Stone house restoration--a return to the past that never was. Do you own a stone residence under that vinyl and stucco facade? If you do, these photos illustrate the process of transforming your home to a stone exterior.
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Stone house restoration--a return to the past that never was. Do you own a stone residence under that vinyl and stucco facade? If you do, these photos illustrate the process of transforming your home to a stone exterior.
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The owner of this 1870s farmhouse near Philadelphia hired Jim Flanagan(215-677-9833) of Oak Masonry Restoration to renovate the stone house exterior. In those olden days, farmers applied stucco to upscale their dwellings' appearance. In the late 1900s, vinyl siding hid old stucco. Times have changed--when a beautiful stone structure hides underneath, stucco and vinyl are out.
In broad terms, the restoration steps to restoring a stone house are as follows:
removal of the old stucco and vinyl covering
a restoration wash
masonry talents applied to "a million seams"
The photos immediately below illustrate Jim's first step. He removes old vinyl while his chief assistant quickly places the trash in a container. Then comes the loud, dusty job of removing the old stucco with an electric hammer.
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The field stone is called WISSAHICKON SCHIST--a type of layered stone from the area around Wissahickon Creek located near Philadelphia. With its multiple tones of gray, tan, and blue plus its flecks of mica, Wissahickon schist became a popular building material in the 1800s. Locals considered the rock quite attractive.
Above, the Wissahickon schist is still dirty, awaiting a washing after the wall is cleared of old stucco. On this house were two layers of stucco. One layer, that includes horse hair, dates back to the original construction. The second layer, a yellowish version, is a 1940s application.
Last year Jim performed a test area on the porch. What a difference!.
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Old newspapers were discovered stuffed in the gap around this window. Unfortunately, the date of the newspaper was unreadable. Note: Anyone who lives through this process quickly realizes the value of placing plastic covering over all windows.
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Jim is ready to start the second step in restoring a stone house with cleaning and washing of the exposed Wissihickon schist.
After removing the old stucco and mortar, Jim cleaned the stonework with water and a restoration application. The stone dried over several days before the masonry work began, the third step. The pointing process is truly laborious. At its conclusion, an experienced mason can create a remarkable finished restoration.
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Jim specifies a mortar recipe to his assistant; the assistant mixes the recipe. With a small spatula, Jim applies the mortar to the spaces between the stone. Next, he works the mortar with a small, hand-held stiff brush. That action removes the excess mortar, creating a smoother look. Finally he works over the same area a third time with a looser brush to finalize the effect he is seeking.
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Back upper portion is next; first floor back were 1940s additions
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Another unpleasant surprise: The dormers in the back were installed in the 1940s to allow an apartment on the top floor. Cement blocks filled in the original window area.Jim accented the blocks with the same mortar. A pleasant surprise: the original builders carried high quality, large stone to the top of the structure, not pebbles like some places. The front side is next. |
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Restoring metal roof over stone house
