Granite Sluiceway Waterproofing

[thunberg]

Not sure if this is the right forum to post this in, but I appreciate any help or direction anyone may be able to offer.

I own a 19th century Greek Revival former woolen mill located in Southern RI, and have been in the process of restoring it over the past few years. There's a dam, gatehouse, and associated sluiceway on the property, and one of the nagging issues is that before I purchased the property, a section of the sluiceway was rebuilt with granite masonary walls that leak quite badly.

Overview of the section:
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1094.JPG
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1110.JPG

Interior:
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1095.JPG
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1096.JPG
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1097.JPG
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1101.JPG
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1103.JPG

Exterior:
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1098.JPG
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1099.JPG
http://thunberg.com/palisades/sluiceway/IMG_1100.JPG

Note that I'm currently diverting water upstream and the sluiceway is currently 2-3' below normal level, as can be seen by the algae line.

When the water level is normal, there's enough water getting through, or under, that the parking lot has a steady stream in it, which can be seen here via Google Maps:

https://maps.google.com/?ll=41.450817,-71.49598&spn=0.001044,0.001635&t=h&z=20

I've talked to quite a few people about this and would like some additional input on the following options as I'm most likely missing something:

1. Rebuild the wall using hydraulic mortar, as apparently this wasn't used in the original construction.

2. Chip out the interior mortar, and repoint with hydraulic mortar.

3. Spray the interior of the wall with a dark gunite.

4. Varying forms of granite / masonary sealer.

I'm not entirely concerned with cost, more doing it right in the most watertight and permanent way possible so that this isn't an ongoing maintenance issue. Thoughts?

 

[SE18]

Looks great! I don't think the granite is leaking, rather the mortar between the granite blocks might need sealing.

I'm not an expert on these things, perhaps someone else can help. I think most of the folks use pond liners on this forum but there are some really knowledgeable people who could probably chime in.

I do have concrete construction, however, with a liner sandwiched between layers of concrete. I've had concrete crack and patched it with hydraulic and it basically cracks again in the same place a year later (from freeze expansion, but I don't get leaks due to sandwich technique I use, so cracks are not an issue with me), so I would likely choose the gunite option. There also some companies that offer various spay products that work well, not concrete but something else like a rubbery spray, which I can't recall now)

 

[gardengimp]

That project is beautiful.

I have no idea how to fix the issue, but I would recommend contacting Steve for advice:

Steve Joneli
High Desert Koi Ponds
www.highdesertkoi.com
[email protected]

 

[Mmathis]

Welcome, and sorry, but I can't help, either. I do want to say, "WOW!" What a fantastic place -- such character and history!

Just out of curiosity, what is it used for now?

And a big CONGRATULATIONS to you for wanting to fix it and not just repair it!