My home has a decorative stone border surrounding the front door. The border has an arched top and the stones are mortared together. One of the stones of the arch has slipped a few inches and needs to be returned to its proper location. My problem is in moving it. It is somewhat heavy and I need a way of jacking it up so that the arch can be repaired.

I tried to use a bottle jack and 2"x4" but the board gave in before the stone moved. Can someone suggest a smart way to push this stone back into position? I will need to be able to hold the stone in position until new mortar or glue cures.

Thanks

I once moved a classified materials safe onto rollers by using a large cold chisel as a wedge, hammered under it... perhaps that hejps... Good luck...

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Originally Posted by rsain2004

I once moved a classified materials safe onto rollers by using a large cold chisel as a wedge, hammered under it...perhaps that hejps...Good luck...

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I neglected to mention that the stone in question is about 15' off the ground. Fairly important detail I forgot to include.

Is this a stone veneer or is the stone true structural rock face. My way of thinking is if a 2x4 fails there is always a 4x4 to try next. A bottle jack is probably capable of 2 tons of lift.

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Is this a stone veneer or is the stone true structural rock face. My way of thinking is if a 2x4 fails there is always a 4x4 to try next. A bottle jack is probably capable of 2 tons of lift.

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It's and actual stone probably 6"Wx6"Dx16"H. Do know of a structural jack that can often be found in the basement of a home that has sagging beams. I'm wondering if that might work but don't know what it's called exactly and don't know where to get one.

Thanks

OK, mortared stones like you describe do not slip, you have a structural failure in the arch and the weight of the keystone is moving. This is not a DYI project for most folks. I recopmmend you call a mason for an opinion and an estimate. Something is failing in your structrure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

OK, mortared stones like you describe do not slip, you have a structural failure in the arch and the weight of the keystone is moving. This is not a DYI project for most folks. I recopmmend you call a mason for an opinion and an estimate. Something is failing in your structrure.

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I actually had a mason show me what to do. Why this stone has moved is that the stones of the archway were poorly designed and were not tapered in such a way that they can hold themselves. The stone slipped until its fit was more snug.