Dryvit cleaning

[Cat Powerwash]

Hi All!

Just did another dryvit job. I dont know why,but I am always having problems getting the green mold off. I used 2 gallons of bleach (12.5%) 1 gallon of citriclean and the rest water then xjet with a 5 gpm machine using hot water. I even mixed the chems with hot water! I end up using straight 12.5 hypochloride and scrubbing the whole house by hand to get rid of the mold. why? The past two houses that we did were green, I mean GREEN!!! You would think the house was painted green it was so bad! I double dosed them and it still wouldnt come off. Is there a trick? am I missing something. When we do vinyl, the green just melts away. Dryvit for some reason is very stubborn to clean. Any suggestions?

 

[john orr]

Sometimes it takes a little longer for the chlorine to do its thing. I wash a lot of Dryvit, with excellent results, and I am downstreaming 12% (plus my own blend of herbs and spices.) Are you sure your 12% is fresh?

 

[grasshawg]

Try adding a little trisodium phosphate. A cup or so. Maybe two. You can pick it up at Home Depot.
Randy

 

[PressurePros]

Are you washing it (close range) or attempting to just rinse it with your X-Jet? Dirty stucco and dryvit needs to get up close and personal attention which is why often you have to charge 2-3 times a normal housewash rate.

Hot water (120+ degrees) also goes a long way.

 

[Cat Powerwash]

My 12% was just bought from the pool supply place. I am sure it is fresh. I am rinsing with the xjet. What will the tsp do? Do you have a mix that will just melt away the mold or is it that stubborn that it takes brushing to get it all off?

 

[grasshawg]

TSP will aid in killing the molds and mildews a little faster.
Ken is right, too. You gotta get more volume in your rinse.
As dryvit is very fragile, be careful. Inspect it closely for any defects before you really get on it.
You may have to get close for some of the especially stubborn spots. Stand from a distance, and gradually move closer til you're doing some good. Keep the wand moving. 45 degree tip. Don't get any closer than absolutely necessary. Some can withstand full pressure and very close range, some you punch a hole in it from 3 ft away. Use your good judgement. Good luck!
Randy

 

[PressurePros]

TSP is not going to magically transform your housewash mix in this instance. It wil help but you have to wash the house. That means an extension wand, a low pressure tip (300-500 psi) and going over inch of it. the X-Jet does not and will not cut it (as you have already experienced) Stucco/dryvit washing is not your usual two hour house wash.

 

[A Plus Power]

Without looking at everything you did and going on the limited info you gave here is my take.

Your method of chemical delivery is not working properly.

Your injector is clogged, partialy open or you have a poor draw rate.

We use 8% SHypo with an extension wand that is custom made and a PA 2.1 stainless steel downstream injector.

The wand has a 5/16 poly hose and a 601 straight gun. The 5/16 hose allows 200 feet of 3/8 hose with no restriction.

The most important part is the dual nozzle. Don't use Suttner products they have too small of a hole inside < 5/32 and the injector will not work or have limited draw. Use a PA dual nozzle with no nozzle in the chem side and a #10.25 in the other for rinsing.

I disagree with the TSP and pressure recomendations that were previously posted. Both will cause problems.

We clean over 800 homes per season and 1500 to 2000 condos and never damaged or killed a plant and clean synthetic stucco all the time with no problems.

Hot water is the only way to go. Cold water is useless.

 

[PressurePros]

Pardon my skepticism, if you have built your business to that level, kudos to you. But.. We have a 35 week season here in the northeast. If you clean 2300-2800 units that averages to 65-80 per week. How many crews are you running to achieve that level? Is A Plus Power the name of your business? (couldn't find any info via Google search)

 

[grasshawg]

I personally have not had a problem with the way I explained above.
That being said, these guys (Ken & A Plus) have tons more experience than I do, so I digress. You should probably follow their advice. I can only tell you what has worked for me in the past.
Randy

 

[A Plus Power]

Ken
We have four vans with hot water machines and yes we do 2500 + units per year. We just finished 354 units in one condo complex in 13 days, 402 before that in 19 days we are now doing 324 and that will take 11 days. We knocked out a small 120 unit complex in 5 days in between.

All service includes the siding, fascia, gutter exteriors and soffit ect no flat work.

 

[Cat Powerwash]

Thanks for all your replies. I xjet my chemicals with no proportionals. So I am getting the chems on strong. Just dont know why the mold takes straight bleach (12.5) with a brush to get it off when I should just xjet the chems and rinse. Yes I used hot water.

 

[A Plus Power]

Ken
I responed to your post and saw it on the board. Someone removed it. I guess it was the edit gods.

 

[PressurePros]

Its still there. It made it to a second page you might have missed it. I have to congradulate you on your volume. That is outstanding and also very encouraging. I want to dramatically cut down my volume of deck work and pick up much more housewashing. I don't know about yuor pricing and profit margin but I know mine on housewashing is almost double what I can get for deck work. Maybe we can talk one day or meet up. I am putting together an impromptu "round table" meeting at my shore home in Ocean City NJ this fall. if you would be interested in attending I would be happy to have you. Its going to be for mid to larger sized cleaning contractors sharing ideas and thoughts on the marketplace.

 

[Staff]

Brian,

You come to our BBS ignore the rules, then you whine when your
unauthorized horn tooting advertisements are edited, and you make snide remarks about the Moderators / Staff.