Salt fog implications on stone cladding requirements: the case study of two Portuguese limestones

Evaluation of stone panels durability can be considered as a challenge because the various characteristics (mineralogical, physical, mechanical) of a particular type of stone strongly affect its capacity to be used in cladding applications. Stone parameters should be considered together to generally predict and understand decay effects. The aim of this study is to reduce the lack of knowledge regarding the implications of salt fog on certain fundamental characteristics of stone cladding requirements, particularly for the dowel-hole fixing system. Systematic methodology was developed for the characterization of two Portuguese limestones: Moca Creme and Semi-Rijo. This methodology can be further applied to other stone types. In this work, results of salt fog decay tests are presented and discussed taking into account their direct contribution for a better stone-cladding dimensioning process.