In a message dated 11/5/01 11:24:22 PM US Eastern Standard Time, elasley@sigecom.net writes: > If you pour concrete around it, and seal the stone, moisture within > the stone will cause it to deteriorate more rapidly, and moisture trapped > in the stone will cause the stone to break up during freezing weather. It > looks good for a year or two, but in the long term will cause irreversible > damage. That's why we use Mastico epoxy to put pieces back together, > make new bases if the old one is gone, and allow the stone to freestand > where it can shed moisture naturally. > > Ernie, You're 100% correct about not encasing the face and sides of the tombstones. I have worked with stone in the Masonry Business over 40 years, and I was taught that stone must be able to radiate the moisture outward as best it can. It will take the line of least resistance. If you Encase it, you are trapping the upward radiation of the moisture, being drawn by the sun. Moisture absorbed from the bottom side will be captured where it will freeze and the Stone will begin to flake off, ruining the top surface, this being the face. This will normally begin in 3-4 years, depending on the severity of the weather. After 10 or possibly 15 years the stone will have a crumbling appearance. It cannot be picked up at this point. I heard this years before Gravestone Studies was ever heard of. Also there is something most people haven't thought about. If you have a broken stone and epoxy it back, the moisture radiating upward from the bottom will only go from the base in the ground to the Epoxy, which forms a cap stopping the water at that point. From there it must exit thru the sides. All water absorbed above the Epoxy will dissipate faster then that below, giving the stone a damp look below and a drier, different look on the top piece. If there are multi pieces they will dry at their own pace, depending on how much water they are able to absorb. As to the concrete around the stone, that part is not to serious, although I WOULD NEVER DO IT. As far as concrete, then sealing, that looks good, but be sure there are Photographs of the stone. They will outlive it. I have seen 2 stones that were done that way in Harrison County. I don't know how long this has been done, but they are disintegrating. Some of you may have seen the face pop off of Brick, this is caused by excessive amounts of water being trapped, and then repeated freezing over a period of time. The water collects in the Brick and they cannot dry fast enough and the freezing causes "Spalling" this also can happen with water trapped in stone. If anyone doesn't believe this, check with your local supplier. Good Luck. This is my Opinion, and My Experience. Jack E. Briles, Sr. Floyd County PCRP Coordinator PO Box 444 New Albany, In. 47151-0444 (812) 282-6585

Jack, I had not realized you had such experience in the masonry business. What an asset you are to this group! I've been lurking here in Franklin County since we completed our Ottwell Cemetery restoration, but I still try to keep up with what is going on with all of you who are more active. Maybe your enthusiasm will rub off and we can get ourselves motivated to start our next project! Thanks for all the valuable info. Ruth Cox Schlemmer SE Indiana ----- Original Message ----- From: <Jb502000@aol.com> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 10:30 AM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Preservation > In a message dated 11/5/01 11:24:22 PM US Eastern Standard Time, > elasley@sigecom.net writes: > > > > If you pour concrete around it, and seal the stone, moisture within > > the stone will cause it to deteriorate more rapidly, and moisture trapped > > in the stone will cause the stone to break up during freezing weather. It > > looks good for a year or two, but in the long term will cause irreversible > > damage. That's why we use Mastico epoxy to put pieces back together, > > make new bases if the old one is gone, and allow the stone to freestand > > where it can shed moisture naturally. > > > > > Ernie, > You're 100% correct about not encasing the face and sides of the tombstones. > I have worked with stone in the Masonry Business over 40 years, and I was > taught that stone must be able to radiate the moisture outward as best it > can. It will take the line of least resistance. If you Encase it, you are > trapping the upward radiation of the moisture, being drawn by the sun. > Moisture absorbed from the bottom side will be captured where it will freeze > and the Stone will begin to flake off, ruining the top surface, this being > the face. This will normally begin in 3-4 years, depending on the severity of > the weather. After 10 or possibly 15 years the stone will have a crumbling > appearance. It cannot be picked up at this point. I heard this years before > Gravestone Studies was ever heard of. > Also there is something most people haven't thought about. If you have a > broken stone and epoxy it back, the moisture radiating upward from the bottom > will only go from the base in the ground to the Epoxy, which forms a cap > stopping the water at that point. From there it must exit thru the sides. All > water absorbed above the Epoxy will dissipate faster then that below, giving > the stone a damp look below and a drier, different look on the top piece. If > there are multi pieces they will dry at their own pace, depending on how much > water they are able to absorb. As to the concrete around the stone, that part > is not to serious, although I WOULD NEVER DO IT. > As far as concrete, then sealing, that looks good, but be sure there are > Photographs of the stone. They will outlive it. I have seen 2 stones that > were done that way in Harrison County. I don't know how long this has been > done, but they are disintegrating. Some of you may have seen the face pop off > of Brick, this is caused by excessive amounts of water being trapped, and > then repeated freezing over a period of time. The water collects in the Brick > and they cannot dry fast enough and the freezing causes "Spalling" this also > can happen with water trapped in stone. If anyone doesn't believe this, check > with your local supplier. Good Luck. This is my Opinion, and My Experience. > > Jack E. Briles, Sr. > Floyd County PCRP Coordinator > PO Box 444 > New Albany, In. 47151-0444 > (812) 282-6585 > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Cemetery: (n) A marble orchard not to be taken for granite. >