Masonry Magazine March 2003 Page. 26
CLEANERS
Ten Commandments for Cleaning New Masonry Construction
by Gary Henry
PROSOCO
Compared to the cost of a brick, stone or architectural concrete building, the price of post-construction clean-down is no more than an afterthought. A good cleaning brings out the true beauty of the masonry but if the masonry is cleaned incorrectly, its appearance may be ruined beyond repair.
This close-up of a partially cleaned brick and block wall shows the difference a professional cleandown makes.
24 Masonry
March 2003
photo by Gary Henry/PROSOCO
Here are "10 commandments" for avoiding common pitfalls in cleaning new masonry construction.
1. Thou shalt not sand blast or use muriatic acid.
Both methods damage surfaces. Blasting with sand or sand-substitutes etches brick, block or stone, and mortar joints. It leaves masonry vulnerable to weather-related decay. Likewise, muriatic acid won't stop with dissolving job dirt and mortar smears. It may also etch, bleach, streak, burn or create brand-new metallic stains on the new masonry.
2. Thou shalt use a proprietary cleaner.
And here we mean one from an established company that backs up its products with literature, customer service, and job-site and specification-writing assistance. Proprietary cleaners have special ingredients that increase "dwell-time," making them more effective over a larger area than raw acids. That reduces labor cost. Those same ingredients make results uniform over the entire masonry surface. Many will actually improve the original color depth and uniformity of brick, block, tile and other masonry.
One of the most important ingredients of a new masonry cleaner is not in the cleaner. It's the technical support that comes with the cleaner. A reputable company wants to do more than sell you a product. A reputable company wants you to succeed and will make sure you have the right product and information to do so.
When you invest time, money and trust in a company's products, you're entitled to a toll-free phone number for technical questions and no-cost job-site troubleshooting if necessary. Distributors, architects and contractors are all good sources for identifying such companies. The masonry manufacturer may also be a good source.
3. Thou shalt not clean until the mortar has cured.
The best time to clean is in 14 to 28 days after construction is complete. Mortar and grout smears get tougher to clean the longer they're on the surface but cleaning before the mortar has cured usually within seven days may damage the joints. One exception: high-strength mortars (type "S" or compressive strength of 1800 psi and above) are best cleaned within three to seven days. Always test first.
4. Thou shalt religiously follow all safety precautions in the product literature.
Many of these guidelines are common sense, like "don't get this product in your eyes," or "be sure to wear protective clothing." Guidelines such as "don't cut or alter these cleaners with other chemicals, or with bleaches-toxic gases may be released" may save lives as well as masonry.
Use the cleaner only as specified. Results may be unpredictable if you use the cleaner for anything else. By closely following all
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