Classical Stone are highly skilled in stone restoration, conservation and cleaning, having worked on monuments, memorials, headstones, historical markers, war memorials, dedication plaques, commemorative panels and many other stone structures.

Our expert stone masonry team have wide experience in cleaning and working with all types of stone commonly used in memorials and monuments, including sandstone, marble, tuff, and granite.

In fact, whatever type of historical stone structure you have, the Classical Stone team have the expertise needed to prolong the life of the stone as well as enhance its appearance.

The importance of professional stone cleaning

Engaging a specialist stone mason will help ensure that the stone memorial or monument is preserved and restored as closely as possible to the original sculptor’s intent.

In most cases, you should not attempt to clean a stone monument or memorial yourself. Even though you might think of stone as a hard, solid material, in fact it can easily be damaged by inappropriate or excessive cleaning.

Under no circumstances should you try to clean a stone structure using chemical cleaning products, abrasives or wire brushes, high-pressure water, or sand blasting. These harsh cleaning techniques can easily mark or damage the stone.

Excessive cleaning can also destroy the stone memorial’s ‘case hardening’ (the harder layer which naturally develops on old stone after time). Removing this hard layer exposes the softer stone beneath, hastening the decay of the stone.

For all these reasons, it is a good idea to use a professional stone mason with experience in conserving stone to inspect the memorial or monument and determine the best way to clean and preserve it. 

How Classical Stone clean and preserve historical structures

The Classical Stone team will begin by evaluating the condition of your stone memorial or monument, and planning any necessary cleaning or restoration work with sympathy and care.

Biological growth such as algae, moss or lichen can cause acid damage to stone monuments, and can also penetrate the stone, expanding and destroying it from within. Yet it isn’t a good idea to attempt to remove lichen yourself, as the heavy scrubbing needed can create unsightly pockmarks that will retain water and lead to further damage.

Instead, Classical Stone can remove this plant material without causing damage to the underlying stonework. We use either a low pressure water jet method, or a superheated steam water system to safely remove built-up plant matter, while also killing microbial spores to prevent the quick regrowth of damaging lichens and moulds.

Rising damp is another common problem which can affect all types of stone structures. Monument stones can absorb ground water which, as it dries out, leaves behind salt crystals which will expand and break apart the stone over time.

Classical Stone can prevent this damage by ensuring that the monument base is well drained, repointing any open joints, and checking whether modern alterations, such as added paving or concrete, are preventing water from escaping or even directing water towards the stonework.

Arrange an inspection of your stone monument

Classical Stone has worked with many local councils, RSLs, state schools and private schools, residents’ societies, historical societies, community groups and many other organisations, to perform conservation and restoration work on stone structures

We will ensure that the right cleaning technique is used for the particular stone monument, and also advise you on the right maintenance programme to ensure the long-term viability of the structure.

For more information about how Classical Stone preserve historical stone monuments, call 0413 494 080 or get in touch using the form to the right.