Issue Statement: Iron Spot Brick Cleaning

ISSUE STATEMENT: IRON SPOT BRICK CLEANING

This type of brick has a white haze on the surface, which is most easily visible at an angle with the sun on the face. If chemical is allowed to run over the brick when dry and with mortar present, the glaze will disappear and leave a streaky iridescent or dull appearance. OneRestore® sprayed on and rinsed off easily restores the finish. This statement is about preventing this problem in the first place!

A thorough pre-wet of the surface is required. Attention should be paid to having water run down the wall at least 20 feet during the pre-wet phase. Chemical should be applied to an area no wider that the cleaner can easily rinse with the pressure washer in one long pass. This would generally be no wider than 12 feet. After chemical application, but before scraping, the chemical rundown should be chased down the wall with water until no foam is apparent (rundown chasing occurs in the area below the cleaning space). The height of the cleaning space should be determined by the environmental conditions. Hot weather or direct sunlight would require a narrow (less tall) area. This is because you must chase the rundown and scrape before rinsing. This requires more operator time and generally a reduction in square feet on which the chemical is applied. On the second chemical application, the cleaner would again chase the chemical rundown with water before doing the final rinse. Thorough pre-wetting is only required on the first pass of the drop. Rinsing achieves the pre-wet on the rest of the drop.

It is always wise with this type of brick to not start a drop if it cannot be completed on that day. In fact, experts say if a drop is started and certain dark mortars are used you must complete the full drop.

Mast Climbing Scaffolding and Iron Spot Cleaning

Mast climbing scaffolding proximity to the wall can make rinsing below a challenge. When cleaning on this type of equipment, the operator should create the maximum allowable space between the wall and deck. A hose “Y” should be placed close to the pressure washer with an auxiliary rinsing hose and nozzle attached with a second operator doing the rundown chasing. An alternative to this is attaching a soaker hose to the deck at the wall to create a constant source of water run down for the wall. This type of brick in a well-constructed wall should not have any excess water problems.

EaCo Chem, Inc. ♦ New Castle, PA 16101 ♦ (800) 313-8505 www.eacochem.com Copyright July 11, 2013 by EaCo Chem, Inc

EaCo Chem, Inc. ♦ New Castle, PA 16101 ♦ (800) 313-8505 www.eacochem.com