For hundreds of years, limestone has been a popular choice for the exteriors of buildings. After all, it’s softer than many of the alternatives, yet it’s tough and hardwearing.
That said, you still need proper cleaning and restoration for buildings to stay looking their best.
Is limestone cleaning really necessary?
In a word, yes. The porous nature of limestone means it can stain and scratch relatively easily. And that’s especially true when you have it near busy roads.
Cleaning lifts dirt which may be hiding cracks or other damage, including, potentially, structural issues. So you get a better picture of the stone’s true condition.
With limestone restoration and cleaning, you also remove any unwanted paintwork and blend the original stone with an extension or any repairs, if applicable.
Do a pre-clean survey and trial
Inspecting the building thoroughly gives a clear indication of the source and nature of the dirt you need to shift. At the same time, you can check for any repairs that may need doing. Additionally, you can determine which cleaning methods would be most appropriate and least damaging to the natural stone.
Use a gentle limestone cleaning option such as spraying a little water, or a mild poultice.
Essentially, you need to be sure you’re restoring your stone as sympathetically as possible.
Cleaning limestone
An experienced professional should always do this. They will determine, through the pre-cleaning survey, the best way to clean the façade.
And the options include a low-pressure spray of purified water, or applying a poultice. Rubbing and brushing are other ideas, alongside steam-cleaning, sponging, laser cleaning and ultrasonics.
What about restoring limestone
Sometimes, limestone isn’t just dirty. Chips, scratches, crumbling mortar and discolouration are all examples of where you would need limestone restoration rather than cleaning. Experts can deal with this sort of damaging using a raft of specialist techniques.
And if you get the job done professionally, you reduce the risk of causing further damage and also find out whether there are any underlying structural or water drainage issues which have been causing the problems.
Contact Royal Stone Care
Based in London but working UK-wide, Royal Stone Care are limestone specialists. We have expertise in limestone cleaning and restoring in London, and understand the particular needs of heritage and listed buildings.
Get in touch today to learn more, and for your free initial quote.
