I wonder if anyone can give me any tips about exposing internal stone walls? I've just acquired an old stone-built house with some very crumbly plaster. Having hacked some of it away I've exposed some reasonable stonework - how do I go about repointing it sympathetically and sealing it to eliminate dust but without trapping any moisture within the wall?
Many thanks in advance
Jack
Try asking the building conservation officer at your local council who should know or direct you to those who do.
Don't know about repointing but I tried B&Q Exterior Stabilising Primer on a dusty interior brick wall with very good results - it left an attractive clean satin surface.
NB don't do this outside: without a topcoat, the surface will become milky and messy-looking every time it rains.
Hack it off with a pin hammer or whatever and wire brush and clean with brick acid if needed. Seal with a waterproof coat of anything you like and then hack or wire brush a little more pointing out (to remove the layer of waterproofing on it) and point with a lime sand mix.
The colour of the sand will dictate the final effect. Try a variety of mixes before the final step. You can use as much lime as you like even use it neat for a white pointing. About 6 parts sand to 1 of lime is usual. You can even use less as it is not a weatherproof.
You can also use cement pointing of course. Working with lime compo is easier and in my opinion looks better. After pointing, the stone will easily clean up because of the sealant. You might want to reseal the whole wall(s) again. There shouldn't be a damp problem.
Brick acid is one of the strongest acids, hydrochloric acid -worse than bleach. If you choose to use it you do so at the risk of damage to pipes and wires as well as to furnishings.
Re-point with a mixture of 1 part lime putty (use google to find your nearest supplier) to about 4 or 5 parts of a sharp sand chosen to give the colour you like. I use Wickes sharp sand which has a nice pinkish white colour.
Do not attempt to seal the wall - it will trap moisture and lead to damp problems.
Erm, don't?
What sort of stone is it?
Is this sort of thing fashionable again? Not my cup of tea...
Sounds like some sort of PVA based stuff.
J.B.
That would be my reaction. Or if you do, do what was done when these places were built and cover the walls with hangings. Or paint them directly ... In the past no-one ever wanted raw stone showing if they could afford not to.
Mary
Why do you say that? It can look very good, although certainly it can be overdone.
Painting the stone is the one thing I would avoid, on an an uneven stone wall I think it looks awful. But its all taste in the end. If you like exposed stone, go for it.
Regards, NT
No I wouldn't do it either. Like stripped pine it's a now slightly naff 70s fashion. Also can be dark, dust collecting and cold. Crumbly lime plaster is probably adding a great deal in terms of thermal conductivity and when its gone you might get condensation, cold walls etc. Mind you, it's ok in dungeons, cellars, cowsheds and can look really cool.
cheers
Jacob
replying to Michael McNeil, Looking160 wrote: I dont think sealing a wall is appropriate Michael. Walls need to breath, they take moisture in & let it out. Sealing will leave wall damp as no escape, crumble & then structural damage caused. I think rub on some kind of oil on the stone, it brings it out & stays looking darker for some time
Usual homoaners bollocks
Would you care to tell us the post you replying to, and which decade it was posted?
The OP is probably dead by now. Get yourself a sensible newsgroup client or portal. This is news:uk.d-i-y.
NT
That's how I recycle my old engine oil :)
Take care that building control don't take an interest in it (now or later). If it's an external wall then you will be 'interfering with a thermal unit'.
Robert
[snip]
I doubt if Building Control would have any interest in a 'thermal unit' that was 'interfered with' over twelve years ago.
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