I’m about to accept this job, but I have no clue how to go about cleaning this type of surface.
I have a 4GPM cold water unit. And I use elamonator for my simple residential (vinyl) jobs.
My two questions are:
Do you think elamonator will remove these stains?
Soft or pressure (OK, I know the answer will probably be ‘spot-test’ - and I will do that)
3 (!!!MOST IMPORTANT!!!) The only thing they requested was to make sure their storm drain pond that gets tested quarterly for run off doesn’t show any un-conforming chemicals / levels. No idea what the local code is - I did a google search but it didn’t come up with any answers (i.e. it’s all Greek to me!!). But I figured most of you guys here have dealt with requests like this, and hopefully you could assist me with an advice?
Thank you!!
Alex K. with Northside Power Washing of Delmarva
Sent from my iPad using Pressure Washing Resource
I won’t be able to go out that way until next Wednesday. I will try the elamonator with softwash. If it doesn’t come out easy, I’ll try with pressure (I doubt I will damage this kind of surface).
And if that doesn’t work, then I don’t know what to do.
Again, that thing with run off testing worries me. I don’t want to clean the building and then find out that they failed their run off test and now being fined by the city gov. Ugh. But then again, if I decline now - I will be having second thoughts for the rest of my life :)))
Alex K. with Northside Power Washing of Delmarva
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Looks like the stains are caused by run off from the roof. There is an issue with the drip edge/gutter on that building, water should not be leaking from behind the gutter like that. if its an asphalt based stain or an oxidation stain from the drip edge you may need One restore or some restoration chemical. I would try a spot with roof mix like Tim said first, it may do the trick. As far as the run off goes, try to prevent it from entering the pond area if at all possible. If that is EIFS, don’t use any pressure. Its very expensive to fix it if you scar or break the surface coat. Good Luck!
ELEMONATOR IS A LIQUID HOUSE WASH AND MULTIPURPOSE CLEANER THAT NOT ONLY IS BLEACH STABLE BUT ALSO BOOSTS THE ALKALINITY OF BLEACH. IT HAS GREAT FOAMING AND RINSING PROPERTIES AND THE STRONG LEMON SCENT DOES A GREAT JOB OF MASKING THE SMELL OF BLEACH. A LITTLE OF ELEMONATOR GOES A LONG WAY, 1 OZ PER GALLON WHEN USED IN DOWNSTREAMING IS ALL YOU NEED.
It’s all good and all… But my question is - what is (if any at all) Elemonator’s impact on the environment? Can it be detected two months later in a nearby pond if tested for runoff/chemicals?
Given the fact that we use only 1oz per gallon, and then on top of that it is diluted while downstreaming and rinsing - I think it won’t be detected. But then again I’m not a chemistry guru. I just don’t want to make a mistake that’s gonna cost me.
Thanks for your replies!
Alex K. with Northside Power Washing of Delmarva
Sent from my iPad using Pressure Washing Resource
If you’re that worried about the runoff, why not dam the storm drain and collect your runoff to discharge elsewhere? (Landscape, sanitary sewer, etc…). It seems to me that if you are uncomfortable with the chance of contaminating the pond this is the answer you are looking for.
So after going out to the location and trying to get the stucco cleaned, I learnt 2 things:
Runoff is absolutely not an issue there. The pond is pretty far away, and the amount of the water/chemicals I use to clean/rinse dries out on the parking lot way before it reaches the pond. So I am not at all worried about that part.
Stucco sucks. I got most of the stains out with SH+Elemonator mix, but the heavier ones right underneath the gutters are still there.
Yesterday I went again and tried to get those stucco stains off with Purple Power. Still no luck. I applied weak solution at first. Then almost 100% (well, down streaming). Again, I let it dwell for a loooong time. Still won’t come out.
I climbed the ladder and looked up close again. The stains actually penetrate it and it is literally within the surface of this stucco.
At this point, I’m wanna say it’s gonna be impossible to get those out.
And therefore the only solution that I can think of is to prime it, and paint it over. Not the entire front of the building. But just that area right underneath the gutters where the stains are.
I stopped by Lowes and they say they can match the paint if I brought a tiny sample of the wall.
I hate going that route (stucco to me at least, just doesn’t seem to be the kind of surface you’d want to paint over - due to all that porousness). But if this is the only way to make the front of the building to look nice again - then I will have to do it.
Any thoughts on this?
Alex @ Nothside Power Washing serving EasternShore Delmarva
Sent from my iPhone using Pressure Washing Resource
Figured I’d give an update on my month long battle with stucco
I got myself a 1.5 gallon pump-up spray thingy from HomeDepot. Poured a gallon of 12.5% SH in it, added 1oz of Elemonator and shook it to mix it all up. Then applied it directly onto the dry surface of the stucco. Let it sit there for 10 minutes. And rinsed it with the pressure washer (I used the same nozzle I’d use for rinsing while downstreaming - that way there’s some pressure up close, but not excessive to where I would damage the stucco).
It brightened up some. I did the same thing again. And then again.
So the picture that I attached shows 3 applications like that, and 3 times I rinsed it while holding the nozzle 2" away from the surface.
Next Sunday I’m gonna try the same approach with purple power (just to see if that makes any difference). And if that doesn’t work, I will have to continue with SH until all the stains are gone…
Alex K. with Northside Power Washing of Delmarva
Sent from my iPad using Pressure Washing Resource
I had a similar situation. I mixed a very hot SH mix and applied with pump up sprayer…let it dwell for about 30 minutes. Misting with spray every 8 to 10 minutes to keep it from drying. Then rinsed…it worked.
