IT MAY BE POSSIBLE to stop water intrusion through the sanctuary’s front steps, after all. (This is a follow-up to my post of 2-7-22, which I updated on 7-18-22. Later that year, I met with a vendor who described to me a proprietary process, and he sent me ballpark pricing.
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| Front steps in 1948 (building dedication) |
On the strength of that proposal, our board of directors recently authorized a certain expenditure for this work, as funds become available. Below the jump, this post briefly describes the proposed approach.…
The proposal
According to this vendor’s proposal, sealing the sandstone would include the following process:
- Prepare and seal the grout’s visible voids, with miscellaneous caulking or sealant work on joints and cracks.
- Put a penetrating sealer on the grout.
- Apply an invisible top sealer across the entire patio area.
“Sealing the grout” involves applying a special compound that, as it dries, expands into the thin voids that have opened up over time between the stone and the grout (through expansion and contraction from temperature fluctuations). This forms a watertight seal.
Size of the area of concern
Although I had expressed concern about only the water penetration through the steps, the vendor proposed to seal the entire patio area. Upon reflection, that would indeed seem worthwhile in order to avoid the need to reseal the patio area every 2–3 years, as is presently the case. Avoiding the hassle might justify the up-front extra cost.
Questions in my mind
- How will the vendor ensure that the caulk blends in visually with the existing grout?
- What kind of warranty is offered against future leaks?
- Over time, due to weathering, isn’t it predictable that new cracks will form in the grout, and thin layers of sandstone will flake off the surface? If so, then when those things happen, what can be done to preserve the watertight seal?
- When will recoating be needed?
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