Can Dye Be Removed From the Limestone

Q. Our limestone fountain is dyed on special occasions. The purple dye is penetrating the limestone at the bottom of the wall. How can the purple dye be removed from the limestone? I have tried acid and chlorine. Any suggestions?

 

A. Thank you for your question. This is a very tough one. Personally, I don't believe that you will be able to get this stain out of the natural stone. Limestone is very porous and with the darkness of the color, I don't believe that you will be able to remove all of that stain. Probably the best solution is to find a product that can be submerged in water that can be tinted to as close as possible to the limestone color. Sure Crete has a pigmented oil based acrylic that might work. I would contact the manufacturer for recommendations. I would think that an opaque sealer that is water submersible would work. They might also suggest that instead of a sealer, that you parge a cementitious top coat that is colored to match the limestone. If you do that, make sure that it is sealed with a clear seal to make sure that the color isn't absorbed again. I would also make sure that all of the other stone is sealed so that it isn't damaged as well. Good luck.

 

This consumer question was answered by Joyce Harris, Owner of Personal Touch Service Solutions, serving Peoria, Washington, and Central Illinois. 

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