Stone Mason's advice

[BlackAlys]

We're in the process of buying and getting planning permission for a 150 year old house with pennant stone on the facade. It's not in great condition and the pointing is really thick. I personally, don't like the stone at all - I think it's too narrow and I don't like the colour. Our Planning Office has told us to keep it though.

I know we can remove the thick and protruding pointing but what can we do about the stone, if anything? I'm trying to learn as much as I can about quarried stone, and as far as I know, quarried stone is 'dressed' using different techniques to give each stone a certain appearence. I really don't like the chiselled appearence of this stone and was wondering if anything could be done about it.

We also need to source more stone from somewhere to plug the gaps - changing window shape etc. I've attached a property that I've googled with a similar style stone for you to see. I really prefer natural, flatter and larger stones so I really don't know what can be done here Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Alys, many years ago in the early 90s I trained as a stonemason; this was the thinking at the time and it has changed much if at all ...

First thought, seriously, get a local stonemason (not a monumental mason, they deal with gravestones) to have a look and assess what needs doing. There is a good reason the planning officer is advising against removing the pointing.

So, In the 80s and 90s ribbon pointing - that's the nasty sticking-out pointing semed popular with certain houseowners. It very often used cement and not lime mortar, and to remove it can cause a lot of damage to the stones within the wall and their underlying structure and stability.

Also chat to your stonemason (again, not a monumental mason!) about cleaning. Walling stone is never sandblasted, (you'll end up with no wall!) but cleaned with water and maybe specialist chemicals depending on the type of stone and existing damage thereto. The reason I stress a local stonemason is that they will understand the local stone.

Once any remedial work that can be done has been done with advice from the planning officer - cover the walls with climbing roses and other plants that will not root into the stone or mortar

Sorry this is so long!

PS - Sorry about spelling!

@LilyRed This is invaluable advice! Thank you - I'm so grateful.

Yes - the pointing is like a thick ribbon throughout the whole facade - it's grim. Thankfully, the Planning Officer isn't concerned about how we deal with it (providing the stone stays) so hopefully we can remove it? I pray we can!!

I'll continue looking for a stonemason - the one we were recommended in this area has retired and I'm not having much luck finding anyone else.

@LilyRed I've been trying (almost in vain) to educate myself about quarried pennant stone. I've learned that stones can be 'dressed' (shaped) differently? Ours has a prominent central dome effect which is partly why I don't like it. Can this be altered when it's in position?

Another thing I don't understand is the colours: I can only find the 'blue pennant' quarried in this area but I see so many variants of this. Is it all called 'blue'? Even if some stones look greeny-brown?!

I'm not sure of your area, but pennant sandstone is found from the Forest of Dean into S Wales coalfields (made perfect sense to use the stone at the mines to build the Miner's houses!) The colours will vary from buff to grey blue and everything inbetween when the stone is new, and those walls you showed us in your photo look as if there has been a lot of coal smoke in the air (obviously if Wales!) which has caused that dark weathered effect.

I'm not sure what the local terms are for the finish on the stones where you are - anything from split, rough faced, rusticated to various other terms (clear as mud I know, every area names everything from tools to finishes differently ).

I don't know anyone in Wales that could help and I retired some years back as I have to care for elderly MIL with dementia , but assuming its South Wales, a quick Google search shows quite a few stonemasons North to South from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff and E-W from the W coast to the Border so you should be able to find someone close-ish. Also try 'Stonemasons near me' as a search term .

There used to be an online directory but I'm darned if I can find it. Sorry this isn't so helpful. If I find out anything else I'll pop it here

Ah, I think the finish of yr stone may be called pitch-faced locally (the tool used is a pitching chisel, natch ). I forgot to say, fairly unlikely it can be dressed in situ as you could damage the wall somewhat!

@LilyRed thank you for taking all this time to answer me. I'm learning a lot! Hopefully, a careful removal of the ribbon pointing will help the appearance, along with a good wash. This house was built 160 ish years ago within throwing distance of a small coal mine.

Glad to help - I'll post details of the online directories later as these may be useful- have to do lunch now

@BlackAlys Many apologies for the delay, hope this helps if you haven't already found someone to advise

www.buildingconservation.com/directory/prodlist.php?category=Stone+masons

www.buildingconservation.com/directory/prodlist.php?category=Stone+masons

theheritagedirectory.co.uk/product.asp?prodid=238
Stone cleaning specialists

@LilyRed thank you - I very much appreciate this!