If it's mossy I agree with Mike. If it's light infestation sure don't rinse it. Up here we get stuff so covered in lichen and moss it can look worse with no rinse. Also salt and chlorine, (mostly salt) are bad for mortar joints. The CH has no salt (I assume) so that is a step in the right direction if leaving the solution on.
-- Edited by Bill Booz on Monday 29th of April 2013 05:47:13 PM
Tim Teed said
Apr 29, 2013
I am pursuing a potential lead. Dirty brick wall approx 4' x 5,546'(approx 22,184 sf one side) It will clean nicely. It is along a few blocks and I can access along street. The only plants around are grass on other side, and ground cover(pachasandra sp?) facing the street. Using my softwash 1st generation rig, how should I approach? I'm thinking of using 3 - 4% mix of CH so that I dont have to wet plants much. Should I rinse or just offer option to rinse at upcharge? I'm thinking I could rinse using water from my tank on front of my rig, since I would be using CH and dont have to carry SH
Michael Derose said
Apr 29, 2013
pressure washer and a 500 gallon tank tow behind. Spray solution first then rinse. Brick most times will need some pressure.
John Aloisio said
Apr 30, 2013
Tim,
we did a brick Fence and entry sign for a development that a 3% mix worked well on. We were able to rinse after running a 350' hose And then it rained that night, so I think we could have just left it. Your call, but it came out clean!
John Aloisio said
Apr 30, 2013
I mainly am weary of loose and cracked mortar joints and pieces of brick. That is the reason I have tried to do at his work with a SW process. High pressure could blow the joints out and actually sprawl the mortar. It is a job to job thing and we all need to make the descion based on comfort of application.
Michael Derose said
Apr 30, 2013
Well if you use the right pressure and cleaning mixture it will clean and be done with zero damage. I have been doing this for a little while now and have done my fair share of brick. Remember not everything can be soft washed with instant results.
John Aloisio said
May 1, 2013
I don't disagree, it is just another option. Both will work. Personal preference and as I said...job to job specifics.
Ray Burke said
May 1, 2013
Tim Teed wrote:
I am pursuing a potential lead. Dirty brick wall approx 4' x 5,546'(approx 22,184 sf one side) It will clean nicely. It is along a few blocks and I can access along street. The only plants around are grass on other side, and ground cover(pachasandra sp?) facing the street. Using my softwash 1st generation rig, how should I approach? I'm thinking of using 3 - 4% mix of CH so that I dont have to wet plants much. Should I rinse or just offer option to rinse at upcharge? I'm thinking I could rinse using water from my tank on front of my rig, since I would be using CH and dont have to carry SH
Tim, you could also carry mix in small tank, and water in Large tank and feed a PW or booster pump with the skid pump too if rinsing is a huge concern. I do this frequently for HOA neighborhood fences that have no water supplies.
Danny Cronauer said
May 1, 2013
Michael Derose wrote:
pressure washer and a 500 gallon tank tow behind. Spray solution first then rinse. Brick most times will need some pressure.
This is the way to do it. Great results instantly.
Doug Ford said
May 1, 2013
soft wash and rinse a few times if it is real bad. then sell them on a maintenance plan. Brick comes clean with softwashing and will last longer too. the attached pictures shows what softwashing can do with a rinse. If you go to my facebook page you can see more pictures. if it is real bad. softwash it and give it a few days and come back a rinse. stuff comes off like butter!!!
CH will leave a residue on brick. Brick seems to show this more than other surfaces. Id add a rinse to the project.
AC
Doug Rucker said
May 2, 2013
We clean a lot of brick here in Houston. The best way I have found is to hit with a 3% mix, 2-3 times, then using a pressure washer lightly rinse and go over it with an adjustable/variable lance wand under low pressure. The brick you see here was cleaned in about 10 minutes.
If it's mossy I agree with Mike. If it's light infestation sure don't rinse it. Up here we get stuff so covered in lichen and moss it can look worse with no rinse. Also salt and chlorine, (mostly salt) are bad for mortar joints.
The CH has no salt (I assume) so that is a step in the right direction if leaving the solution on.
Some links to how salt harms mortar:
http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/36815/Salt_Damp_tech_guide.pdf
http://engineeringlectures.com/building-failure
http://www.tps.com.au/pools/cl_gen.htm
http://www.plowsite.com/archive/index.php/t-9604.html
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/building-science/efflorescence-water-damage-building-science-podcast
-- Edited by Bill Booz on Monday 29th of April 2013 05:47:13 PM
I am pursuing a potential lead. Dirty brick wall approx 4' x 5,546'(approx 22,184 sf one side) It will clean nicely. It is along a few blocks and I can access along street. The only plants around are grass on other side, and ground cover(pachasandra sp?) facing the street. Using my softwash 1st generation rig, how should I approach? I'm thinking of using 3 - 4% mix of CH so that I dont have to wet plants much. Should I rinse or just offer option to rinse at upcharge? I'm thinking I could rinse using water from my tank on front of my rig, since I would be using CH and dont have to carry SH
Tim,
we did a brick Fence and entry sign for a development that a 3% mix worked well on. We were able to rinse after running a 350' hose And then it rained that night, so I think we could have just left it. Your call, but it came out clean!
I mainly am weary of loose and cracked mortar joints and pieces of brick. That is the reason I have tried to do at his work with a SW process. High pressure could blow the joints out and actually sprawl the mortar. It is a job to job thing and we all need to make the descion based on comfort of application.
I don't disagree, it is just another option. Both will work. Personal preference and as I said...job to job specifics.
Tim, you could also carry mix in small tank, and water in Large tank and feed a PW or booster pump with the skid pump too if rinsing is a huge concern. I do this frequently for HOA neighborhood fences that have no water supplies.
This is the way to do it. Great results instantly.
soft wash and rinse a few times if it is real bad. then sell them on a maintenance plan. Brick comes clean with softwashing and will last longer too. the attached pictures shows what softwashing can do with a rinse. If you go to my facebook page you can see more pictures. if it is real bad. softwash it and give it a few days and come back a rinse. stuff comes off like butter!!!
AC
We clean a lot of brick here in Houston. The best way I have found is to hit with a 3% mix, 2-3 times, then using a pressure washer lightly rinse and go over it with an adjustable/variable lance wand under low pressure. The brick you see here was cleaned in about 10 minutes.