Limestone Fireplace

A limestone fireplace is a common feature in many homes whether they’re old or new. It can bring you and your family long years of warmth and enjoyment particularly during the cold months. Being a natural stone, it is very durable and can last for a lifetime as long as they’re properly maintained.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock and made up of grains as well as the minerals calcite or argonite. It is commonly used in architecture not only in North American but in Europe as well. Its popularity was at its peak in the late 19th century and in the early 20th century. Many of you may not even know that the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt considered to be one of the world’s wonders is made of limestone. In addition, did you know that many medieval churches and castles in Europe are made of this natural stone.

While this building material can provide a beautiful fireplace to your home, it would benefit you to learn about its pros and cons and how to properly maintain it moving forward. Since you will be using the structure every now and then, it would definitely be prone to scratches, stains and marks. As such, you need to be in the know as to the right ways to care for it and teach your other family members the same thing.

Limestone fireplaces can have rough and smooth surfaces. It is important then to be careful when cleaning them. Avoid using commercial cleaners such as those that contain abrasives as they can damage the structure. Refrain from using sprays and waxes as well because they can discolor the stone and can result in dark patches on the surface.

Another thing to avoid on your limestone fireplace is to put a vase filled with water. When you do this, you could cause a dark ring on the surface that may be hard to remove. So be wary of the decorative items that you display on your fireplace mantle.

Additionally, do not put logs and other combustible materials on top of the surface. Doing so will cause scratches, black marks and other stains on your fireplace. What you can do then to protect the structure is to use a sealant. This material will provide protection to the fireplace and will thereby prevent stains and scratches. If possible, apply two coatings but remember to let the first coat dry first before applying the second coating.

When cleaning, experts suggest using a cotton and very diluted liquid soap. To ensure that you get rid of the dirt, dust and other stains, scrub the limestone surface in a circular motion instead of doing a hard back and forth stroke. Do avoid using steel wool or brush with strong bristles as they would definitely cause scratches to the surface.

Any kind of fireplace can well serve as a focal point in the living room or in any room you’d like to have this structure. This being the case, you need to keep it attractive by cleaning it regularly.