What's up with this!

[Trace]

Started the day with 2 houses to wash 1st house gray vinyl 2 story, 2nd ranch with yellow vinyl and stone front. Had work day for little league in morning got started about 10:45 am. Thought i would do the 2 story 1st to get it out of the way, because it was pretty dirty, right along a state highway. Started cleaning using limonene. bottom half of house went fine got up to the second half and about 2 1/2 ft. down from the soffit the dirt wouldn't budge so i hooked up my x-jet type chemical injector and applied Sodium Hypochlorite along with the Lamonene at full blast still didn't budge. had to put the lamonene in a pump up and climb up the ladder and apply, then scrub with sponge to try and get it off. And that barely touched it Faded it enough that it is hard to see from the ground , but i know it is still there. Finally finished up as the sun was going down. Needless to say i didn't make any money today and i have to do that other house tommorrow, and go back to this one next week. So if any of you guys and gals can help I would appreciate it. What would cause this to be so stubborn? not the right chemicals? by the way i'm using hot water. And along with nothing else going right i busted a hose too!



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[Scott Stone]

I am not a house guy. But I do have experience witht he sun fading stuff, being from Arizona. I would be willing to bet that the faded part is the worst on the south side of the house. If it is I think that it is not a problem of the house being dirty. I would bet that it has more to do with the sun having faded all of the parts of the vinyl below that point. What was happening when you started hand scrubbing it was that the chemicals started fading the house and maybe even leaving a residue.
Anyway, that is my guess as to what the problem is. I could be wrong and would bet that someone will come along shortly and correct me.

Scott Stone

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[Jackrabbit]

I understood it was the dirt, not the siding color that had faded.
No suggestions on cleaning 'cept to keep doing what you had some success with, til it's acceptable to the customer.
As to cause, if the grime is on North side, facing the state highway, that side would be in the shade and would be the last part of the house to get dry on damp mornings, Southerly winds would create a weird wind pattern just under the North side soffit, tied with the moisture and road dirt and exhaust, enough time passes between washings and you have a recipe for a long afternoon. Do any other nearby houses share the symptoms?

JRabbit

 

[Mike Hughes]

I run into this from time to time on mostly aluminum sided homes........can't get the ground in dirt off the top few rows of siding under the soffit, no matter what you try........even a brush.

I have learned to pick this out when I am estimating, and let them know ahead of time that I can't do anything about it...........I don't kill myself trying to get it clean anymore.

Set reasonable expectations with your customers, and life will be easier.



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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Trace]

Thanks guys, the side of the house that was the worst is facing North. and does get a lot of wind. Went back and explained to customer the problem she was very understanding, said she had the same problem on her last house. Mike, thanks i will be explaining to other customers that all dirt may not come off. Boy do i feel better. Thanks again.

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[Mike Hughes]

Trace,

The other thing about that is, if you DO happen to get it totally clean, you look like a hero......and if you can't, you still did what you said you would do. You win both ways, and everyone is happy.

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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA