Moisture content and its distribution within the rock mass can affect its deterioration. This has not been considered in details in the context of their specific properties for the common building stones in London such as limestone, granite and marble. Based on an extensive literature survey on specific rock properties and observed surficial deterioration from this study, it is evident that deterioration can be correlated to moisture transport and retention. For example in limestone, it can be related to their sorption-behaviour in response to subtle changes in humidity, intrinsically controlled by their porosity and pore structure. In marble, surficial moisture condensation enhances deposition of airborne particles accelerating chemical and biological decay, influenced by grain size and interlocking.