Research has shown that the certain paints used on the exterior of buildings can stop the circulation of air which allows buildings to breath; trapping moisture, causing damp and damage to the building. Where the wrong paint has been left on for extended periods significant damage can be caused to the pointing and eventually the bricks themselves.

Margaret from Malvern had this issue when moving to her dream home at the foot of the Malvern Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a conservation area (in recognition of the special architectural and historic interest of the area).

Margaret’s surveyor recommended the removal of the paint from the house as soon as possible, to allow the property to breath, with the added benefit of bringing the home back to its former glory. Had the paint been removed at an earlier date less damage would have been caused to the building. As it was the whole house had to be repointed, but at least the paint was removed before the bricks were compromised.

So What did Margaret have to say about the paint removal service she recived? 

“Al came to remove all of the paint from the exterior walls of my house. A huge job with lots of challenges. Al and his team worked hard to deliver a great job. Always friendly and considerate I would happily recommend them.” – Margaret From Malvern

There are two schools of thought when it comes to paint removal from Brickwork

• Mechanical cleaning removes soiling by breaking the physical bonds between the soiling particulates and the surface. ABRASIVE CLEANING (WET & DRY) If done incorrectly, abrasive cleaning can irreversibly damage terracotta, eroding the surface. This erosion can affect the appearance of the terracotta or faience by altering the way light is reflected off it: changing the colour and lustre of the surface finish, or making the glaze appear dull. Abrasive cleaning can also blur arrises of corners and decorative details. Furthermore, if the surface is broken through, exposing a more porous underbody, it may be vulnerable to weathering and decay. It should only be carried out by experienced specialists.

• British Standards PRESSURE CLEANING BS 8221–1:2000 Code of practice for cleaning and surface repair of buildings. Cleaning of natural stones, brick, terracotta and concrete Reference is often made to ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ pressures; these refer to the indications on the pump gauge. BS 8221–1:2000 defines the pressures ranges as:  • low pressure: 17 bar or less • medium to high pressure: 17–69 bar. Even small devices for the do-it-yourself market operate at pump pressures in the range of 80 to 100 bar, at flow rates of 10–30 litres per minute. These are more than capable of causing damage. For conservation work the lowest effective pressures should always be used.

further Information can be found: (https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/earth-brick-terracotta-conservation/earth-brick-terracotta-marketing-spread/

As you can see both schools of thought can cause damage to the surface. This then bring us along to the heritage approved DOFF system which is recommended by surveyors and conservation officers alike for cleaning and paint stripping of grade listed buildings and heritage sites.

So what makes the DOFF so different and unique?

Whilst the temperature in the system is high, the pressure on the surface being cleaned is very gentle and the volume of water is low. The surface is therefore not saturated and will be dry within minutes.

The superheated water vapor will remove paint, moss, algae, fungi and other biological matter and will also kill off spores. This means there’s then no need to use a chemical biocide during the removal process or as a protection against further biological activity.

The DOFF System is unique in achieving a 150 degree temperature at the nozzle end – making it a ‘superheated water system’. Designed and developed to effectively remove paint, dirt and grime without causing harm or shock to the substrate.

We recommend the DOFF for paint removal on surfaces such as brick, stone, concrete, tiled (glazed and encaustic), wood, faience and terracotta.

If you would like a paint stripping sample give us a call on: 01452 301342

Or email: discover@skylinesoftwash.com

Can you pressure wash your roof? And is it safe?

We have posed two questions for this blog because many people have asked us the first one, but few actually consider the second.
Many people assume that because the main purpose of a pressure washer is to blast away dirt, they can be used to clean a multitude of surfaces.
In actual fact, pressure washers, with a high-pressured nozzle, can do more damage than good if used on certain surfaces or for certain tasks.

So, what are they good for?

Entry level or mid-level pressure washers, up to a maximum of 120 bars, are good for cleaning dirty bikes, cars and giving your garden furniture a quick spruce up before the summer or after a particularly crazy garden party.

What about dirty paths, patio, walls and roofs?

If you want to tackle moss, lichen, algae and mould growth on surfaces, such as roofs, walls, patios and paths, a pressure washer might make them look cleaner, but all it’s really done is move it around the surface without killing the growth at the ‘root’.

Those unsightly microorganisms will simply grow back.

What’s more, since you’ve spread them around with a pressure washer, they’ll grow back in more places than before!

But what about roofs?

Roofs are one of the worst surfaces that you could possibly use a pressure washer on, especially tiled roofs.

Why?

Most roof tiles are designed and laid to overlap one another, creating a channel for rainwater to run off into the gutter. As rain doesn’t fall upwards, there is little to no risk of it penetrating past the overlapped tiles and flooding the roof cavity, unless the tiles are damaged.

When you use a pressure washer to clean your roof, the water is ejected at such high speeds that it can spray into the overlapping tiles and penetrate the roof space.

This can soak into the insulation in your roof, which will reduce its insulating quality as well as potentially causing it to travel to the bottom of the insulation, causing mould, which could turn into a serious health risk, and wood decay within the interior.

Flooding isn’t the only risk to using a pressure washer on a roof either.

Most concrete tiles, the most common type of tile in the UK, are designed to last 80-100 years of normal weathering before needing replacing, with the fines on the surface of the tile wearing away gradually over time.

When you use a pressure washer to clean your roof, you can remove the fines on their surface, decreasing their lifespan significantly.

Pressure washing can damage the construction of the roof, as well as the tiles.

Along with the tiles, pressure washing roofs can also cause considerable damage to the pointing on the roof, especially where there is considerable moss, lichen and other growth on them. Moss particularly will grow and force itself in cracks within the pointing, allowing water in. Once water gets in the cracks in the pointing, it can freeze in cold weather and expand those cracks even further, loosening the pointing considerably.

When you use a pressure washer to get rid of the moss on the surface of the roof, the huge amount of pressure that the water is ejected at can blast the loose pointing away, causing further damage to the roof and increasing the risk of flooding in the roof cavity.

So, pressure washers are no good for cleaning roofs. What should be used instead?

At SkyLine Softwash, we use a specialist treatment to kill the fungus, moss, mould and algae growing on the roof at the root after clearing away any particularly problematic areas gently by hand, if required. We then let the natural weather cycles wash away all the dead microorganisms over a period of 6-12 months.

Within a year, your roof is 100% moss free.

At Skyline Softwash:

• We do not use high-pressure water jets on your roof.
• We are fully trained to work at heights, if required
• We provide a 5 year spot-free warranty on our roof cleaning services.
• We are fully insured.

We also work from the ground up, doing as much of the work as we can from ground level, to keep costs down by reducing the need for access equipment.

If you’d like to have your roof cleaned safely, leaving it cleaner for longer in the process, get in touch with the SkyLine Softwash team on 01452 899341.

Have your business premises been closed to the public, or even staff, these past couple of months due to lockdown?

If so, take advantage of the final leg of this current closure and get ready for reopening.

We can come to your premises and clean your buildings, awnings, decks, patio area, patio covers, fences or hardscapes (concrete, pavers, pavements, etc) – basically anything that has been tarnished due to mildew, mould, or algae build-up, or are just plain dirty.

The softwash service isn’t just about cleaning either, but disinfecting and sanitising, which is very important during these current times.

Our eco-friendly and 100% biodegradable treatments and our professionally trained and insured team are guaranteed to make your property look like new; cleaning nearly any size job with the type of care and attention to detail your business property deserves.

Don’t delay – get in touch with us today and book us in before restrictions ease.