Powerwashing Stone Chimney

wallyofthenorth

need help, stone fireplace exterior needs powerwashed and sealed
it has some what looks like rust/smoke/bird on it
not sure what chem i should use to clean,fireplace built in late 60's
and sealed at that time,i always use the standard bleach mix for ext
houses but not sure if thats going to cut it,anyone every conquer one of these,any suggestion

Brushslingers

I would normally use chlorine myself, however I defer to the power washing pros here. I will point out though, it wasn't "sealed" in the 60's.

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Benn

wallyofthenorth

it wasn't sealed in the 60's?please explain

Brushslingers

Nobody "sealed" exterior brick in the 60's, it's just mortar and brick. They really don't "seal" exterior brick now either.

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Benn

wallyofthenorth

The homeowner built the house himself and he stated he sealed it himself

Brushslingers

With what?

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Benn

johnjamesalaska

simple green ran through your pressure washer or from a garden sprayer. Its biodegradeable and a great cleaner. Since its been sealed your cleaning most likely the sealer not the rock its self. Often the sealers asborb in and leaves a film on top. Dont let the simple green sit on it longer than 5 minutes. Pressure wash it with the white tip or green tip fan. What ever you do dont use the red one. You may need to reseal after its dry. People love sealing nowadays. ? I just sealed a red brick fireplace per customers request. Whatever. $$

slickshift

...it's a fad now
It's in/on all the DIY/Home Improvement Mags/Sites
Yeah "?"
< shrugs >

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Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

wallyofthenorth

Thanks for all the suggestions I used the simply green, worked fine
powerwashed it off and sealed it the next day.I've learned alot from
this site.Thanks again for all your help

tom connelly

Bleach will not cut it (rust).

www.eacochem.com
give em a call they will walk you through it.

PS. It's gonna take an acid for the rust.

Gutter Clean & Power Wash
Hickory NC

Barry M

Simple Green cut the rust and smoke?

Did you use it full strength? How many times did you have to apply it?

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Barry Maddox - Midwest Pro Wash
Pressure Washing Indiana
Deck Cleaning

Jason Whipple

I'm no power washer, but I can say power washing is not the best approach for this. I think most masons would agree. You really need to wash it with a nylon scrub brush with a highly diluted muriatic acid/ water mixture. Read the directions on the container, it will give you the recommended dilution for this application and directions for use.

I would be very careful about using ant kind of pressure to clean it, especially if the H/O did it himself. If he used a soft (buff) mortar you could end up blowing the mortar right off the chimney. I'll guess that he is not a mason since using a sealer on the chimney is a no-no from what I've been told.

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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tom connelly

I wouldn't spend the time scrubbing something if there are better and faster methods of cleaning, without using high pressure. High pressure is not recommended for any substrate especially aging ones that are showing signs of degradation, wear, and decay. Saferestore from EaCo Chem, will remove rust, smoke, and mildew (and keep the mildew gone for at least 3 yrs). With Saferestore you don't have to use pressure, just a light rinse is all that is required, (500-1000 psi) it doesn't etch the mortar either. Be careful, yes, but you can still pressure wash it. If the home owner did seal it in the 60's the seal is long gone by now, and if it isn't it shouldn't be to big of a deal. Besides sealers act to strengthen the mortar. Your not going to blow the mortar out by pressure washing it with low pressure, just don't use high pressure.

PS. A raw muriatic acid, deteriorates the mortar joints. Give it some time and the mortar joints will pop out on their own. Stay away from unbuffered chems, especially muriatic.

Gutter Clean & Power Wash
Hickory NC

Michael Olding

We generally have great success using a commercial degreaser to clean old stone walls or chimneys and yes, we do use a pressure washer.

You'd be surprised how much soot, mold and grime will come off with a good detergent.

I apply straight concentrate after soaking the surface then quickly agitate with the wand, wait 10-15 minutes to soak (don't let dry) then clean.

Wait an additional day or two to apply the sealer and for an old stone chimney I may be looking for a consolidant type of sealer, to help strengthen the stone.

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Masonry repair expert - structural, restorations, tuck pointing, rebuilding, staining etc.

bobmezmusic

If using a "sealer" you must know your outcome and what your goals are. It's true that you should be thinking about strengthing the bond between brick and mortar. Any sealer that would completely cover the outer surface is a bad idea. This creates an environment that doesn't allow the substrate to breath. Use a siloxane ie Silocs Voc. Whick penetrates and re-sets the mortar bond with the brick It also keeps water molecules out but allows vapor molecules escape..the perfect situation. Reason....Vapor mol's are smaller. Keep in mind the chimney get condensed often from interior heating and outside cool air. This is why it must breath. As for cleaning....as we all know every surface has its own personality so there is no one answer. good luck

exteriorcleaner

Unfortunately you might just have to get right up on it with some high pressure. The other approach is to look into some commercial restoration products for masonary buildings. I know diedrich sells some. I have some of their products listed on my site: College Student Cleaning .com
I've come across this a time or two and found that with a little pressure and patience you can usually get the stuff off. Just be carefull on the ladder!

good Luck!

FlashingMaster5

What type of sealer did (Do) you use?