Stripping 2 story log house

[Torque454]

I have a house coming up (will see it Friday and get pics) that needs to be cleaned and stripped. It is log house, or log sided, something like that. The guy wants to put a "maintenance coat" of his stain on it and said it needs to be stripped first. His stain says to use bleach/TSP (trisodium phosphate) mix.

I am concerned that it might harm windows or window frames. What do you guys normally do about this? Tape it off ? How does that stand up to chemicals and water?

Or have you found that it does not harm the windows and window frames?

Not sure what to do here...

 

[archie_MN]

TSP and bleach are a homeowner's solution[spin]

Jokes aside, SH and oxalic are a great team in terms of power and limited environmental impact.

As for the windows, ask the owner if they know of any leakers. If there are, tape em off. If not, use low pressure, rinse the heck out of them, and don't worry.

 

[Torque454]

Yeah SH & Bleach was my first though too. But I was thinking id go with TSP like the directions said, mainly to please the homeowner. I was just concerned that it might etch glass or dull the finish on the window frames or something. I'll have to try it in small area first to see what the results are. Nice to hear that I shouldnt have to worry tho.

 

[archie_MN]

Gotta keep the owners happy. It shouldn't cause any problems.

 

[PressurePros]

TSP, or really any caustic can etch glass. Make sure you keep painted surfaces and glass constantly wet and work in smaller areas (ie don't apply to more than one side at a time). If there is aluminum around windows and it is oxidized, caustics can take it right off.

Also on log homes you have to be careful of water instrusion through chinking. Its pretty common and can create a nightmare. Watch your pressure. TSP and bleach may not strip unless the finish is also very oxidized or failing. In this case, that is not really an issue as you are assumingly applying the same product and tone. In your case, your bleach TSP mixture should work fine, just don't expect it to be stripped to bare wood. Nor should it be unless there is peeling.

 

[Adrian Vai]

I have a house coming up (will see it Friday and get pics) that needs to be cleaned and stripped. It is log house, or log sided, something like that. The guy wants to put a "maintenance coat" of his stain on it and said it needs to be stripped first. His stain says to use bleach/TSP (trisodium phosphate) mix.

I am concerned that it might harm windows or window frames. What do you guys normally do about this? Tape it off ? How does that stand up to chemicals and water?

Or have you found that it does not harm the windows and window frames?

Not sure what to do here...

Am I missing something???????
If it is just a "maintainence coat" why does anything other than cleaning and re-apply stain need to take place.
Not really any need for caustics if it is just a maintainence coat of his stain and it is the exact same stain he used initially.

I do respect the customer, but, they don't always know this business as well as they think.

I'll shut up until I see your pics.