My building has some deteriorating sandstone. It's about 100 years
old.

As far as I can tell, there is just one area that is causing a
problem.

Can anyone suggest the best / simplest way to tidy it up?

Pic below:
http://i35.tinypic.com/34ikep2.jpg

"Bodger" wrote in message
...
My building has some deteriorating sandstone. It's about 100 years
old.

As far as I can tell, there is just one area that is causing a
problem.

Can anyone suggest the best / simplest way to tidy it up?

Pic below:
http://i35.tinypic.com/34ikep2.jpg


Tidy it up! that looks like seious structural damage? although one cannot
tell from that angle so would need another pic taken from outside.

On Jul 30, 12:43*pm, Bodger wrote:
My building has some deteriorating sandstone. It's about 100 years
old.

As far as I can tell, there is just one area that is causing a
problem.

Can anyone suggest the best / simplest way to tidy it up?

Pic below:http://i35.tinypic.com/34ikep2.jpg

If its just one block doing that then I wouldnt worry about structural
issues. Theres a specialist company that makes custom fillers to match
any stone type, but I dont remember the name. One of my notes says
Rose of Jericho, but I dont know if thats the one or just a general
purpose filler they do. Best ask on periodpropertyuk forum, they
should know.

Replacing the block with matching stone is the other option of course,
more reliable but rather more work.


NT

Bodger wrote:

My building has some deteriorating sandstone. It's about 100 years
old.

As far as I can tell, there is just one area that is causing a
problem.

Can anyone suggest the best / simplest way to tidy it up?

Pic below:
http://i35.tinypic.com/34ikep2.jpg



That is most likely to be frost damage, unless there are any
structural issues which you have not explained or are hidden.

Your best bet is to contact a stonemason who will cut and fit new
stone(s) to match the original.

That looks like a significant sized lump is about to detach!

There also looks to be some sort of coating (masonry paint?) over the
sandstone. That can trap moisture and lead to cracking through freeze/
thaw cycles.

If you can clean up the area, to get back to good solid (and bare)
masonry - consider a waterproof coating like Liquid Plastics K501 (a
silane/siloxane based treatment) - you won't find thee in the diy
stores - I ordered direct from liquid plastics.

On 30 Jul, 15:24, " wrote:
That looks like a significant sized lump is about to detach!

There also looks to be some sort of coating (masonry paint?) over the
sandstone. That can trap moisture and lead to cracking through freeze/
thaw cycles.

If you can clean up the area, to get back to good solid (and bare)
masonry - consider a waterproof coating like Liquid Plastics K501 (a
silane/siloxane based treatment) - you won't find thee in the diy
stores - I ordered direct from liquid plastics.

Thanks for the replies. It is one isolated area and I don't think
there are any structural issues at all. The lump that is flaking is
not as big as it looks in the pictures.

I appreciate the suggestions.

Bodger wrote:
On 30 Jul, 15:24, " wrote:
That looks like a significant sized lump is about to detach!

There also looks to be some sort of coating (masonry paint?) over the
sandstone. That can trap moisture and lead to cracking through
freeze/ thaw cycles.

If you can clean up the area, to get back to good solid (and bare)
masonry - consider a waterproof coating like Liquid Plastics K501 (a
silane/siloxane based treatment) - you won't find thee in the diy
stores - I ordered direct from liquid plastics.

Thanks for the replies. It is one isolated area and I don't think
there are any structural issues at all. The lump that is flaking is
not as big as it looks in the pictures.

I appreciate the suggestions.

Don't try to patch it up with ordinary sand and cement because it doesn't
stick

"Bodger" wrote in message
...
On 30 Jul, 15:24, " wrote:
That looks like a significant sized lump is about to detach!

There also looks to be some sort of coating (masonry paint?) over the
sandstone. That can trap moisture and lead to cracking through freeze/
thaw cycles.

