Sandstone Sealer

[quad121]

Hi I've decided to strip all the pint of the sandstone surrounding the front door so was wondering what would be a good product to seal the sandstone and stop it getting weathered?

Thank you in advance.

Paul

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Nothing is "a good product to seal sandstone". It will weather, but sealing it will set up a whole heap of problems that will make it worse.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Gareth, what do you think of a "shelter coat"; a colured limewash with fine aggregate in it?

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Lime shelter coats are not generally considered to be compatible with sandstones. Unless there's actually a problem, best to avoid painting anything onto stone, and even if there is a perceived problem there's the simple fact that everything decays eventually.

 

[quad121]

Thank you for your reply. I was just wondering that if there isn't any protection then being a couple of miles from the sea it will erode the sandstone quicker. As far as I know this has been painted for a while and it has kept the sharpness of the design very well.

 

[a twig]

My not so tame stonemason always says that dilute urine is the way to go. Slathering a load of that on once you've finished you're work.

According to him when he was an apprentice all the workers used to "go" in buckets so it could be used. I'm still not sure if he is having me on as I can find no reference to this practice what so ever. Anyhow... :shock:

EDIT: Just to make clear, I have never actually done this, so on your head be it...

 

[angrybird]

Urine! :shock: that will certainly keep the foxes away :lol: ... and everyone else when the sun warms it up!

 

[88v8]

I think he's taking the pee

Ivor

 

[MatthewC]

on your head be it...

And that's not to be taken literally either!!

 

[quad121]

What about using some kind of oil maybe linseed?

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I have to come back to the question of why you think a many millions of years old piece of stone suddenly needs to have stuff daubed over it. Sandstone sometimes doesn't weather well, but assuming it needs to be protected from the nasty weather is probably taking it all a bit far.

 

[quad121]

Thank you for all your points of view. I am going to strip the paint of and leave it bare.
Just one thing I noticed around the Windows there are four columns the two outer ones are some kind of gray stone and the two inner ones are sandstone? Also the 1st floor Windows has all four columns gray stone?
Is this something to do with cost? Or a structural strength thing?

 

[Roger H]

some kind of gray stone

Hmm. I wonder if this may be cement? Commonly applied to the face of eroded stone to effect a 'repair'. Any chance of an image?

 

[quad121]

Hi Roger, thanks for the prompt reply. please find a picture attached

 

[quad121]

Please find attached Picture

 

[Pennyviz]

Someone recommended this product to me as a 'breathable sealer', which might be an oxymoron ....

http://www.advancedsealingsolutions.co.uk/Invisiseal.html

Invisiseal.

Penny

 

[Roger H]

Thanks for image. The edges look suspiciously crisp for the age of the building. I wonder if it has been recast in cement? is the column/jamb that material throughout its length? Guess you need to strip the lot to see what it is, and how it will look.

 

[livias]

My instinct says that it is a precast ornamental surround. If so it can be very hard and crisp and a good original feature. Yes ... keep investigating
Something along the line of Coade stone or Pulhamite

 

[quad121]

I am in the belief the house was built around 1870. on further paint removal the two inner columns are sandstone as well as the ornamental piece at the top the two outer columns are possibly precast? which is also used on the curved parts above the windows.
Would this 'precast' material be used in the 1870s? or would you think this has been changed sometime later?

And Roger the whole length is of the same material. It is very hard and doesn't scratch easily which I would have thought that cement would be softer?

Why would this material ( precast etc.) be used if the house was built with it? Instead of using Sandstone throughout?

 

[Greg.Hobson]

I am in the belief the house was built around 1870. on further paint removal the two inner columns are sandstone as well as the ornamental piece at the top the two outer columns are possibly precast? which is also used on the curved parts above the windows.
Would this 'precast' material be used in the 1870s? or would you think this has been changed sometime later?

I start by stating the obvious - I am no expert - but I remember a TV program within the last year about the people who buy historic properties and then restore them to let out as holiday lets. One of the featured properties was a house above Lyme Regis (or thereabouts) that was owned by a victorian woman who inherited/owned a famous "cast stone" business in London whose production was very popular in its time and used on many famous landmark buildings in the capital.

The properties of the material included clean lines that maintained their sharpness - unto this day in many cases.

My point (eventually) is that such materials were indeed in use in the late 1800's and graced the best of buildings.