Spalling stonework - to paint or not to paint or what...?

[nicobobinus]

Hello PPUKers,
Shown in the photos below is the stonework along the front of our ~1890s Victorian terrace. Yes, a boring byelaw building; sadly not a 16thC stonework cottage! :-D
The photo featuring the front door shows how the front step is in rather poor shape, and its shabbiness is what got me investigating by cutting the shrubs right back away along the wall.
All along the paint has reached the end of its life and is peeling off, revealing spalling to the surface of the stone (stone comes away with the paint in some places...)

This morning I've dug away the soil to reveal the bottom of the stone (and a peek of the brick course beneath). I'm hoping this will let the stone dry a bit and maybe even reduce humidity in the cellar.

My question to you experts is: what should I do now?

Possible tasks:

• Wire brush off all the peeling paint seems like the first step, or is this too harsh on the stone?
• Leave the stone exposed with the little trench present
• ...or return the soil to its original level?
• ...or return the soil to a level which covers the under-bricks but not the stone?
• Paint the stone with a stabilising primer and then masonry paint
• ...or leave it au naturel too see how the weather treats it?

It seems to me I should at least be painting the doorstep to slow its deterioration, or would that harm it in the long-term?

Any and all advice and anecdotal experience greatly appreciated! Thanks all.

 

[nicobobinus]

Slightly dull update:
Tried a small patch of wirebrushing and it barely scratches the paint, but definitely scratches the (already crumbly) stone.

How best to remove the paint...?

 

[Cubist]

If the paints what I think it is - the orrible stuff many a front door step was finished all over the country a wire-brush won't get you very far. And, as you've already found damages the surface of what is most likely to be a sandstone foundation. You could try a paint stripper but you may need to use something to neutralise the acid/alkali some of those products contain. Oh, and keep any metal scrapers at a low angle to the surface if/when used.

 

[nicobobinus]

Thanks for that, Cubist! Paint stripper does seem like a more sensible option; I will investigate formulations which are stone-safe.

What next though...?
Repaint?
Leave it alone?
Leave the trench or return the soil?

 

[Cubist]

How about a water resistant Lime wash above ground level and fill the trench with gravel to avoid muddy splash back. You could also lay in some perforated flexible tubing for a French Drain to direct water away from the structure.

 

[nicobobinus]

Gravel's a good idea! Nice one.

Just reading about limewash and the word is that it's not suitable for sandstone:

https://organicnaturalpaint.co.uk/faq/what-is-limewash-and-where-can-i-use-it/#not-paint

Anyone have any idea how the stone would have been finished when these sorts of houses were built?