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Small chips in a limestone fireplace can often be repaired without replacing the damaged section. Over the years, we’ve repaired plenty of chips in Aegean limestone. The best method depends on how much stone is missing.
For us, it usually comes down to this:
You can also browse our range of limestone fire surrounds.
A small edge chip doesn’t need the same repair as a larger piece of missing limestone. Make sure the fireplace is cool, clean and completely dry before you start. Remove any loose dust or stone from the damaged area, but don’t make the chip any larger than it already is.
For small chips, we’ve found that Polyfilla can be a surprisingly good colour match for our Aegean limestone. Apply enough Polyfilla to slightly overfill the damaged area so it sits proud of the chip rather than flush with the surface. Leave it to dry fully, then carefully sand it back into the limestone until it sits level with the surrounding stone and only the smallest amount of filler remains in the chip.
That’s the important bit. You don’t want a patch of filler spread over the face of the stone. Build it up slightly, then sand it back until just the repair remains. For small cosmetic chips, we’ve found this simple method can work very well.
If the piece that chipped off is still available, glue that back in first. You’ll nearly always get a better result using the original stone than trying to recreate the whole damaged area with filler. Make sure both the loose piece and the damaged area are clean and dry, then use a suitable natural stone adhesive to refit it in its original position. Once the adhesive has fully cured, fill any small gaps around the repair with limestone dust mixed with marble glue.
If the original piece is missing and the chip is too large for a Polyfilla repair, we’d normally use limestone dust mixed with marble glue.
You’ll need:
Put a small amount of marble glue onto a clean mixing board, then gradually mix in the limestone dust until you have a firm paste. Using dust from a similar piece of limestone helps with the colour match. Press the mixture into the chip with a filling knife and slightly overfill the damaged area. Remove any excess from the surrounding stone before it dries, then leave the repair to cure fully according to the adhesive instructions.
Once the repair has fully cured, check that it sits level with the surrounding limestone. If needed, use fine-grade sandpaper to bring it back carefully. Work slowly and keep the sanding as local to the repaired area as possible. Once you’re happy with it, remove all the sanding dust and let the limestone dry completely. The repaired area will then need sealing again.
You can follow our guide on how to seal a limestone fireplace for the next step.
If the damage is large, deep or affects a joint, leg or fireplace shelf, that’s where we’d stop and get a stone repairer involved.
We’d also recommend professional advice if:
Trying to fill major damage yourself can sometimes make the repair more noticeable rather than less.
Not always.
Limestone naturally varies in colour, grain and texture, so even a good repair may still be slightly visible if you look closely. The aim is to make the damage much less noticeable rather than promise a completely invisible repair.
Leave the repaired area alone until the filler or adhesive has fully cured. Afterwards, clean the fireplace using products suitable for natural stone and avoid acidic or abrasive cleaners.
You can read our guide to cleaning and caring for a limestone fireplace for more advice. If you’re unsure which repair method is suitable, send us a photo. We’re always happy to have a look and tell you what we’d do.
Phone
01773 718718
Email
sales@castfireplaces.co.uk
