Kilhorne Parish Church

Surface Type: Granite | Product Used: Premium Impregnating Sealer | Completed: 2009

Applicator: Mourne Granite Quarries

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THE PROJECT:

Kilhorne means ‘church of the river’. Built in 1840, this magnificent church is located directly on the north east coast of Ireland facing the Irish Sea and North Channel. The historic church stood in its original condition until the early 1980’s after which it was painstakingly restored to its present state. The restoration work was carried out by Mourne Granite Quarries. Part of the restoration work included removing the original aging render on the exterior of the building and exposing the beautiful coarse cut granite we see today. The newly exposed granite was then sand-blasted and re-pointed.

Since this time, there has been evidence of serious water ingress and further deterioration to both the exterior and interior of the church. The building’s proximity to the sea meant that the exposed granite was under constant threat of further deterioration if left untreated. To prevent further damage the entire exterior of the church was treated with STAIN-PROOF^® Premium Impregnating Sealer, formerly known as STAIN-PROOF Original™.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

There were a number of stringent performance prerequisites for the sealer on this project:

• Providing long term protection for the exposed granite exterior from water and salt damage.
• Stopping water ingress into the building, which had been causing the deterioration of internal fittings.
• Retaining the look and texture of the coarse hand cut granite.

THE STAIN-PROOF^® SOLUTION:

Only 20 years after an official restoration of the Church, officials became concerned with the amount of damage the recently restored church was experiencing. To halt further damage and help maintain the structural integrity of the building, the entire exterior of the church was sprayed with 2 coats of Premium Impregnating Sealer.

Premium Impregnating Sealer penetrates deep into the pores of the material without changing the look and texture of the surface. It works by creating a permanent water proof barrier that keeps water and water borne salts away from the surface, protecting against damage like efflorescence, spalling and freeze/thaw. After treatment, the now waterproof exterior walls no longer allow exterior moisture to penetrate through the stone walls to cause damage to the interior finishes of the church.

Unlike many other sealers Premium Impregnating Sealer is breathable, allowing any moisture trapped in the material to evaporate freely, safeguarding against further damage to surfaces. Also, because dirt and grime are unable to penetrate the Premium Impregnating Sealer protective barrier, surfaces stay clean for longer and future maintenance is made much easier. Premium Impregnating Sealer’s long term protection has helped ensure this beautiful and historic church will be preserved for many years and generations to come. Premium Impregnating Sealer comes with a written 15 year performance warranty when applied by an accredited STAIN-PROOF Accredited Applicator.