Lithomex

Repairing damaged stonework begins by identifying and understanding the reasons for decay. The usual reasons are excessive moisture, poor repairs, mechanical damage and natural decay. A major reason for damage is inappropriate repairs. Hard pointing or cement-based repair materials are very damaging to soft stone. Lithomex, a lime-based material, is flexible, porous, and lets the building breathe. Hard cement-based materials trap in moisture and salts. Patching stone can be very effective, affordable and can be reversible. The patching material must match the color and texture of the existing stone. It must adhere well, be breathable and have similar thermal expansion and weathering characteristics. Lithomex fulfills these requirements in most cases and, when applied by skilled craftsmen, will lend itself to a perfect match.

Stock Lithomex Colors

Lithomex can be purchased in 1-quart, 1-gallon or 55 pound units. Pricing is as follows:

1-quart Lithomex non-pigmented and any stock color is $25.00
1-gallon Lithomex non-pigmented and any stock color is $75.00
55 pounds Lithomex non-pigmented is $125.00
55 pounds Lithomex stock color is $160.00
55 pounds Lithomex custom color is $225.00

The Master Conservator’s Brick and Stone Simulation Sample Kit

Contains 24 samples of tinted St. Astier Lithomex (Based on Natural Hydraulic Lime Binders)
Cost is $300. Click here to order your kit

Any of the stock Lithomex brick and stone repair mortars can be blended at different ratios to obtain a new hue that may simulate the color of the material you are trying to match.

The following 24 tiles are in the Master Conservator's Brick and Stone Simulation Sample Kit:

Non-Pigmented Lithomex

LMBR11 Chocolate Brownstone w/Mica                 LMBR8 Light Brownstone w/Mica
 

LMBR7 Dark Browstone                                       LMEXST0060 Dark Reddish Brownstone
 

LMRD13.5 Brick Red Brownstone                         LMEXST0021 Slate
 

LMRD5 Salmon Brick                                          LMBR13.25 Dark Brick
 

LMEXBR0013 Buff Brick                                      LMRD12.5 Deep Salmon Brick
 

LMTN4 Dark Limestone                                        LMTN 3 Light Indy Limestone
 

LMEXTC1002 Orange Terracotta                           LM100 Yellow Terracotta
 

LMEXST0062 Raw Umber Sandstone                    LM250 Taupe Sandstone
 

LMGN2 Serpentine                                              LMEXST0064 Blue Stone
 

White Modifier                                                     Red Modifier
 

Black Modifier                                                     Yellow Modifier
 

Blue Modifier

Examples of blends of Lithomex to create a custom Lithomex material:

Marble                                                                Wissahickon Schist
 

Disclaimer: Many factors affect how images appear on your computer monitor and how they print on your specific printer. It is suggested that you send us a sample or purchase the stock Lithomex kit so that you may view each tile individually or hold the tiles up to a building to determine a match. If you send us a sample we will call you, free of charge, to make a suggestion if one of our stock lithomex colors is similar to the sample you send.

Examples of work performed using Lithomex:
             Before repairs                           After repairs                             After repairs


                                         During repair work




          Before - Rough concrete balcony                     After - A family crest sculpted in place





    Before - Conshohocken United Methodist                     After restoration to the bell tower
                  Church, Conshohocken, PA

          After restoration to the bell tower                    Repaired brownstone using Lithomex

Built in the late 1800's, this New York City style "brownstone" home is the only one of its kind in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. The brownstones were pulling away from the back-up brickwork and each stone varied in its degree of degradation. The ornate faces of carved brownstone had blistered and exfoliated. St. Astier's Lithomex, a stone and brick repair material was used. Even the minute bedding cracks were repaired using a colored St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime for consolidation work. The facade was also completely repointed using only St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime and sand.

Photos: (Click a photo to enlarge)

The Graveyard Kit:
Please inquire for suggested recipes and take our class before using the material:

Waterglass is a grain strengthener, fortifier and conditioner put into a weak and friable stone prior to doing a repair with Lithomex.

Lithomex is brick and stone patching material.

Marble dust and NHL 2 is for making a lime putty to make a setting mortar.

Slag flecks and Mica are inclusions often found in original stones that are added to the Lithomex to create a detail.

Limepaint is a material where you just add water to make whitewash.

Casein and NHL 2 is used to make and injection grout for filling fissures in masonry.
Casein and NHL 2 and Waterglass is used to make a thin brick and stone attachment mortar for work remaining indoors.

Casein, Waterglass and Non-Pigmented Lithomex is used to make a thin brick and stone attachment mortar for work remaining outdoors.

The cost is $350 for the kit.
Workshops are scheduled with groups of 10 or more each buying a kit.

Documents

Lithomex Material Safety Data Sheet

Lithomex User Recommendations & Data

Specifications for Stone Repair (Lithomex)

Lithomex Data Sheet

Lithomex Cut Sheet

Water Ratios and Proper Mixing of Colored Mortars