| Some people just don't' realize what 'a prize' an old | | | | scrimp. If you want the wall cleaned buy the |
| stone retaining wall is on their property. Instead of | | | | degreaser... simple. |
| letting this piece of history fall into disrepair it should | | | | Now it looks even worse! - Ok, now the wall has |
| be maintained or even 'spruced up'! A thorough | | | | been soaked and the degreaser applied, so what do |
| cleaning of an old stone retaining wall can bring the | | | | you do? You wait. That's right... you wait. |
| wall back to life and once again add beauty to your | | | | After about 10 - 15 minutes the wall will start to turn |
| yard and landscape. | | | | dark amber then a dirty brown. You will see streaks |
| You have to be mean to clean! - Old stone walls | | | | of grime dripping down the face of the wall. The wall |
| have years of soot and mold buildup. These stains | | | | will look terrible and you'll be worried that you screw |
| can be tough to remove depending on how deep the | | | | it up! That's good. As soon as you begin to feel that |
| mold and soot has penetrated. There can also be | | | | it's a hopeless cause and are ready to throw in the |
| fungus and algae growth, as well vines or ground | | | | towel, you'll know that your work is almost done! |
| cover rooting into the wall. So what to do? Well you | | | | Now that the degreaser has had a chance to work |
| do realize that these parasites have to go! So let's | | | | by lifting the grime, it is time to agitate it just like a |
| get out the pressure washer and prepare for | | | | washing machine. Using your 15 degree nozzle begin |
| cleaning! | | | | to hit the wall with quick, random strokes and from |
| Use a medium size pressure washer - Is the pressure | | | | top to bottom. You are not looking to saturate the |
| washer ready? Ok good... now... STOP!! The worst | | | | wall this time. As you see the soap suds appearing |
| thing that you can possibly do at this point is to start | | | | from the pressure of the spray, move up and down |
| the pressure washer and blow out all the joints with | | | | the wall and proceed along its' length. |
| a high pressure spray! | | | | You may do this a couple of times along the length |
| In addition if you begin clean the wall without the | | | | of the wall to get the deepest cleaning possible. This |
| proper soaking, you will only drive the surface soot | | | | agitation will dilute the degreaser to a lower viscosity |
| deeper into the walls pores by wicking action making | | | | and create soap bubbles that will lift the surface soot |
| it harder to clean... so hold your horses! No... the | | | | and grime away. |
| approach that I'm going to explain to you is a little | | | | Ok... now you can blow it away! - After the |
| more subtle and softer. | | | | degreaser has been agitated you can now proceed |
| Ok. Now begin the cleaning process by first | | | | to the final step of pressure washing the wall. |
| saturating the wall. This is achieved by gently washing | | | | Beginning where you first applied the degreaser you |
| the wall down with a wide angle nozzle. Stand back | | | | place your wand about 12" - 16" away from the face |
| from the wall maybe 3' - 4' and let the water flow | | | | of the wall. |
| over, around and run down the face of the wall. | | | | You clean by watching the soot lift from the wall as |
| Now your wall is thoroughly soaked which will allow | | | | you move your nozzle from joint to joint and from |
| the detergent to penetrate deeper into the wall | | | | stone to stone. You will see the soot and grime lift |
| system lifting the soot and grime away. Also a | | | | away as you proceed down the wall. If a section |
| saturated wall will keep the detergent from drying | | | | further along looks like it is drying out too quickly |
| out prematurely allowing it ample time to perform its' | | | | then agitate again, to keep it wet until you can reach |
| function. | | | | that section. |
| The trick is to use a commercial grade degreaser - | | | | You will be amazed by how quickly years of soot, |
| Now apply a concentrated heavy degreaser purchase | | | | grime, mold and debris wash away. Areas with |
| from a commercial pressure cleaning supply company. | | | | stubborn stains may require another application. |
| Do not dilute. Pour the detergent straight from the | | | | When you have finished you will step back in |
| bucket into a garden sprayer and begin to spray the | | | | amazement! That old dingy wall will look new and |
| wall. Make sure that every inch of wall is covered and | | | | refreshed and your job is complete. After all that |
| try to keep a 'wet look' as you go. This degreaser | | | | hard work sit back and enjoy the beauty your |
| will cost a few dollars but this is not the place to | | | | restored wall provides... after all you deserve to relax! |