Soft Wash question - Stucco/EIFS question

The Garage Surfaces
1

Hi guys

I attended most of the soft wash breakouts in Nashville and I’m looking to move in to house/building washing. I have an opportunity to wash a large bank building with an exterior of stone and EIFS/stucco. Can this be cleaned with the same SH solution that was mentioned at the classes in Nashville? I ask because one of the presenters (I can’t remember which one) mentioned that he doesn’t do stucco homes. Are there any hazards or dangers of soft washing a stucco building?

Thank you,

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2

As long as you take the same care as you would with a typical low-pressure building wash you will be fine. Synthetic stucco is quite fragile and can have moisture issues but it should not stop you from cleaning them. Your mix will need to be a bit stronger and adding some extra surfactant will help as well. Low pressuee, watch the angles you wash at, and you’re good to go! Good luck.

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3

[MENTION=8342]Fairway[/MENTION]. I’m doing a dryvit wash next week real dirty. I’m thinking about adding some Cling-on to my mix I’m hoping that helps out . I guess I’ll find out …

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4

Sure, whichever your surfactant of choice. Before/after pics usually turn out real good on stucco houses…they are good to show off too because many customers know that synthetic stucco requires extra care to wash and pictures will add to your credibility.

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5

You may need a dedicated pump to get the right amount of s/h to the surface. Do you d/s?

6

Thank you for your input. I have no equipment right now, but I’m preparing to make my purchase. I plan to include down stream. This would be my first job, for a long-time window customer who is looking to have their building washed. Why do you ask about d/s?<script type=“text/javascript” src=“safari-extension://com.ebay.safari.myebaymanager-QYHMMGCMJR/a74ddd8f/background/helpers/prefilterHelper.js”></script>

7

Thanks for your input. Is the issue with stucco / EIFS that it is fragile and can be broken under too much pressure? What other issues are there with this surface? What is the concern with angles?

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8

Tony maybe look into an xjet. That will help you get a higher percentage of solution to the wall. Not as high as a dedicated pump though

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9

Is there a preference of X-jet vs. downstream for stucco?
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10

Is it real stucco ? If it is dryvit you can get away with d/s. You would just have to amp up your mix. If it is real stucco i havnt had much expierance with it. From what I read you would have to also amp up your mix an use an xjet or roof pump an maybe get some pressure on it. I read were one guy well respected power washer would use sodium metscalate in his mix. He says that boosts up the SH in his mix
I prefer d/s over xjet. But sometimes you need to xjet to get higher concentration of mix on the wall

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11

n March of 1999, the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Research Center listed the most common problems they found that were associated with water intrusion in EIF systems as being:
Windows, Doors, Electrical Outlets
Roof Flashings
Deck Flashings
Below Grade Installation
Projections, Vents

You can find this and other information here:
EIFS Facts

12

There is indeed a huge difference between stucco and eifs. I don’t know for sure how to tell them apart by sight. I’ve done homes with what the h.o. told me was stucco and needed to xjet two coats of mix. On the other hand, we just completed a big project (hotel/casino) that had what they said was eifs and downstreaming worked extremely well, thankfully.

13

you can tell the difference between EIFS and stucco pretty easily. EIFS is just a durable coating troweled over closed-cell foam backing. when you knock on it with your knuckles, it sounds hollow. you can also press on it a bit and it will give slightly.

Stucco is a cement product that is applied over a wire mesh backing. it will sound solid and hard when you knock on it and wont give at all. it’s porous, unlike eifs, so algae etc can penetrate deeper into the substrate. that’s where hotter mixes might be necessary.

for eifs i’ve had good success downstreaming straight 12% sh and elemonator. adding some roof snot or cling-on might not be a bad idea, just to get it to stick a little better.