The effectiveness of butyl methacrylate/ethyl acrylate-based copolymers as consolidants for stone was investigated. The penetration of polymeric consolidating products is extremely slight because of their macromolecular nature and in situ polymerization of the monomers is suggested as an alternative technique to the use of macromolecular solutions. The efficiencies of three products synthesized in situ and fluorinated by various copolymers were comparatively evaluated in terms of surface properties, water permeability, and consolidation on a selected stone sub-strate. Moreover, because the environmental stability of such polymeric products is one of the key factors for their extensive application for conservative treatments, the photooxidative stability of reference polymers prepared in vitro was also investigated. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.