Sandstone cleaning and sealing in Curl Curl

Curl Curl is enclosed by sandstone hills to the south, the ocean to the east and Curl Curl Lagoon to the north, with John Fisher Park stretching back from the lagoon. It is predominantly a family suburb, with about 83 per cent family households. South Curl Curl has its ocean rockpool, and Stewart House is a well-known local landmark. Residential streets such as Curl Curl Parade, Abbott Road, Harbord Road and Playfair Road spread across the hillsides, where many homes are built into the slope. That geography means sandstone is everywhere: natural outcrops left exposed in gardens, retaining walls that create flat yards, front steps and paths, and the occasional sandstone-clad house.

The stone here has three things working against it. Spray from the beach carries salt onto walls and paving, particularly on the southern hillside facing the ocean, and UTS research identifies salt as a major cause of sandstone decay in coastal areas. The lagoon and parkland to the north keep the air damp, which encourages mould and algae on shaded stone. And the natural sandstone outcrops, along with many older garden walls, are colonised by lichen, which etches into the surface over the years. Most properties have some of each, so a single approach rarely suits every part of the garden.

Our research did not find a heritage conservation area in Curl Curl. That is not the same as an absence of heritage rules. A house, a garden or another structure can be listed on its own, so before restoration work on older stone, look your lot up on the heritage schedule or ask Northern Beaches Council directly. For homes near Curl Curl Lagoon, keeping cleaning residues out of the water is a basic responsibility. Our technicians bund the work area and recover all wash water rather than letting it reach a street drain, given how close every part of the suburb is to the beach or the lagoon.

Expect about 35 to 40 minutes on the road from Double Bay to Curl Curl off-peak (our estimate). Hillside homes with long runs of sandstone steps are typical, so we work from the top down and collect run-off at each level. Natural rock in gardens is cleaned in place with biocide and gentle rinsing, never blasted. Lichen often leaves pale marks for some weeks after treatment as the dead growth weathers off, and we tell you that in advance. Family yards often have play areas and pets, so we tell you exactly when treated surfaces are rinsed and dry enough to use.