Surface Cleaning 2 Story Block Wall

Residential
1

A client has requested we clean the exterior of this old 2 story block wall chicken house so it can be re-painted before the property is sold. The client is not looking to get the surface stains off or any of the existing paint. Just clean enough to re-paint. I have searched and didn’t find much pertaining to vertical surface cleaning. I came across a few threads but not many answers.

Have any of you done anything similar to this and if so what method or equipment did you use? Right now we are running a 4gpm/4000psi machine. I know there is always the simple back and forth method with a wand and the tip we choose to do the job but we are willing to buy some new equipment in order to do this job as efficiently as possible but don’t know what that equipment may be.

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Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions. If you know of any threads I may have missed while searching feel free to share them and I’ll be happy to read through it.

2

Personally, I would just have the painter do the pressure washing to the specs they need prior to painting. The old paint, especially on block walls, is likely oxidize and would need a conditioner sprayed on by the painter to prep it wether you wash it or not.

3

I have cleaned block that was being repainted before. On that building I would use a strong house wash mix, applied with a dedicated pump. It would take me and a helper, 1-1/2 days to clean with 2-4gpm/ 4000psi cold water machines using just the wands. I would put 4 or 6 mil Plastic sheeting around the base of the building to catch loose paint. I would charge between $3500-$4000

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4

Depending where your at paint prep cleaning is not all that it seems. Like @gbattle said, you have to be cautious of paint chips and clean up.

Specify in your bid that your removing dirt and mold, not loose paint chips/removing paint. Leave that to the painter

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5

Thank you all for the information/suggestions. We’re located in Central Pennsylvania.

Have any of you ever used any type of surface cleaner on a vertical wall? Something like this for example:

They’re a lot of money but if they cut the time in half and clean consistently it would be well worth the investment and then we would have them for similar jobs in the future.

6

Go to youtube…several videos of block walls being surface cleaned.

You can go to lLowes or Home Depot and get one of those cheap surface cleaners…that would work…and they are lightweight and only about $50.

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7

If your just prepping for paint then all you really need to to do is wash off the dirt and physical debris like Cobb webs. 40 degree white tip at a good distance so not to damage the wall should do it. Maybe brush some of the Cobb Webb’s.

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