Author: chicagostonepro
Subject: 1889 Fireplace is it Granite or Marble
Posted: 15 Apr 2011 at 10:17pm
Subject: 1889 Fireplace is it Granite or Marble
Posted: 15 Apr 2011 at 10:17pm
Hi Rose,
You are doing the right thing by looking for info BEFORE doing anything. You now know you are dealing with limestone, which is chemically sensitive, so you must protect the fireplace from acids, and strong alkali, until you are ready to move forward.
By moving forward, I mean getting an expert to personally check the fireplace, before you do anything, including cleaning it. You need a stone restoration expert, preferably experienced in antique fireplaces, to evaluate this for you, and to put the fireplace into a restored condition you can maintain.
There's paint on it. There may be some paint stripper in the stone that needs to be neutralized. You have some deep staining on the lighter stone, that looks to me like yellowed flooring wax or poly. Some of the black limestone looks like it's got wax on it too, or possibly some other coating. There may be acid in the stone that needs to be neutralized, due to smoke exposure.
The hearth has been patched from the firebox out, with cement, and the broken tile could be showing a problem with the substrate. The cement patch may or may not be too alkaline, corrosive to the stone, and the tile substrate. Best to completely remove the tile, fix any problem with the substrate, and set new tile. You may be able to save some of the existing tile, but I don't think it's original to this fireplace, and may not be worth saving.
Each of these issues requires specific technical knowledge and experience to resolve. Failure with any one of these can mean your fireplace is ruined beyond repair. It's already in a bad condition due to neglect and poor care, which may limit a successful outcome - even in the hands of an expert.
I understand you don't want to spend money unnecessarily on this project, and I'd love to tell you you can largely handle this - but I can't. It's necessary to spend money for expert care here. What you have here requires special attention, unless you are prepared to take the chance of ruining it.
IMO, it's just too special a fireplace to take the chance on.
For a referral, you can contact Stu Rosen, at the MB Stonecare link above (the one with Maurizio pointing at you, at the top of the forum page). MB Stonecare supplies maintenance and restoration products, and Stu is an experienced stone restorer/refinisher. He has contacts around the U.S. and in various countries, and teaches stone refinishing/restoration. If Stu isn't in your area, he can point you in the right direction.
Regards.
You are doing the right thing by looking for info BEFORE doing anything. You now know you are dealing with limestone, which is chemically sensitive, so you must protect the fireplace from acids, and strong alkali, until you are ready to move forward.
By moving forward, I mean getting an expert to personally check the fireplace, before you do anything, including cleaning it. You need a stone restoration expert, preferably experienced in antique fireplaces, to evaluate this for you, and to put the fireplace into a restored condition you can maintain.
There's paint on it. There may be some paint stripper in the stone that needs to be neutralized. You have some deep staining on the lighter stone, that looks to me like yellowed flooring wax or poly. Some of the black limestone looks like it's got wax on it too, or possibly some other coating. There may be acid in the stone that needs to be neutralized, due to smoke exposure.
The hearth has been patched from the firebox out, with cement, and the broken tile could be showing a problem with the substrate. The cement patch may or may not be too alkaline, corrosive to the stone, and the tile substrate. Best to completely remove the tile, fix any problem with the substrate, and set new tile. You may be able to save some of the existing tile, but I don't think it's original to this fireplace, and may not be worth saving.
Each of these issues requires specific technical knowledge and experience to resolve. Failure with any one of these can mean your fireplace is ruined beyond repair. It's already in a bad condition due to neglect and poor care, which may limit a successful outcome - even in the hands of an expert.
I understand you don't want to spend money unnecessarily on this project, and I'd love to tell you you can largely handle this - but I can't. It's necessary to spend money for expert care here. What you have here requires special attention, unless you are prepared to take the chance of ruining it.
IMO, it's just too special a fireplace to take the chance on.
For a referral, you can contact Stu Rosen, at the MB Stonecare link above (the one with Maurizio pointing at you, at the top of the forum page). MB Stonecare supplies maintenance and restoration products, and Stu is an experienced stone restorer/refinisher. He has contacts around the U.S. and in various countries, and teaches stone refinishing/restoration. If Stu isn't in your area, he can point you in the right direction.
Regards.