Linostone: Seeing the Stone Beneath
A clean, uniform finish can make a sandstone building look well maintained. Yet appearances can conceal a very different story. Linostone is one example of a surface treatment that can hide the condition of the masonry beneath it.
Developed in the late 1950s, Linostone was originally intended to improve the appearance of sandstone buildings, including those darkened by pollution. A resin coating was applied in thin layers, with sand added to the surface and joints marked out to imitate neatly finished stonework. Later applications extended to covering weathered and crumbling sandstone, with primers used to help stabilise the surface before coating.
For property owners, the attraction was understandable. An uneven, discoloured façade could be given a consistent appearance. Earlier patches and repairs could also be disguised beneath the coating. It was also considerably cheaper than traditional repairs.
The difficulty is what happens behind that finish.
Sandstone is porous. Moisture enters the masonry and needs a route through which to evaporate. Linostone can restrict this drying process. Water entering through cracks, defective joints or other building faults can therefore remain within the stone for longer, encouraging and accelerating deterioration beneath an apparently sound surface. A coating also leaves the underlying causes of decay unresolved.
As Linostone ages, blistering and detachment may become visible. Sometimes the coating separates with grains or layers of sandstone still attached to its underside. The damage extends beyond the finish itself, into the original building material. This is why we approach its removal with particular care.
Crucially, it was never designed to be permanent building material and was only a cheap and temporary cover up. It is best to have it removed as soon as possible.
At Stone Clean Scotland, we use high temperature cleaning to carefully remove these coatings. Following assessment and trial areas, systems such as DOFF combine heat with controlled, low pressure cleaning. Suitable coating softeners can assist where necessary, helping release stubborn material while limiting the pressure required. This combination has been specified for Linostone removal on historic masonry.
Every building requires its own approach. Already weakened sandstone needs careful treatment, and the trial areas help establish what can reasonably be achieved.
Once the coating has been removed, stonemasons can assess the exposed masonry much more clearly. Cracks, deteriorated stone faces and earlier repairs become easier to identify. It is clear that Linostone removal allows a clear view the extent of stone replacement required.
That clearer view provides a better starting point for appropriate repairs, while helping retain original stone wherever possible.
Stone Clean Scotland works alongside stonemasons and architects across Scotland, carefully exposing the building fabric so that informed decisions can be made about its future care. Why not get in touch?
