That old house

We all love the charm that can only be found in turn of the last century homes.  Especially if you're lucky enough to find one that still has the original broad and detailed wood trim still in tact and that hasn't been painted.  But have you thought much about that old house foundation?  In Wisconsin many of these old beauties were built solidly on field stones combined with mortar, which turns out is a pretty stable combination.  This combination however is not waterproof and is often prone to water intrusion in the basement.  Water is the enemy of any structure and has an impact on these foundations too.  Mortar, like concrete absorbs water and has to dry out.  Over a long period of absorption and drying cycles the surface coat of the wall, known as the parge coat begins to deteriorate and crumble, which if left unchecked will result in decay of the foundation wall.  So don't just work on restoring your old house's cosmetic features, maintain it, including it's foundation, both inside and out.