We restored this Middleburg area stone home a few years ago. Vintage mid-1800’s, the home was built by a traveling crew of stone home builders and was put together in a remarkable two weeks!
And you could tell it… the house was a mess. The builders clearly gave a fixed bid on the project and put it together as quickly and cheaply as possible. They likely used some kind of slip form method where the outside rocks were laid with a good face showing and then the rest of the thickness of the wall was poured in ruble held together with a lime mix and a plastered interior surface. Once the roof was neglected and the rain started getting to the outside walls she just started to crumble down.
Originally posted 2015-01-16 15:11:30.
I am in the process of restoring my family home , a stone farmhouse built around 1840. I am working on the 1st floor which is at ground level at the front I am undecided on what to do about the outside walls . the old morter and plaster that was on the inside walls is badly deteriated and falling off.
I’ve restored a few stone houses… they can be challenging.
If you’d like to share a few photographs I might be able to offer some insights… noah@handmadehouses.com
90% of stone homes are built to last for centuries and all they need is some TLC. While others were assembled using quick and dirty methods where the interior plastering is all that held the home up… a leaky roof can bring down the home.