Although brownstone facades peaked in popularity during the Victorian period, many over 100-yearold brownstone buildings survive, and eventually need repair. Perhaps the best-known remaining examples are the rows of townhouses in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington. But brownstone, which is sandstone laced with iron, came in other colors besides the reddish brown most familiar in the east. Sandstone used in the midwest is often the lighter buff variety quarried in Ohio, while in the west, especially in Denver, rich red sandstones were most popular. The softness of the stone, which makes it easy to carve, also makes it vulnerable to a variety of stresses, including weather, one of the chief causes of brownstone deterioration. Some typical problems include: • Cracking: Because it
