Caring for Limestone Fireplaces

27col

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but it seems to me from what the OP has been saying, that limestone is an unsuitable material for use inside a house. The sheer length of the list of do's and dont's hardly make it an attractive material. I would think that if you owned one you would be spending your time guarding the surface from materials and situations likely to have an adverse affect on it. Must be a nightmare if you are having a party.
Just a thought.
Anyway, ignore me and have what ever you fancy.

markmarkiemark

I have recently purchased a limestone fireplace - it has been fitted, and it is very attractive.
There is just one fault, a faint hairline crack on the shelf. It is definitely a crack not a natural mark and it runs counter the contours of the grain.
The supplier is rejecting either replacement / compensation
His response is that, although the crack is admitted, it is not easy to see and, according to the suplier, would have been so minor as to pass their quality control.
Your comments invited.

by_the_fireside

markmarkiemark wrote: »

I have recently purchased a limestone fireplace - it has been fitted, and it is very attractive.
There is just one fault, a faint hairline crack on the shelf. It is definitely a crack not a natural mark and it runs counter the contours of the grain.
The supplier is rejecting either replacement / compensation
His response is that, although the crack is admitted, it is not easy to see and, according to the suplier, would have been so minor as to pass their quality control.
Your comments invited.

Hi Mark,

I have just sent you a PM to answer your question and for Lara and Naomi, I have done the same - I have been a tad busy lately - everyone has bought stoves for their fireplaces this year!

Gas seems to be out - Coal is in! It could be said that Margaret Thatcher will be biting her tongue right about now :T

Heck - People still want Limestone and I have just finished a new Limestone Fireplace design - sort of a cross between a standard fireplace and a Hole In The Wall, but it is not the latter - just has some of the qualities...

Anyway, I hope you all had a good New Year and that 2009 has started well..

Take care for now,

Buck :beer:

birdiemad

Hello Buck - I wondered if you would have any advice for my fireplace outlined in post #21 above. I'd be really grateful to get it back to its original condition.

Alan_M_2

Talk to these guys, what they don't know about cleaning stone isn't worth knowing.

http://extensive.co.uk

by_the_fireside

birdiemad wrote: »

Hello Buck I am so pleased to see your expertise on here - so much so I signed up to post this so I am no longer just a lurker!

Anyway we had a gorgeous Cotswold limestone fireplace fitted a couple of years ago and it is my pride and joy. However while we were out over Christmas my son decided to light candles around the fireplace which have left sooty stains. I have not attempted to clean them with anything because I was afraid to make them worse. I would be so grateful for your advice so I can get my lovely fireplace back to its original condition.

Thank you so much.

Hi there Birdiemad,

Sorry I didn't reply before, but I have only just seen your post - I must be going crazy :rolleyes:

Anyway, can I aks; has the soot actually seeped into the stone or is it just a surface stain?

Speak soon,

Buck

ormus

seems more like a spammers convention on here everyday.

avaline_2

I decided to save money by foregoing my £60 colour at the hairdressers & doing it myself at home, only it was probably a very, very, very bad move to comb the hair dye through while I was sat in front of the limestone fireplace, and an even worse idea to try and remove the stain with acetone nail varnish remover .......... :embarasse

It probably should have been blonde hair dye I realise now (!) but any ideas how to remove brown hair dye splatters from limestone??? Or how to lift the added stain from the acetone??

Yours shamefacedly
Aveline

rakennedy1

We moved into our home about 2 yrs ago and the limestone mantel was already a mess. We'd like to stain it a darker color to try and hide all the yucky marks.

Can you stain limestone? If so, is there a specialty product available to purchase? Can we do it ourselves or do we need to hire a professional?

Many thanks in advance.

Peterkins_2

Hi Buck.

I have installed a new limestone fireplace and I'm wanting to seal it so it doesn't get stained from spills and particularly from fire smoke. Various "experts" have scared me that it is easy to go wrong. "Must be waterbased, not solvent/oil/wax based". "Careful it doesn't change the colour" (which is off-white). And so on. Now I'm not trusting anyone. Can you help me to knwo what spec I need to use?

Thanks. Peterkins