Removal of Stone Cladding on Brownstones

Protecting Yourself

• Removing stone cladding is a potentially dangerous project for a homeowner to undertake on her own. Always take precautions to ensure you or any pedestrians around the house don’t get hurt. Don't simply climb on a ladder to access the top of the brownstone because the removal process requires the use of both hands and will prevent you from being able to steady yourself on a ladder. Scaffolding will help you stay safe while you are working. Always wear gloves, goggles and work boots when chipping away the stone cladding.

Protecting Others

• Brownstones are generally in congested cities with plenty of pedestrians. Take extreme precautions when removing stone cladding to ensure you don’t drop stones or grout on passersby. Gently chipping away stones one by one can slow down the removal process, but it will enable you to work without damaging the house or injuring pedestrians. Also, hammer wooden boards over the windows to protect the glass.

Removal Process

• In order to remove the stone cladding, climb to the top of the scaffolding and hit the topmost piece of stone cladding with a sledge hammer until you knock it free. Then, chisel off all the grout until you reach the home surface. Adjust the angle of the chisel as you are working so you don’t damage the house. Work until you remove the grout off one area then continue with the rest of the stone and grout working to the bottom of the brownstone.

Cleaning Up

• This cladding removal process will leave debris all over the scaffolding and lawn. Prevent it from becoming too much of a problem by dropping the stone and large chunks of grout directly into a Dumpster. Ten-foot dumpsters are generally large enough for all but the largest brownstones. Clean up debris after every day of work to prevent it from laying on the lawn or on plants and blocking out sunlight.