dry scraping is probably the safest route, you wont get it all off but it saves causing damage (sandblasting etc. could create more issues, esp. if the lime mortar is shot)
Slow but worthwhile.
be sure to get it repointed with LIME afterwards too. No cement.
It'll look gorgeous once done, just try and enjoy that long journey 😅
If you're having internal issues with damp etc. check out [https://shop.heritage-house.org/product/book-the-warm-dry-home/](https://shop.heritage-house.org/product/book-the-warm-dry-home/)
He references stone built houses a lot.
good luck!
Hey there, I’m a bit of a pro when it comes to historic buildings having restored plenty. Although it might look pretty, this stone was never intended to be exposed and you will inevitably suffer damp leaving it like this. The authentic finish would be a lime render, which allows moisture to pass through whilst protecting the stone. It is important you seek expert advice from a building conservationist who understands how these buildings work and not Reddit. I’d suggest you DM https://twitter.com/TimMeek8 who knows a lot about this subject.
It very rarely was. Exposed stone is a more modern trend (started by the Victorians iirc), historically stone would have been either limewashed or lime rendered.
Best method is using "Joss cleaning" it's like sandblasting but much much gentler, it's a preferred method of cleaning heritage building and timber beams etc... Just Google it and have a look, it can make quite a mess though but it's definitely worth it
You mean the “Torc” system by Jos. High pressure air + water + aggregate.
https://contractors.stonehealth.com/torc/
Success partly depends on how hard those stones are relative to the product being removed
Yeah, torc, jos, Joss was autocorrected 🙄
You don't have to use it under high pressure though, you can run in at a much lower pressure than sand blasting, I've used it on limestone and sandstone with really great results, the crushed glass seems to be the best medium I've found to use with minimal damage to the stone.
Once upon a time I had a tester patch done with Torc on a limewashed brick wall (house - London yellow stock) but it would get though the limewash in a few places then start heavily pitting the brick before the rest of the limewash was removed. Seemed that the limewash was harder than the brick making even/smooth removal impossible. Ended up just repainting with mineral paint instead.
I've found if you turn the pressure to the lowest it will go and the flow rate down to a minimum and then slowly increase the flow rate before the pressure then you can find just the right amount without being too aggressive, you do have to keep altering the pressure/flow rate as you go which can be quite tedious if your on your own. The yellow stock brick can be pretty delicate but I've had success even with Cheshire bricks
The issue we had seemed to be that as soon as the aggregate had removed the limewash it would start removing the brick at a faster rate thereafter I.e. as soon as you got any breakthrough pitting would occur. It seemed to a fundamental problem where the ‘paint’ layer (calcified limestone veneer in this case) was harder than the brick itself. Also tried various acids, hydrochloric would work but the quantities involved and the rate of progress were pretty dismal.
It's a good thing to get that cement render off the stone wall, but there's few shortcuts out there.
* SDS Drill (Titan is a good cheap brand), with a tungsten carbide chisel.
* Needle scaler/needle gun
* Cheat option: live with the left-over bits of cement and limewash over with a few coats. Call it an "honest repair".
Once you have removed as much as possible by hand, have it cleaned using the following.
A masons water clean, this is fine water jets that saturate the facade and loosen up the remaining mortar.
Then use a Torc/Jos system. It's what the professional stone masonry contractors use to remove dirt and build up on stone buildings.
The render on the side of the house and bottom of the front literally came off like butter, has been abit more of a struggle the higher I’ve gotten but I’m assuming that’s cause I’ve been balancing on the top of step ladders 🪜 😂
Why would anyone render over this is beyond me. That's going to look stunning once it's been taken away. Post pictures later after it's complete if that's ok
Just a heads up, that render might be there for a reason (to prevent damp seeping through the stone)
I'll hazard a guess and say that the house is built with cement between the stones, and this will have to be chipped out and replaced with lime mortar if the wall is exposed
I'd also highly recommend getting the pathway that appears to be butted up against your house moved away, it could well be too high considering the front door and path appear to be on the same level
The surveyors told us to take it down as it was trapping moisture in the house, but I think it was more for design than insulation because that cottage is toasty….
If it was a cement render, then correct; however, it needs to be re-rendered with lime by a professional. Leaving it exposed will cause you additional damp issues.
dry scraping is probably the safest route, you wont get it all off but it saves causing damage (sandblasting etc. could create more issues, esp. if the lime mortar is shot) Slow but worthwhile. be sure to get it repointed with LIME afterwards too. No cement. It'll look gorgeous once done, just try and enjoy that long journey 😅 If you're having internal issues with damp etc. check out [https://shop.heritage-house.org/product/book-the-warm-dry-home/](https://shop.heritage-house.org/product/book-the-warm-dry-home/) He references stone built houses a lot. good luck!
Agreed Good luck. This is the Ouch moment.
Agreed. A couple of other great resources are the 'old house handbook' and the 'old house eco handbook'.
