Replies

1. 
   Slater | Jun 07, 2004 02:50am | #1

   I've worked on some fine homes, which have enormous quantities of limestone on them.  The masons I've worked with swear, that never under any circumstances should limestone be sealed.  It's use should be restricted to areas above the splash line on walls, and that if you don't let the water out of it, which it will inevitably absorb, the surface will spall off in huge chunks.  I've seen this happen.  A fountain should not have a limestone veneer for this reason and several years ago I was involved in repairing one which did.  It lasted (in Colorado) only 10 years because of the water issues and because it had been sealed.  We removed the limestone and replaced it with granite.  This is just my experience, for what it's worth.

2. 
   GCrane | Jun 08, 2004 04:09am | #2

   Do not, under any condition, seal natural stone. As stated in one of the posts, it will definitely spall. Moisture condenses behind the sealer and a minor freeze-thaw cycle comes along and expands the moisture. The resulting pressure blows off the sealer and any part of the stone that is securely attached to the sealer.

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Jun 08, 2004 06:21am | #3

   I gotta ask...what about natural stone used for floor tiles?  I recently did a job with limestone and travertine.  Including the bathroom floor.  And I sealed it.

   Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!"  Then get busy and find out how to do it.  T. Roosevelt

1. 
   UncleDunc | Jun 08, 2004 06:39am | #4

   If you get a lot of freeze/thaw cycles in the bathroom, you've got worse problems than spalling limestone.