In a message dated 1/19/02 7:44:51 AM US Eastern Standard Time, maryalicepa@earthlink.net writes: > I had a limestone marker repaired and cleaned a few years ago > in Dubois County by a monument supplier. I asked them if there was any way > to keep it in good shape longer, and they told me to put something like > Thompsons on it, which I have been doing for the last 3 years. Being new to > preservation, I'm beginning to pick up that you shouldn't put waterproofing > on a limestone marker. If that, indeed, is the case, what should I do now > that I have already been doing it? Appreciate any advice. Thanks. > > MaryAlice Parks > (on the board of Shiloh Cem. Assoc. in Ireland) > Mary Alice, I am sending your answer through the list for possible general discussion. it appears to be a poin of dissagreement. Was the repair a break such as a section broken completely off and then re attached with some type of Epoxy? If so the water absorbed into the stone will go no further up then the break, so there would be no damage from that point up, such as water being trapped inside the stone freezing causing damage to the stone. Technically all of the area below the break can absorb the water up into the stone inside of the waterproof shell you have created, and can, possibly sooner or later cause damage. Water is drawn toward the sun and should therefore be very carefully restricted. There is no known way to remove Thompsons, because it has penetrated the stone and there is no way to draw it out. Luckily there is not as much water absorbed up through the base into the stone as many people believe. Generally the most damaging water would enter through the upper part of a stone with no waterproofing on it. As far as what you have already applied in the areas where it cant allow the water to escape, it's to late to worry now. I certainly don't approve of waterproofing the entire undamaged stone. At least leave the sides, top and back for water to dissipate. Water trapped and Freezing and thawing on the inside can weaken the stone so that any weak points would separate. As far as what you are doing I would not waterproof below the repair no matter how high up on the stone it is except for the face. As far as what is on the stone now, all petroleum distillates, which is what Thompsons is, will eventually be drawn out by the sun over a period of 4 to 7 years to the point water inside will begin to dissipate normally. Hopefully not much has been absorbed up through the base, and no appreciable damage will occur. Those that suggest materials such as Thompsons Waterseal should be knowledgeable enough to warn you about the possibilities of damage if not done with care. I have a friend here in Floyd County in the monument business that wont recommend hardly anything at all, because after he gives people any information about how to work on stones, they go out and ignore his instructions, and as he says that is not his type of work. He sells new ones.. PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE and follow any instructions you are given to the letter. Also a Monument maker is not helping you by telling you to cover the entire stone with waterproofing if it is only cleaned, and not Broken and repaired. There is a Possibility you could cover the front and leave the sides and back and top for water dispersal. the front would remain clean, but the rest may pick up discoloration due to the weather. This is not Technical advice, it is what I have found works for me. Others may no agree. If not, WHY. Let me hear of your experiences, and how they have turned out. Exchange of, and disagreement on, information is good for us all, and I welcome it. Experience is the very best teacher there is. Jack E. Briles Sr. jb502000@aol.com

"If so the water absorbed into the stone will go no further up then the break, so there would be no damage from that point up, such as water being trapped inside the stone freezing causing damage to the stone." Unfortunately, it is a horizontal stone with the family name identifying a family plot. The break in the stone was approximately in the middle so there is no area "above" the break. I guess this is an example of the need to educate folks. I'm thinking this might make a good topic for our annual Memorial Day gathering. Thanks for the input. Looks like I'll just have to let nature do its thing. MaryAlice ----- Original Message ----- From: <Jb502000@aol.com> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2002 11:00 AM Subject: [INPCRP] Re: Cemetery Restoration, Waterproofing > In a message dated 1/19/02 7:44:51 AM US Eastern Standard Time, > maryalicepa@earthlink.net writes: > > > > I had a limestone marker repaired and cleaned a few years ago > > in Dubois County by a monument supplier. I asked them if there was any way > > to keep it in good shape longer, and they told me to put something like > > Thompsons on it, which I have been doing for the last 3 years. Being new to > > preservation, I'm beginning to pick up that you shouldn't put waterproofing > > on a limestone marker. If that, indeed, is the case, what should I do now > > that I have already been doing it? Appreciate any advice. Thanks. > > > > MaryAlice Parks > > (on the board of Shiloh Cem. Assoc. in Ireland) > > > > Mary Alice, I am sending your answer through the list for > possible general discussion. it appears to be a poin of dissagreement. Was > the repair a break such as a section broken completely off and then re > attached with some type of Epoxy? If so the water absorbed into the stone > will go no further up then the break, so there would be no damage from that > point up, such as water being trapped inside the stone freezing causing > damage to the stone. Technically all of the area below the break can absorb > the water up into the stone inside of the waterproof shell you have created, > and can, possibly sooner or later cause damage. Water is drawn toward the sun > and should therefore be very carefully restricted. > There is no known way to remove Thompsons, because it has penetrated the > stone and there is no way to draw it out. Luckily there is not as much water > absorbed up through the base into the stone as many people believe. Generally > the most damaging water would enter through the upper part of a stone with no > waterproofing on it. As far as what you have already applied in the areas > where it cant allow the water to escape, it's to late to worry now. I > certainly don't approve of waterproofing the entire undamaged stone. At least > leave the sides, top and back for water to dissipate. Water trapped and > Freezing and thawing on the inside can weaken the stone so that any weak > points would separate. As far as what you are doing I would not waterproof > below the repair no matter how high up on the stone it is except for the > face. As far as what is on the stone now, all petroleum distillates, which is > what Thompsons is, will eventually be drawn out by the sun over a period of 4 > to 7 years to the point water inside will begin to dissipate normally. > Hopefully not much has been absorbed up through the base, and no appreciable > damage will occur. Those that suggest materials such as Thompsons Waterseal > should be knowledgeable enough to warn you about the possibilities of damage > if not done with care. > I have a friend here in Floyd County in the monument business that > wont recommend hardly anything at all, because after he gives people any > information about how to work on stones, they go out and ignore his > instructions, and as he says that is not his type of work. He sells new > ones.. PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE and follow any instructions you are given to > the letter. Also a Monument maker is not helping you by telling you to cover > the entire stone with waterproofing if it is only cleaned, and not Broken and > repaired. There is a Possibility you could cover the front and leave the > sides and back and top for water dispersal. the front would remain clean, but > the rest may pick up discoloration due to the weather. This is not Technical > advice, it is what I have found works for me. Others may no agree. If not, > WHY. Let me hear of your experiences, and how they have turned out. > Exchange of, and disagreement on, information is good for us all, and I > welcome it. > Experience is the very best teacher there is. > Jack E. Briles Sr. > jb502000@aol.com > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer > Cemeteries Restoration Project only. >