sandstone filler?

[blue83ranger]

My uncle wanted me to do some searching for some questions he had and i didn't find much, and it seems like you guys can answer just about anything. So, here it goes. My uncle is fixing up an old house and was wondering what is the best insulation to use around a crawl space? and what would be the best way to fill in around a sandstone wall and steps. The steps lead to a cellar from outside, there are doors on top of them that will be rebuilt latter on. and the wall is on both sides of the steps and the walls of said cellar. what i was able to find was never paint or seal sandstone because it basically makes it crumble, quickly. But didn't find any suggestions on what to put in between each stone. any thoughts?

 

[canyoncritter]

when you you say "fill in" around the stairs and wall, to be it sounds like you should be looking for grout.

search sandstone grout.

there are also sealers you can use on the sanstone its self....

http://www.aquamix.com/surface_finder/surface_finder_detail.asp?sfid=48590#grp37155

 

[blue83ranger]

the stairs are just sandstones blocks that never had anything sealing in where they meet and he wanted to seal that in. and the wall is kinda falling apart, not that bad though. so i guess, yes grout. and the bad part is the entire basement wall (sandstone) is painted and i read that you should never paint it because it has to breathe, other wise it will just crumble, which is what it's doing.

 

[Shran]

Yes, it does have to breathe. It will collect moisture and the paint holds it in. I have seen sandstone block buildings fixed with mortar or quickcrete...seems to work alright.