STEP 1 - REPAIRING HAIRLINE CRACKS. You can repair hairline cracks in concrete with a grout made of Portland cement and water. Add just enough water to. Cracked, spalled or exfoliated limestone and marble should be repaired in a timely manner to prevent further damage. Typical repair methods include the following: Repointing requires cutting out failed joint mortar and applying new mortar that is finished to replicate the original mortar style.
Two treads and one riser stone in the front steps came loose. What kind of mortar do I need to reset them? At This Old Spouse they mentioned 'a sand-topping mortar mix, which is stronger than regular mortar and can handle wider joints. I mix it with an acrylic fortifier so the joints will be less susceptible to water penetration.' But that was for repairing a stone walkway, not steps. In our case, one stone has to support the other two, which overhang slightly. Do we need a stronger mortar, and what would it be called?
If you can post a picture of these steps it might help get you the best answer. If you're not adept at morter and the steps can 'balance' in place fairly well, a urethane bonding caulk (which can be had in light grey) will hold the stone together. You can use blobs or continuous runs of the caulk (held back from finish so it can be struck and tooled or removed after setting). They bond the stone and provide a semi elastic connection. If you need the morter joint for looks or to bring the treads into proper level, then morter would be my choice. You can use wedges to help hold it at the proper ht. While the morter cures, then plugging the holes if they're visible.
Usually the wt of the stone will squeeze out morter and be a pain in the rear for the novice. Went to Sears to buy sand/topping mortar.
Every bag seemed to be solid inside. I lugged a bag (which was surprisingly heavy) to the register and thumped it down onto the counter.
'Is it supposed to be this hard?' I asked the clerk.
'Is it just packed really firmly-or could it have been exposed to rain?' Sometimes you see pallets of newly delivered merchandise sitting outside the building, and we did have several storms last week. The clerk poked a finger at the bag. 'It must have gotten soaked in the storage area.
No, it's not supposed to be like that.' 'You had a flood in the last storm?' 'Oh, water gets in every time it rains,' he said unconcernedly. Very strange situation for a home-improvement store!::::: Right now I don't have the means to post a picture, but I can describe it. The loose tread stones are smaller than the rest because they had to fit around the iron baluster.
They may be light enough to so the mortar doesn't squeeze out. Will give it a try. Jyang949, Don't forget to use a cold chisel to - very carefully - chip the old mortar from the underside of your stones if there is some still stuck there. I wouldn't worry too much about the type of mortar or how strong it will be.
Just go to Home Depot and buy a box of Mortar Mix. Mix only what you need, maybe even mix it for only one stone at a time. I find that the boxed Mortar Mix at Home Depot sets up really quickly.
At any rate, wet your work area - not sopping wet, just kind of wet then smoosh some mortar, spread it around to a little over the thickness you think you'll need. Carve some grooves in it so the mortar has room to spread a little when you squish the stone on it. I recommend you don't worry about grout joints until the mortar under the stone is set. Just keep the grout joints clear of mortar so that space will be easy to grout the next day. One more thing - on some other part of your stairs, measure the vertical distance between treads. Remember that measurement because you don't want to end up with your treads having a vertical distance that's much different. Really try to keep that measurement consistent.
Keep a bucket of clean water and a sponge nearby for clean up purposes.
Owners can do their best to manage the stone, and there are a number of tips to help with maintaining stone, but if a specific problem gets too much a renovation may be necessary. If this is the case, it is best to get a specialist to assess and complete the work.
How can limestone become damaged? There are several things that can lead to limestone deterioration. Damage can occur through weathering, plant growth, dirt, faulty installation, wear and tear and human error in construction. Some of the problems that may occur with limestone include:.
Cracks in limestone can be caused by settling, poor installation, excessive vibration or weather. If pieces of stone are dropping off, then there is a serious issue. Once a stone begins to flake, it is almost impossible to repair and we would recommend for it to be replaced.
When liquids containing acids are spilled on limestone, the stone etches easily. Tile lippage is when limestone tiles are laid unevenly. One tile may be slightly higher rise than the next.
Yellowing can happen for a number of reasons. A degree of it comes from age but it could be from embedded dirt and grime An overlooked small repair can quickly turn into a much larger, costlier repair or even result in the need for a total replacement. Acting as soon as you notice a crack, flaking or spalling means that you save time and money, especially if the limestone repair is carried out by limestone professionals. Fixing external limestone damage The first step in repairing a building’s exterior limestone is assessing the current condition of the stone and assessing the reasons for that damage. Water is often the cause of damage to limestone.
Because limestone is porous, water that has picked up chemicals can seep into the limestone, creating a reaction. It is important to prevent excessive penetration of water by correctly installing a “Coping course” or “Capping” where necessary and have “drip grooves” under projecting stone features to prevent water soaking down the face of the elevation. Spalling or chipping is inevitable in limestone structures.
To repair chips, mortars can be applied and then potentially sanded. It is important to be aware of what products are used as certain adhesives and mortars will degrade the surrounding limestone. If there is clear crack in the stone surrounding the structure, it should be replaced; especially if the structural integrity is at risk. If the stone where the crack is isn’t load bearing, it is possible to repair with a resin. Fixing internal limestone damages Chipping and cracks can also happen on limestone features in a property’s interior, but there are other problems that are also common inside.
Staining is particularly common on limestone flooring. Spilt drinks, food and products that contain acid easily etch limestone. Coffee, vinegar and oranges, are just some of the products that can scar a limestone surface. To prevent staining, when cleaning the limestone surface, use products that do not contain acids but rather a proprietary cleaner suitable for applying to limestone. Stains can be removed using a proprietary cleaning agent designed to remove them but if it is deep, resurfacing of the stone may be necessary. Sealing the surface afterward helps protect the stone from future staining.
If in doubt about the cause of the damage then always consult an experienced stonemason. If limestone flooring is uneven (tile lippage), heavy grinding is required. This flattening will make all the tiles flat to one another and level with the grout joints. Why let the professionals repair limestone? Although deterioration in limestone happens there are ways of maintaining the stone to slow the process down. Thorough inspections can reveal surface damage and joint failures that indicate more serious underlying conditions. Early detection is vital.
The English Limestone Company provide limestone masonry for replacement, renovation and repair projects including window surrounds, flooring, staircases and fireplaces. If the renovation isn’t salvageable or you are looking to add a limestone feature, we also supply to trade and public for construction. For more details about our limestone masonry and restoration services, call us today on 01572 737 359.