Can anyone give a quick suggestion as to how to clean this surface properly. It is a new construction indoor pool at a Holiday Inn. The contractor obviously wants this place shining when he goes to turn it over to the owner. The pool company didn’t do a very good job wiping down the pavers after installation and there is residual mortar like what’s in the picture ALLLL the way around the pool (18’x35’). A local guy suggested a very light spraying of F9 Groundskeeper after an initial spray down with a pump sprayer then some good old fashioned elbow grease with a stiff brush. Would you guys have any other suggestions on the best way to get these pavers cleaned?
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The cheap way is to use Muriatic Acid. It is what masons use in this situation. Start with a 10:1 (water to acid) mix and increase as needed.
The more expensive way is to buy premium Prosoco product, which is basically Muriatic Acid but some people feel better using professional chems and charging more. Hey, whatever floats your boat.
Spray, scrub with deck brush and rinse. Your challenge is that if water is in the pool, to spray away from the pool as to not screw up the pool PH or dump a bunch of crap in it. I would recommend having the pool boy come by after you are done to check the PH of the pool and make any adjustments needed.
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nmd80 from Eaco chem. Can get at any brick distributor
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Do you think I can get away with just sort of spot spraying the bad areas with a MA mix than scrubbing? Id like to use as little chems as possible. The pool hasn’t been cleaned or chemically balanced which is a plus but the contractor is still new to me and I’m not sure how high of a concern the pool water will be for him or the owner. But of course I will try my best to NOT get anything in the pool. This type of problem is a first for me and my two biggest concerns are not being able to remove the mortar and doing something to harm the pool.
Prosoco Custom Masonry Cleaner gets my vote
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Custom Masonry Cleaner per sds sheet -
60-100% water
10-30% Hydrogen Chloride
Hydrogen Chloride=HCL=Muriatic Acid
You are buying diluted Muriatic Acid for a premium.
Let’s go with 30% Hydrogen Chloride per gal. Basically that is 3 parts water to 1 part Muriatic Acid. Nothing more.
I am not bashing Prosoco and use many of their products, but not when I can use the exact same thing at a fraction of their price.
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Yes I know. This is like the third time you have responded like that when I have mentioned Prosoco.
Prosoco is fluffed and buffed. Takes the guesswork out. Gives more consistent results. Less chance of pulling color out and getting an uneven splotchy look.
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Thanks. I agree.
Should I be concerned with the cleaner mix(muriatic acid) contaminating the pool?
Do they have a pool guy if so get with them and schedule it so they can make sure pool is right after you are done
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Muriatic acid in the water won’t hurt a thing. It’s what’s added to swimming pool water to lower ph and alkalinity. If you go to the pool section at Wal-Mart during the summer you’ll see muriatic acid in the aisle just for that reason. That’s why someone above mentioned to have the pool guy check the water chemistry afterwards. The ph might need to be raised once you’re done cleaning. You said the water hasn’t even been messed with by the pool guy so I wouldn’t about it. Although, I’d still do your best not to get too much in there. It’s nothing that can’t be corrected though.
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Exactly the reassurance I was looking for. I’ll try my hardest not to get any in the pool. Thanks for the help guys!
6 weeks old, customer states tile guy came back and cleaned it but now discolored? I’m not doing anything for her on this, she still dealing with the contractor. We were doing some other work at her house and wanted our opinion. Told her I’d check into it……looks like he used something harsh on the porcelain tile. She said he was cleaning the grout off the tile?
If you have a little NMD80 with you try a little spot on some. that’[s where the joints floated out it looks like
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I’m not even doing any of the work….she was just asking me what I thought the installer did for cleanup. I passed along the chemical to her though, she can let the contractor know. When I was there it looked like they used something aggressive to wear down the tile on the edges, took off some of the top surface. Those pics are a result of removing excess dried mortar on the edges. Anyways….thanks!
Looks like they used too strong of a muriatic acid solution or let it dwell too long and it hazed the finish of the tile.
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