subject: A Guide To Maintaining Limestone Fireplaces [print this page] Many homeowners use limestone for the construction of their fireplaces because it is a very attractive and durable stone. It is important to remember, however, that limestone is also a little on the soft and porous side, meaning that is requires a certain level of maintenance to ensure that it remains as good looking as it did the day you had it installed. Use this guide to help ensure that your fireplace is well maintained for years to come.
Cleaning
As with any fireplace, those constructed out of limestone are known to become dirty with ash and soot over extended periods of time. The best way to remove these marks are by wiping the fireplace down with a damp cotton cloth that you have soaked in water and a very diluted dishwashing liquid. If you have more stubborn stains (say you have spilt coffee or wine, for example) clean it off as soon as possible using the same method and you should be okay.
Donts
There are a number of things that you should never do to your limestone fireplace, including:
Dont use wax or spray polishes, as these can actually darken the surface of the stone and create patches of inconsistent colour.
Dont use kitchen or bathroom cleaners, as these can also have a negative reaction with the surface if the limestone.
Dont place cigarettes on or too near to the stones surface, as the heat can actually cause brown scarring.
Dont place vases containing flowers directly onto the limestone fireplace, as this can cause permanent ring marks on the surface.
Dont place glasses of wine, tea, coffee or any other potentially stainable drink on the limestone surface, as these could also cause permanent ring marks or other stains.
Dont stand coals or logs directly onto the limestone hearth or other part of the fireplace, as this could damage the stone or even cause stains.
Dont plaster onto a limestone fireplace, as the stone will soak up the colour from the plaster.
Heat
If you are thinking about installing (or already have installed) a limestone fireplace in your home, it is important to keep in mind that the heat from a real fire can actually cause the stone to crack. The main reason for this is that the middle of the hearth can become extremely hot, whilst the edges stay relatively cool this reaction between cold and hot causes the stone to crack beneath the pressure. The best way to avoid this from occurring is to have your hearth cut into a few sections, and to have the ones closest to the fire resealed for fire resistance. The joins between sections will also strengthen the limestone against potential cracking due to heat.
