Maintenance & Cleaning
Inspection
Once or twice a year take a few minutes to check the condition of your stone work. Look for signs of damaged stones. They are rugged, but even stone can be damaged through impact, or loosened by vibration. Check the grout between stones, if its grouted. Look for cracks and loose mortar on the tops of stones for signs of wear.
Repointing
Repointing is necessary in places where the mortar joints have become soft or the mortar itself is cracked or damaged. The damaged mortar is removed carefully so as not to disturb the surrounding stones. Fresh mortar is applied in layers. When repointing, the depth of the new mortar should be twice the width of the mortar joint. Mortar applied directly to the damaged surface will not hold up.
Cleaning
Most stone veneers are cultured, or concrete stone. This makes them more susceptible to damage from cleaning chemicals than most natural stones. Power washing is not recommended as it can damage the finishing of the cultured or concrete stone and erode the surface of the natural stone. Following is a method to wash stone.
Once or twice a year do the following to keep the stone look clean:
- Wash the stone with water.
- Fill a bucket with warm water and add a little vinegar, or dish soap to create a mild detergent solution. Vinegar can help fight mold and mildew.
- You can spray the mild detergent solution on the stone and scrub or use a brush to dip into the bucket of the solution and scrub the stones. Avoid wire brushes, which can leave metal scratches on the brick and cause rust or corrosion over time.
- Use a hose to wash off all the soap, making sure nothing is left behind.