How to love a stone home

We have something of a love/hate relationship with stone walls. We love the look of them: their colour, texture, and the sense of age and permanence they give us. But when there is a problem that love can quickly turn. Stone walls can be difficult and expensive to maintain, and the sudden emergence of damp will bring a host of conflicting ‘expert’ opinions, which the poor, confused homeowner will inevitably be at a loss to sort out. But once we know how the wall works, all becomes clear.

What is a stone wall?

Usually, a stone wall is actually two walls with a gap between that is filled with rubble. The stone skins will be solid, but the rubble fill will, by its nature, have gaps in it. This is important for the way the wall