How to repair this sandstone door surround?

ThisIsWeird

Taken from thread on House Buying forum: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6555328/have-the-choice-between-a-newer-build-and-a-victorian-terrace-help#latest

silvercar

@ThisIsWeird, your link takes you to this board and I can’t find the thread you are referring to, or I would move it over to here.

That said, I would change the front door for something more in keeping with the sandstone.

FreeBear

silvercar said: That said, I would change the front door for something more in keeping with the sandstone.

Strip the paint off the sandstone and not put anything else on too.

As for repair (if it is needed), consult a local stone mason that works with sandstone.

ThisIsWeird

D'oh! Sorry - changed the link. Thanks.

Yes, a change of door would transform the house - as would the windows - but I'm just wondering about the limestone, which adds a huge amount of character, and how it can be sorted. 

New 'caps' over it? Or could a render of 'limestone' mortar be skimmed over it and shaped to match?

stuart45

Sandstone will delaminate if it's been face bedded. Imagine it as a sliced loaf. When laid on it's natural bed the slices won't fall away. When the slices are exposed to the weather they will break away.

ThisIsWeird

What is the solution?

stuart45

When stone delaminates badly because of face bedding, it needs replacing with a natural bedded stone. 
It's hard to see in the photo exactly how deep the damage is, or know the exact cause. 

stuart45

I've just seen the photos on the other thread. Looks like that house has had the pressure washer over it, which can lift off any damaged stone. 

Sarahspangles

ThisIsWeird said:

D'oh! Sorry - changed the link. Thanks.

Yes, a change of door would transform the house - as would the windows - but I'm just wondering about the limestone, which adds a huge amount of character, and how it can be sorted. 

New 'caps' over it? Or could a render of 'limestone' mortar be skimmed over it and shaped to match?

I know the area well, the stone is Woodkirk Yorkstone (sandstone) and the quarries are still working. When first dressed it is a greyish blue but soon weathers to gold. I suspect it was damaged by a hand rail and the blocks could be chased out to a reasonable depth and replaced. The choice is finding some reclaimed stone that can be re-dressed - or a chip off a new block.