Brick Cleaning
Our team operates two machines from the same truck ensures a quicker process than one machine that may take week on large projects.
Superb Clean Pty Ltd
EFFLORESCENCE can occur from a variety of sources. New bricks contain minerals, if any, soluble salts, but mortar and concrete have relatively high soluble salt contents. Ground waters that are naturally salt-bearing can be drawn into base brickwork. A faulty or bridged damp-proof course will allow the salts to migrate up the wall. Wetting the wall by methods such as hosing usually dissolves efflorescence back into the brickwork, allowing it to reappear again when the wall dries out. Acid or alkaline treatments are not recommended as they do more harm than good.
REMEDY. Brush off powder with stiff brush this will disappear over time. Use fluroteck
Special condition for Brick cleaning:
At quotation stage it is impossible to determine if the mortar is a strong mix or weak mix or whether sugar or excessive Bycol has been added Bycol will leach out and leave run marks on the face of bricks. In the First Hour if we fell that the price quoted is insufficient due to the difficult removal of mortar or stains then we reserve the right to cease work until an agreement to a variation is reached our daily rate is $ 600.00 + GST per machine this includes an operator, acids,neutralizers.
Blown out joints:
This only occurs where the builder has NOT supplied cement and sand to brick layers. In all cases where the builder HAS supplied cement and sand in our experience there is never blown out joints.
All hydrochloric Acid used is neutralized.
INSOLUBLE WHITE DEPOSITS (Scum) Insoluble white deposits appear almost as a milky film on the brickwork. The hard white deposits are insoluble in water and are visible when wet.
REMEDEY
Apply full strength Noskum to stained bricks and allow the solution to stand for four to six minutes if the reaction is not immediate. Scrub vigorously and wash off with plenty of water whilst still scrubbing. There is no guarantee that this will resolve the problem in severe cases, as scum is extremely hard to remove. Cost of Noskum is very expensive
TOUCH UPS
In all cases it is necessary to touch up due to other trades causing damage to brick surface such as Tilers spilling grout and bedding material over brick. All touch ups are charged above quoted price. This is an additional charge.
Electrical Switch Equipment.
Where electrical switch gear is installed eg lift switch equipment no responsibility will be taken for damage. It stands to reason that no delicate electrical equipment should be installed prior to brick cleaning. It is the responsibility of the builder to protect any such equipment if installed by removing the switch equipment. Water jet is traveling at 1.700 Kilometers per hour no protection will prevent water entering switch boxes Even acid in the air will corrupt sensitive copper contacts. All care taken but no responsibility for water damage.
VANADIUM STAINS are evident by a yellow-green discoloration on the face of a brick resulting from the vanadium salts naturally present in most clay materials used to produce light coloured bricks. Vanadium stains are not powdery crystalline deposits and cannot be simply brushed off. They are often mistaken for moss or algae, which usually grows in damp areas across the whole face of the bricks and mortar. By contrast vanadium stains appear on dry walls, normally as patches on the brick only. Vanadium is a metallic salt present in most light coloured clays throughout the world. It is present in very small quantities.
REMEDEY
Spray on sodium hydrochloride 100%
Additional cost are involved when these problem occur. However proper pre wash acid wash and neutralizer are used these do not occur often. Where we are required to clean from scaffolding all levels while scaffolding is still in place it is the responsibility of the Forman to inspect and approve the work this should be done after 3 days when bricks have dried out. No responsibility is accepted for re cleaning high areas builder must supply boom to complete the work..
IRON STAINS
Known as acid burn this can occur on light yellow brick even though we take great care with this type of brick. the remedy is simple as applying Phosphoric acid based wall cleaner there are numerous brands on the market. All additional second washes are in addition to our quoted price. Problems that occur that are beyond our control are not included in the quoted price. Light colored brick that has been coated (SLURED) WITH A COLOUR some times called painted brick tends to scum up and may require a second wash it is the responsibility of the Forman to check this 3 day after cleaning. It is much better if scaffolding is removed to facilitate second wash it may be necessary to provide a boom lift.
CLEANING COMPLEAT BUILDING FROM SCAFFOLD.
Where we are required to clean the complete building from scaffolding it is the responsibility of the Forman to inspect the work 3 days after cleaning. It is difficult to see any defects close up due to shadow & possible the position of scaffolding. There may be scum, vadium, or iron stains that need treatment.
