STONE COLD FAUX

Ubiquitous in Baltimore since the 1930s, cement claddings under trade names like Formstone, Perma-Stone, Rostone, and others were conceived as remedies for the porous, substandard brick typical of the city’s row houses. As with other kinds of faux finishes, installation required that cornices, belt courses, lintels, and sills (all traditional details that keep water out) were chipped away to flatten the surface. Some types of simulated stone were molded off-site and shipped in 16" x 24" panels; others were prepped and installed on site. That process was much like installing a three-part stucco or plaster layer over brick or even wood. The heavy synthetic layer tends to pull away from the underlying surface, eventually leading to spalling, cracking, and potential structural damage. For these and other reasons, some historic neighborhoods…

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Old House Journal (Digital) - 1 Issue, May/June 2024

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