Preventing Stains on DecraStone

Most job stains on masonry can be prevented. For every problem there is usually a solution that may be simple or may be costly. The examples in this article cover many of the common problems. The best solution is to prevent the problems cause.


A PDF of this blog can be found in Resources under the same title. 


CAUSES 

• Mortar stuck on the faces of the block
• Stains
• Large chips, scars on the face and corners of the block
• Concrete or grout splatter
• Pencil and Sharpie marks
• Drilled holes and cut holes by other trades
• Salt run
• Wet appearing masonry
• Cleaning inconsistencies such as wand marks and incomplete rinsing
• Dirty feet or hand marks
• Ferrous Stains

SOLUTIONS

Each of these can be addressed with common cleaning methods. Some of these methods are highly effective and some in order to be effective must in turn be highly caustic to the face of the architectural concrete masonry. For example, a velour face (colored concrete block with no split or ground face) may have extraordinary stains as shown in the photos above. These stains could be ferrous (rust) and or salt runs and thusly difficult to remove. Generally the stains are treated with acid based cleaners along with hand scrubbing both of which usually defaces the block itself. They can be removed, but with the cost of ruining the face of the block itself. Each type of block surface or finish and its color must be evaluated separately. Not all situations are the same.

Most cleaning operations are simple but time consuming and eventually costly. Many times solutions may include tearing down and replacing the block as a cheaper fix. Each of the cleaning and repair issues may be addressed on site by experts in the cleaning field ( i.e. those professionals that provide the cleaners).

Specifications:  Architectural specifications generally cover without fail proper measures to install and clean and prevent damage to building materials including those specifications directly related to masonry. The problem occurs in small and large projects with the supervision of theses standards. Each trade, supplier, contractor, architect and owners representation has some responsibility in the success of these specifications.

The problems outlined above in the slides and in this article can be prevented in total by not allowing certain events to happen. Monitoring the tradesmen on the job can be monumental but is attainable. We have seen jobs where masonry repairs for the above mentioned items cost  some real dollars.

One of the problems encountered on many construction projects is the incorrect thought that concrete block will be painted at the end of the job and thusly are not a finished product.  Architectural concrete masonry are installed as a finished product and must be respected as such. Velour face, Ground face, Plus face, Split face masonry have integral color and water repellancy and are ready for immediate use after installation and cleaning as specified by the architect. Unfortunately these are some of the first items to be installed in the construc- tion projects time line. Thus some form of protection is required.