Fireplace: acid-washed...

Fireplace: acid-washed...  The masons were here on Monday evening to wash all the rock down with dilute muriatic (sulfuric) acid.  They scrubbed each rock off with a stiff brush and a rough rag, after draping the mantle to keep the acid from it.  After that, they rinsed everything off.  The main reason for the acid wash was to remove the thin scum of Portland cement (from the mortar) that ringed most of the rocks.  It's all gone now.  The hearthstones had never been cleaned, so this wash really made them look good.

After this we all went outside with a few of the leftover pieces of stone.  We painted each one with two different sealers (half and half).  Tonight we will choose a sealer and paint the actual fireplace with it...