Cast Stone Masonry Installation & Maintenance Tips
Planning on adding cast stone features to your home? Or maybe you’re wondering how to maintain cast stone? To make the most of your cast stone features, it’s essential to ensure that they are installed and properly maintained.
Whether it’s a fireplace, outdoor patio, or other decorative feature in your home, we’ve got you covered. In this 5-minute read, we’ll cover…
• Important reminders for cast stone installation
• Maintenance and care tips
• Repair considerations
• How to prevent common cast stone stains
Let’s start with installation tips.
Cast Stone Installation Tips
Take note that it is best to always hire a professional for cast stone installation. Use these tips as a reference when discussing your project with masonry pros.
• Be careful about storage and handling.
Cast stone products should be kept clean and handled carefully before installation. Chipped edges and corners are difficult to repair.• Avoid smearing mortar on the surface of the stone.
If mortar spills out of the joints, clean it up promptly without wiping it on the face of the stone. When pointing the joints, you can even use painter’s tape on adjacent edges so the mortar doesn’t stain the stone.• If you need to cut or drill into a piece, don’t expose any steel reinforcement.
Exposed steel rebar can rust and cause spalling (the oxidized metal expands and cracks the surface of the stone causing pieces to flake off). So if you need to make cuts, check the specs or contact the company to confirm if there is metal reinforcement.
If you live in the Garland, Texas area and are looking for professional cast stone installers who will install it right the first time, give us a call at A&X Masonry. Get your FREE consultation today and let’s make your dream project a reality!
Cast Stone Maintenance Tips
Here are a few common effective cast stone maintenance tasks and issues you may run into while caring for your cast stone.
• Cleaning: Always start by using the least aggressive cleaning agent possible — usually just mild detergent, water, and a soft brush. With stubborn stains, gradually work up to store-bought cast stone cleaners. Just remember to ALWAYS test the cleaner in an inconspicuous area first.
• Washing: Avoid direct high-pressure power washing and sandblasting as these can damage the stone’s surface.
• Repointing (Refilling the joints): This is best left to the professionals. It’s surprisingly easy to damage the edges of cast stone when removing mortar from the joints — especially if using a grinder.
• Crazing (Random hairline cracks that appear on the surface): Fortunately crazing is quite common in concrete and cast stone and doesn’t usually affect structural integrity. Unfortunately, after installation, there’s not much you can do to fix it. In some cases, it is caused by casting and installation issues. That’s why it’s important to get quality stone and have a pro install it.
• Efflorescence: This is another common occurrence on masonry products, especially ones that are exposed to moisture. Check out our article on Efflorescence: Best Tips for Prevention and Removal.
• Sealers and Water Repellents: Cast stone is porous so a water-repellent sealer can help prevent surface stains and make it easier to clean.
Considerations for Repair and Replacement of Cast Stone
While architectural cast stone is a durable product that should last for decades, sometimes it needs to be repaired. This is especially true of older historical buildings and their decorative cast stone pieces that have been exposed to the elements for 100 years.
*Important! – Cast stone repair should only be attempted by an expert team of professionals, especially on historical buildings.
• Mechanical Damage: This could be small chips or broken corners caused during installation or by equipment after installation. These are usually the easiest repairs.
• Surface Refinishing: This is a difficult and delicate process that involves grinding the stone surface to expose the aggregate underneath. Another option is applying a masonry stain to the surface to replicate the original appearance.
- • Reinforcement: Oxidized reinforcement can spall. If this is an issue, stainless steel reinforcement may need to be used in repairs.
• Re-securing Separated Pieces: This often happens with ornamental cast stone pieces. In this case, the separated pieces will need reinforcement and specialized epoxy.
Preventing Common Stains in Cast Stone
Want to keep your stone looking great? Here are 4 common stains and how to prevent them on cast stone.
*Important! – Cast stone repair should only be attempted by an expert team of professionals, especially on historical buildings.
• Cleaners: Avoid acidic or alkaline-based cleaning products. They could etch concrete surfaces. It’s always best to start with simple detergent and clean water.
• Water Damage: Clean up spills right away and avoid setting plants on cast stone surfaces.
• Smoke: Fireplace smoke stains stone over time. So make sure your entire fireplace is installed correctly so smoke only goes where it’s supposed to.
• Food and Beverages: Clean up food spills right away. Avoid getting oily food on the stone since the porous stone will soak up oils and be very difficult to clean.
Do you need professional cast stone installation and replacement?
Cast stone installation, replacement, and repair are not DIY projects. It’s best to call the pros. If you’re in the Garland, Texas area and are planning a cast stone masonry project, give us a call at Alexander & Xavier Masonry. Get your FREE consultation — you’ve got nothing to lose.
