Maintenance of mortar joints, flashing, roofs, gutters, downspouts, and coping stones limit the amount of water that enters the masonry wall.Īnother reason brownstone fails is that it typically was face-bedded, with the stone’s planes (layers) set perpendicular to the ground, rather than naturally bedded, with the bedding planes set parallel to the ground. Drainage problems such as this must be corrected before repairing the brownstone itself. Crumbling architectural details on top of a building may also channel water in patterns that severely wear away the brownstone facade. When the temperature drops, the water freezes, expands, and further damages the stone in a continuing freeze-thaw cycle. Then pointing may crumble between blocks of brownstone, compounding the problem as these joints open up, they allow water to seep in. This action causes small cracks, usually along the bedding planes, allowing more water to enter. These minerals swell after long periods of exposure to moisture and don’t return to their original size when the stone dries. The stone is held together with silica and clay, and Myjer says it’s the weaknesses of these elements that lead to most of the damage. When it comes time to do the work, homeowners should consider how long they want the treatment to last and what they want it to look like, says Ivan Myjer, principal of Building and Monument Conservation in Arlington, Massachusetts.Ī row of classic brownstones in Brooklyn, New York.īrownstone is a medium- to coarse-grained red-brown sandstone, usually with noticeable mica content that gives the stone its characteristic sparkle. This source offers homeowners whose homes were originally Portland brownstone the choice of in-kind repairs on small restoration jobs or, if their budget allows, refacing the entire building with in-kind stone. Another boost is the reopening of the Portland Brownstone Quarries in Portland, Connecticut, which supplied 85 percent of the original brownstone used in New York and surrounding areas. Today there’s a resurgence in preserving these Brown Decades buildings, in part because of the success of commercial patching materials and masons who have perfected their own patching brews and techniques over the years. It was economical as well as offering a range of shades-from a seductive dark chocolate to milky cocoa-to match the brownstone. Patching with a mixture of cement, sand, lime, and mortar colors became the preferred fix. By the 1970s, however, preservation-minded folks began to look for more appropriate choices. In the 1950s many Brooklyn residents tried to disguise these modern ruins by covering their tattered facades with aluminum siding, faux brick, and paint. Historical records show that some brownstone began deteriorating 30, 20, and even 10 years after it was installed, says Alex Herrera, director of technical services at the New York Landmarks Conservancy. More than 50,000 row houses in the Northeast were finished with brownstone, and because of the high demand, the best quality stone was not always available. It was also easy to quarry, inexpensive, plentiful, and soft enough for fine carving and honing, making it a favorite among 19th-century masons. A quick-setting formula also dries much more quickly than traditional stucco, making the repair process considerably faster.Used in middle-class neighborhoods of East Coast cities between 18, brownstone offered a handsome Italianate-style veneer as well as the prestige of stone-considered more sophisticated than the mundane brick structure it covered. These products are blended for exceptional strength and bonding and can be applied and colored just like standard stucco. While it's possible to mix your own stucco using traditional recipes, using a good-quality premixed stucco repair mix ensures you get the right mix for the application.
#Patching stucco Patch#
Alternatively, if the original stucco is 3/4-inch thick or less, you can apply a single layer of stucco patch (up to 3/4-inch thick) and trowel it to the desired finish.
#Patching stucco full#
In this way, small holes often turn into bigger ones, along with more moisture exposure and damage.Īreas of stucco that have come loose or completely fallen away must be repaired with a full restoration process of removing the loose material, installing new building paper and metal lath, and applying three coats of stucco repair mix.
#Patching stucco free#
Cracks and holes that develop in the surface let in water that can quickly lead to further damage to the stucco and the underlying surfaces. Patches of stucco can also break free from the wood or metal lath is it adhered to, resulting in loose areas that can grow over time. Stucco can endure for 100 years or more, but that doesn't mean it is impervious.
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