Buying a Historic Main Line Stone Home: What to Know

Stone houses are the signature of the Main Line. Many are a century old or more, faced in local schist or fieldstone, and built with methods that differ from modern construction. They reward the right owner, and they punish surprises. This guide covers what to look for before you buy.

Common styles

• Colonial Revival and Georgian Revival: symmetrical stone fronts, center halls and gable or hipped roofs; the most familiar Main Line house.
• Tudor Revival: steep roofs, half-timbering, leaded glass and stone or stucco walls.
• Victorian, Queen Anne and Shingle Style: porches, towers and mixed materials, especially near the old railroad stations.
• Farmhouses and early stone houses: some predate the railroad, with thick walls and later additions.

How older stone houses are built

Many older Main Line stone houses have solid masonry walls rather than a stone veneer over a frame. They were laid in lime-based mortar, which is softer and more flexible than modern Portland cement. Repointing with the wrong mortar can trap moisture and damage the stone, which is why the National Park Service's Preservation Briefs recommend matching the original mortar. Inside, expect plaster on lath or directly on masonry, and often original windows, doors and trim.

Inspections to plan

Beyond a general home inspection, consider:

1. Roof: slate and tile roofs can last a very long time, but flashing, gutters and repairs need a specialist.
2. Masonry and chimneys: mortar condition, cracks, lintels, and chimney liners.
3. Sewer camera: older clay or cast-iron laterals often need repair.
4. Heating: many houses still use steam or hot-water boilers; have a specialist look at the boiler and piping.
5. Electrical: look for remnants of knob-and-tube wiring and undersized service.
6. Water and drainage: basement moisture, grading and downspouts.
7. Environmental: radon, and lead paint and asbestos in houses of this age.

Historic districts and listings

National Register listing, such as the North and South Wayne or Gladwyne historic districts, generally does not restrict what a private owner does with private funds. Local rules are what matter: some townships, including Lower Merion and Radnor, have historic resource inventories or local historic districts with design review, and some restrict demolition. Before you plan exterior changes, additions or a teardown, ask the township how the property is classified.

Renovation and insurance

Work on older houses often needs specialist trades (masons, slaters, plasterers, steam-heat contractors), longer lead times and contingency for what is found inside walls. Ask your insurer early: some carriers have requirements for older wiring, roofs or heating systems, and replacement cost for stone construction can be higher than for a modern house.

Questions for the seller

• What major work has been done, when, by whom, and with which permits?
• Has the house been repointed, and with what mortar?
• Any history of water in the basement?
• What are typical heating costs?

Before you decide

Every historic house is different. Use specialists, read the township's rules for the specific property, and budget for upkeep as part of the purchase. Our Main Line guide and luxury services explain how we help.