be seeing its relatively small area gently removing the paint manually possibly with chemicals but only if really neccesary. As for repair, if its a bit eaten away you can fill the divets with
some sieved crushed stonedust mixed 2.5 or 3 -1 with lime (nhl 2 or 3.5)plenty of water first and going back tending to it pushing it in until it has stopped shrinking. You can insert bits of broken tile or small brick as packing in larger holes to stop the shrinkage from being so bad.

If you sponge the surface over and leave the repairs a couple on mm below the surface of the stone it will look complete and tidier without being a dirt trap but show the scars of its history in a softer way.

Also in this area most if not all the dressed stone is called sandstone by the masses, to those who have been pointed in the right direction it is limestone, oolitic at that, despite its sandy appearance. I suspect that this lump in question is limestone too although from the picture I couldnt tell. Ironically in this area sandstone is red in colour not yellow at all.

This is what I started with with a very scarred limestone fireplace. Followed by after a bit of rubble removed and scars filled slightly shy.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f29/jonmaine/Northwinggroundfloorbeforeconservat.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f29/jonmaine/Northwinggroundfloortesting.jpg

Sorry piccies not the best but does show that the technique works well.

Oh and by the way Where in Italy did Middi come from anyone, or Middi ?
Came up in conversation and couldnt remember. Was it theAlmalfi coast where those big lemons grow??

 

[skier-hughes]

Glad you're still alive and kicking Jon.

Our piece of stone is quite red, I'll try and light it better and use a camera other than my phone for a better picture.

 

[Jon Maine]

If its red could be sandstone, I just get a bit frustrated because people describe stone by its looks rather than its true geological definition.

Whatever the repair technique is the same.

Good to hear you are still at it too.

Heres two more before and after fireplaces

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f29/jonmaine/Southwing2ndfloorpriortoconservatio.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f29/jonmaine/Southwing2ndfloorafterconservation.jpg

That ones a bit rare with the paintwork still fairly legible