If you can clean up the area, to get back to good solid (and bare)
masonry - consider a waterproof coating like Liquid Plastics K501 (a
silane/siloxane based treatment) - you won't find thee in the diy
stores - I ordered direct from liquid plastics.

Thanks for the replies. It is one isolated area and I don't think
there are any structural issues at all. The lump that is flaking is
not as big as it looks in the pictures.

I appreciate the suggestions.

In that case use a resin type filler but drill some holes in the affected
area,fit rawl plugs and screw in some brass screws to act as an anchorage
for the filler.

On 30 Jul, 17:24, "George" wrote:
"Bodger" wrote in message

...



On 30 Jul, 15:24, " wrote:
That looks like a significant sized lump is about to detach!

There also looks to be some sort of coating (masonry paint?) over the
sandstone. That can trap moisture and lead to cracking through freeze/
thaw cycles.

If you can clean up the area, to get back to good solid (and bare)
masonry - consider a waterproof coating like Liquid Plastics K501 (a
silane/siloxane based treatment) - you won't find thee in the diy
stores - I ordered direct from liquid plastics.

Thanks for the replies. It is one isolated area and I don't think
there are any structural issues at all. The lump that is flaking is
not as big as it looks in the pictures.

I appreciate the suggestions.

In that case use a resin type filler but drill some holes in the affected
area,fit rawl plugs and screw in some brass screws to act as an anchorage
for the filler.

Would these resins be available in hardware shops or building
suppliers?

On 30 Jul, 15:24, " wrote:
That looks like a significant sized lump is about to detach!

There also looks to be some sort of coating (masonry paint?) over the
sandstone. That can trap moisture and lead to cracking through freeze/
thaw cycles.

If you can clean up the area, to get back to good solid (and bare)
masonry - consider a waterproof coating like Liquid Plastics K501 (a
silane/siloxane based treatment) - you won't find thee in the diy
stores - I ordered direct from liquid plastics.

Actually, having looked at it again, what I thought was flaking of the
stone does appear to be some sort of coating - perhaps applied when
the windows were put in?

On 30 Jul, 12:43, Bodger wrote:
My building has some deteriorating sandstone. It's about 100 years
old.
....
Pic below:http://i35.tinypic.com/34ikep2.jpg

That's not, as far as I can see, deteriorating sandstone, it's cracked
and peeling render. It's probably been blown by frost - if water
freezes behind the render, you can imagine the results.

You probably ought to start by examining what's under it - I'd
carefully remove some of the clearly loose flakes and have a look.

You probably need to strip off the blown areas, allow it to dry out,
make good any damaged brick or stone under the render, and finally re-
render.

This advice is worth at least what you paid for it...

On 31 Jul, 09:26, wrote:
On 30 Jul, 12:43, Bodger wrote:

My building has some deteriorating sandstone. It's about 100 years
old.
...
Pic below:http://i35.tinypic.com/34ikep2.jpg

That's not, as far as I can see, deteriorating sandstone, it's cracked
and peeling render. It's probably been blown by frost - if water
freezes behind the render, you can imagine the results.

You probably ought to start by examining what's under it - I'd
carefully remove some of the clearly loose flakes and have a look.

You probably need to strip off the blown areas, allow it to dry out,
make good any damaged brick or stone under the render, and finally re-
render.

This advice is worth at least what you paid for it...

Thanks. your cheque is in the post.

On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:43:36 -0700 (PDT), Bodger
wrote:

My building has some deteriorating sandstone. It's about 100 years
old.

As far as I can tell, there is just one area that is causing a
problem.

Can anyone suggest the best / simplest way to tidy it up?

Pic below:
http://i35.tinypic.com/34ikep2.jpg

Looks very similar to what you see on a lot of Glasgow Red Sandstone
Tenements . Years ago when grants were available to sandblast them
they had some sections repaired by applying a suitably coloured
"stuff" and now you see it peeling off and that in the picture is
exactly what it looks like. The word "Spalling" comes to mind for some
reason .