Why do limestone buildings get damaged

You can avoid this problem by building a kind of a shelter above the limestone walls in order to protect them against rainwater. Or you might restore them if the weathering is on a deeper level. This problem might be resulted from the general weathering that we describe above. Also, wrong handling or exposure might also lead to erosion on limestone. The airborne abrasives which are floated by wind are other reasons of erosion. Also, when this stone reacts with only water, the erosion might also occur.

You can try to prevent erosion by planting the areas around the limestone-made walls, which can deflect the wind and water. Therefore you extend the life of the limestone. Whether it is a general or localized staining, it is such an unwanted appearance on any decorative stone. Figure 1: Slate headstone showing exfoliation caused by exposure to the elements.

All porous or rough stone surfaces are dirtied by the deposition of airborne particles such as dust and smoke. Moisture condensing on a stone surface will increase the amount of deposition. In addition to disfiguring the stone, accumulated debris can contribute to chemical and biological attack. Carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide in the environment are incorporated in falling precipitation known as acid rain. Acid rain will dissolve the calcite in limestone, marble and sandstone.

Acidified rainwater slowly dissolves the calcite in limestone monuments, leaving whitish patches. In areas protected from direct rain, the dirt accumulates as a black gypsum powder or crust. Diesel emissions are particularly disfiguring to stone structures. Concern has also been expressed about the role that climate change may play in stone deterioration. In Scotland for example, higher temperatures and increased rainfall is expected to lead to increased biodeterioration of stone structures Duthie et al Salts may form in stone from airborne pollutants sulphates and nitrates in particular or be blown by wind from the sea onto stone structures.

Porous stone in contact with the ground will also eventually suffer from salt damage. The base of the stone absorbs water and soluble salts which rise by capillary action. Nguyen holds a PhD and is a cancer biologist and science writer. His specialty is tumor biology. He also has a strong interest in the deep intersections between social injustice and cancer health disparities, which particularly affect ethnic minorities and enslaved peoples. What Chemicals Rust Metal Rapidly?

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