Masonry Magazine June 2007 Page. 32
NEW RULES FOR CLEANING
Follow All Safety Precautions in the Product Literature
MANY OF THESE GUIDELINES are commonsense, like "don't get this product in your eyes," or "wear protective clothing." Guidelines such as "don't cut or alter these cleaners with other chemicals or with bleaches" keep people and masonry safe.
Use your chosen cleaner only as specified; results may be unpredictable if you use the cleaner for anything else. By closely following all safety guidelines written by field service experts - you maximize your chances for a successful, accident-free cleaning job.
In Cold Weather, Remember the "40 and Rising Rule
THOUGH YOU GET THE BEST RESULTS when air and surface temperatures are well above freezing, construction schedules often dictate that cleaning takes place when conditions are less than ideal. If you have to clean during cold weather follow these tips:
Water-saturated masonry is vulnerable to freeze/thaw damage. Never clean if the masonry could freeze before drying.
Cleaners and rinse water rely on chemical reactions to dissolve and rinse away construction soiling. Cold temperatures slow these chemical reactions.
Compensating for the cold by using a stronger cleaning solution may cause permanent damage to the masonry, especially today's sensitive colored concrete and manufactured stone.
Instead, extend the dwell time of the properly diluted cleaning solution by 10 to 20 percent. Scrub areas of heavy soiling with a masonry brush. Pre-wetting and rinsing with hot water also warms the surface and improves results.
Schedule wet cleaning for when air and surface temperatures are 40°F and rising. That's the "40 and Rising" rule. In cold weather, this means your wet cleaning window may only be a few hours around noon. Use the time before and after to remove heavy accumulations of excess mortar and job dirt from the next day's work area with dry brushing and scraping.
If a limited cleaning window is impractical, enclose the work area with polyethylene and use space heaters to warm the masonry. This extends your workday and improves results.
One final caution: Warm weather test panels won't work for cold weather cleaning. Test in cold to clean in cold.
Don't Go It Alone
NEVER TRY TO GUESS your way through problems or questions. The masonry manufacturer, distributor, sales representative or masonry cleaner manufacturer are always happy to do all they can to help. The right answer is usually just a phone call away.
Gary Henry is a business communication specialist with PROSOCO, a national manufacturer of products for cleaning, protecting and maintaining masonry, concrete and stone. For more information, contact Henry at (785) 830-7343, or e-mail ghenry@prosoco.com.
30 Masonry
June 2007
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