Sealing old and damaged sandstone

[gbshandymanservices]

Hi Can anyone help me i'm trying to find out how to seal some 'seriously' crumbling sandstone in readiness for painting. the cottage is well over 200 hundred years old and has had a half storey extension added in the early 60's? The extension is made using hollow block and later rendered. the whole cottage was then painted(fools). i've ripped out all the old cement from between the sandstones but a lot of it is in a bad way. I would prefer not to paint it but the upper level would never tie in with the original cottage so needs must. How should i go about sealing the stone???

Thanks Geoff

 

[Schoolmarm]

Have you repointed it? If yes, with what?

Is it the face of the sandstone that is crumbly or the edges of the joints?

 

[JoceAndChris]

How common is it for paint to go directly on stone? I seem to remember reading that it did happen in some very rural buildings, but surely a lime render would sort this out? That's what we hope to do anyway, with a similar problem.

Some pics would help! I was told by stonemasons that stone is replaced if it's really, really bad, and I haven't met anyone who's used the ( very pricey) products Womersley's recommend to consolidate the strength in stone prior to a painted finish.

 

[LadyArowana]

the cottage is well over 200 hundred years old
Thanks Geoff

At that age it must be a cave not a cottage :lol:

 

[gbshandymanservices]

We are going to re-point with lime mortar. The sandstone itself is crumbling. The construction of the cottage is dressed sondstone at corners and doors etc.then infilled using varying sizes of semi dressed sandstone. we have spent two days ripping out old CEMENT that was applied as a means to point and render and then painted. We have decided NOT to paint it!! We still need advice on how to stablise the stone and any suggestions on how we can marry the cottage to the half story extension on top!!! Lastly(for the moment) the cottage is built directly on the earth with NO foundations,if we use lime mortar to point to ground level surely this will act as a sponge drawing moisture from the ground. Can we use some other product, say for the fisrt few inches then lime mortar the higher areas? if so what should we use. We'll try getting some photo's downloaded so as to aid the thought process!!!

Many thanks for all your help
Geoff

 

[Schoolmarm]

Dip a sponge in the bath, lift it out and put it on the side. The water runs away it doesn't draw it up and hold it.


I don't know what to suggest if you are so against painting it. If it is really bad it needs rendering with lime.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Houses were and are very often rendered to marry the different bits of them together. As much as you like the look of the exposed stone, this might be the way to go. There is an awful lot to be said for the strength, beauty and breathability of a lime rendered and limewashed finish, don't think of it as being as boring and unattractive as modern cement and paint.

I don't think there's any product inthe world that can make wrecked, crumbling stone that's reached the end of its life better again. This leaves you with three choices, accept damage as patina, replace the worst stones,or render over the top.

I'd recommend you get some period property stonemasonsin, and email Womersley's with your pics, description and questions.

 

[JoceAndChris]

This is normally where Decopierre turns up. So, if anyone advises you to Decopierre it, tell them you are a person of taste and culture, and not after the sort of hideous plastic faux stone finish that might just about be acceptable in a kids' amusement park.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Lol!! I nearly put that in my post.

 

[worms]

built directly on the earth with NO foundations

Not that unusual. But...

half story extension on top!!!

:shock: