When you are the owner of a house with faux stone masonry exteriors, you may find yourself wondering if you can or should do anything to keep those exteriors in the best shape possible. While faux stone is easier to maintain than natural stone, it is not infallible and does require a little maintenance and repairs at times to remain in good shape.
Get to know some of the steps that you should take to maintain and repair your stone masonry. Then, you can be sure that you are doing everything to keep your stone surfaces looking great and functioning as well as possible.
Perform Regular Inspections of Your Stonework
One of the best ways to maintain your stone masonry is to perform regular inspections of your stonework. Inspecting your stonework means that you get outside and take a close look at all of the stonework on your home.
Look for anything out of the ordinary. Check for stones that are bulging or slipping out of place. Also, check for cracks in the mortar between stones as well as in the stones themselves. If you notice any of these signs, you should contact a masonry repair expert as soon as possible to assess the damage to your stonework and to determine if you need immediate repairs.
The most important time of the year to perform such regular inspections is in the spring, after the ground thaws. The cycle of thawing and refreezing that occurs in the winter can have a major impact on your homes stone masonry, causing it to expand and contract repeatedly. Stone can become destabilized in the winter months, making it easier to crack or sustain other damage.
Going into winter, it is also important for your stone masonry to be in the best shape possible. As such, at the very minimum you will want to inspect your stone masonry in the late fall and early spring every year.
Reseal Your Stonework Regularly
While manufactured stone is made to withstand a great deal of wear and tear from the elements, it still needs sealing to be as strong as possible. This is especially true if you live in an area prone to a great deal of moisture or that has extremely cold temperatures in the winter.
Resealing your stone masonry will provide a protective moisture barrier for your stone that will help to prevent that expansion and contraction cycle that can occur in the winter. If you do not reseal your stone periodically, moisture will seep into and even through the stones.
When this happens, the interiors of your home can suffer moisture damage, resulting in mold, mildew, and rot. The stones themselves can also suffer damage including the deterioration of the mortar seams between the stones and an issue known as spalling. Spalling is a peeling or flaking of the surface of the stone that occurs because of moisture saturation.
Repair Damage Sooner Rather Than Later
Once you notice any issues with your stone masonry including spalling, cracks, or stones that have slipped out of place, you will want to act quickly to address the problems. Waiting to deal with your masonry issues will only allow the problems to get worse and spread throughout your home.
The sooner you act on a problem, the less damage you will have to deal with and the less you will have to spend on repairs.
Now that you know more about maintaining and repairing your stone masonry, you can be sure that you are doing what is right for your home now and in the future. For more information on caring for your stone veneer exterior, contact us at Harristone.