If snow falls on a terrace of limestone, it will be a good idea to clear it away. The stone should then be able to stand up to very low temperatures. Although the terrace should have been laid to a fall, this will only ensure that rain runs away – snow will still settle.
If the area is a large or prominent feature of the building or the landscape design, it is worth taking advice from a specialist stone-maintenance company regarding the initial protection of the stone and its subsequent maintenance.
For certain stones in certain areas, the most appropriate solution may be not to apply any protection, particularly if you want to encourage the growth of natural mould.
If you do decide to protect the stone, you should apply the protection as soon as possible. It is imperative that the stone is completely dry and spotlessly clean before you apply protectors, as otherwise these will ‘fix’ dirt and moisture in the stone. If the stone has been dirtied before protecting, it should be cleaned with ‘Wexa’ by Lithofin. If the weather does not allow the stone to dry, a water-based treatment may be used.
We recommend protecting stone with ‘Stainstop ‘ by Lithofin, an impregnator that barely changes the colour and look of the stone. Two or three thoroughly applied coats should be sufficient in most cases.If the weather prevents the stone drying through so that it can be protected normally, you can use ‘Stainstop W ‘, a water-based impregnator, as a temporary protection until the stone dries out.
If building work is continuing, cover the stone with boards to protect it until the work has finished.