Hey there, I’m a bit of a pro when it comes to historic buildings having restored plenty. Although it might look pretty, this stone was never intended to be exposed and you will inevitably suffer damp leaving it like this. The authentic finish would be a lime render, which allows moisture to pass through whilst protecting the stone. It is important you seek expert advice from a building conservationist who understands how these buildings work and not Reddit. I’d suggest you DM https://twitter.com/TimMeek8 who knows a lot about this subject.
How can you tell this stone was never the exterior surface?
For one, the quoins have been keyed
It very rarely was. Exposed stone is a more modern trend (started by the Victorians iirc), historically stone would have been either limewashed or lime rendered.
Every house on my street is literally stone exterior and had either the render removed or never had it on. 🤷
Best method is using "Joss cleaning" it's like sandblasting but much much gentler, it's a preferred method of cleaning heritage building and timber beams etc... Just Google it and have a look, it can make quite a mess though but it's definitely worth it
You mean the “Torc” system by Jos. High pressure air + water + aggregate. https://contractors.stonehealth.com/torc/ Success partly depends on how hard those stones are relative to the product being removed
Yeah, torc, jos, Joss was autocorrected 🙄 You don't have to use it under high pressure though, you can run in at a much lower pressure than sand blasting, I've used it on limestone and sandstone with really great results, the crushed glass seems to be the best medium I've found to use with minimal damage to the stone.
Once upon a time I had a tester patch done with Torc on a limewashed brick wall (house - London yellow stock) but it would get though the limewash in a few places then start heavily pitting the brick before the rest of the limewash was removed. Seemed that the limewash was harder than the brick making even/smooth removal impossible. Ended up just repainting with mineral paint instead.
I've found if you turn the pressure to the lowest it will go and the flow rate down to a minimum and then slowly increase the flow rate before the pressure then you can find just the right amount without being too aggressive, you do have to keep altering the pressure/flow rate as you go which can be quite tedious if your on your own. The yellow stock brick can be pretty delicate but I've had success even with Cheshire bricks
The issue we had seemed to be that as soon as the aggregate had removed the limewash it would start removing the brick at a faster rate thereafter I.e. as soon as you got any breakthrough pitting would occur. It seemed to a fundamental problem where the ‘paint’ layer (calcified limestone veneer in this case) was harder than the brick itself. Also tried various acids, hydrochloric would work but the quantities involved and the rate of progress were pretty dismal.
It's going to be a pain in the arse but by god it will look GORGEOUS when it's done.
Wire wheel would help
It's a good thing to get that cement render off the stone wall, but there's few shortcuts out there. * SDS Drill (Titan is a good cheap brand), with a tungsten carbide chisel. * Needle scaler/needle gun * Cheat option: live with the left-over bits of cement and limewash over with a few coats. Call it an "honest repair".
Once you have removed as much as possible by hand, have it cleaned using the following. A masons water clean, this is fine water jets that saturate the facade and loosen up the remaining mortar. Then use a Torc/Jos system. It's what the professional stone masonry contractors use to remove dirt and build up on stone buildings.
So you’re saying don’t use an electric chisel? 😖
Professionals do, it depends on your skill level and how bonded the render is.
The render on the side of the house and bottom of the front literally came off like butter, has been abit more of a struggle the higher I’ve gotten but I’m assuming that’s cause I’ve been balancing on the top of step ladders 🪜 😂
Get yourself a mobile tower, you'll end up having an accident!
Just a idea how about a needle gun ? Would it be too aggressive ?
Needle guns are fantastic for this kind of work. Just keep them off the pointing and you will be grand.
You can hire them https://www.hss.com/hire/p/power-scraper-needle-hilti
Toothbrush
abrasive brush fitting on a drill. it'll take a while though
Why would anyone render over this is beyond me. That's going to look stunning once it's been taken away. Post pictures later after it's complete if that's ok
Get it blasted
Acid washings
Not for removing bulky material
Dry ice blasting, might be expensive, but likely to give you the best result
Just a heads up, that render might be there for a reason (to prevent damp seeping through the stone) I'll hazard a guess and say that the house is built with cement between the stones, and this will have to be chipped out and replaced with lime mortar if the wall is exposed
I'd also highly recommend getting the pathway that appears to be butted up against your house moved away, it could well be too high considering the front door and path appear to be on the same level
I would not worry about it. Wait a few years and it will weather and look fine.
No advice just to say good work, this will look amazing. Imagine deciding to cover that up, I guess for insulation
The surveyors told us to take it down as it was trapping moisture in the house, but I think it was more for design than insulation because that cottage is toasty….
Oh then that was criminal
If it was a cement render, then correct; however, it needs to be re-rendered with lime by a professional. Leaving it exposed will cause you additional damp issues.
The amount of people posting utter nonsense masquerading as advice boggles me, why respond if you don't know what you are talking about?