Soft Washing for stucco homes too?

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1

Please excuse my ignorance

for those of you offering soft washing, is this recommended for stucco finish homes too, over power washing? Whether the heavy trowel texture or the light sand texture type or anything inbetween (the typical tract home).

Effectiveness vs power washing etc?

Issues to be aware of?

We don’t have vinyl sided homes where I am at, no mold or algae issues to speak of, no shotgun fungus, just plain ol’ dirt and cobwebs.

thanks, wondering if something viable to offer to folks out this way.

2

SoftWashing is really the only safe way to clean stucco, EIFS, or dryvit. It’s extremely effective and there are some nice specialty chemicals available to help deal with some particular stains that is common on this substrate.

A 12v pump like a delevan would be an ideal and economical way to get into cleaning stucco, EIFS, and dryvit.

3

You may need to use a stronger solution than the standard house wash mix. We typically use 2 gals 12% sh and 2.5 gals water 8 Ozs simple cherry for down streaming. This gives us about 1% sh hitting the house. I’m not sure what the mix would be for using a 12 volt pump.

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4

Soft Wash & you will be fine. Downstream = 3 gall 12% S.H. 2x 8oz Simple cherry 1 gall H20 Let sit 3 to 5 min then rinse good luck. Feel free to contact me if i can help

5

thanks for the replies

anyone work with this stuff or stuff like it?

Stucco Wash | Wash Safe

6

Never used it, but I’m going to bet the active ingredient is Sodium Percarbonate, like Oxy Clean. Takes longer to work compared to bleach, but could be considered safer if you’re experienced with using bleach.

7

yes, that’s the active ingredient

so then that’s what Chris L’s new roof washing set up rig he bought is all about? a pump to apply all this, sounds like a low pressure, pressure washer in a way? (vs the 6gpm huge trailer mount with heater pressure washer rig)

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Hey Micah
Yhis is James again. if you only have a PW system soft washing is the way to go, from what Im understanding correct. I have noticed were Imk from the stucco has a-lot of mold or fungai on the lower part of the house. what would be a good product to use that is inviorment friendly and will resolve this type of problem.

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Yeah that’s how we’re doing it Bruce. 1 to 2 gals 12% SH + 2 gals. water + 8 oz. simple cherry + a big squirt of Dawn dishsoap for extra suds so the solution sticks to the stucco better. Use an x jet for the whole thing but am considering downstreaming for the convenience. Works great on white or off-white homes but haven’t really noticed a huge difference when softwashing tan color or anything darker. In that case we just use water. Call me if you need anymore info. but all the guys on here are spot on.

10

Did a Huge Stucco / Vinyl house the other day. I used the X-jet. It was a “arizona type” color…the pinkish and white. I used our regular solution 3 gallons h20, 2 gallons SH, 8-10 oz. simple cherry, a splash of dawn. Came out awesome. I went thru a lot of solution (3 batches) house was about 4000 sq ft. A lot had to do with bad water pressure at house. I was nervous to do stucco…but after read these posts all was good.

11

I may be stupid, don’t comment on that part, but when you used your x-jet and your mix in the bucket do you have a guy walking around with it, or do you use a super long hose? I know some will use a I line after the pump regulator, I have that too, but then have to deal with soap mix in 200’ of hose to flow out…wth am I missing here…

12

I have not done the softwash but it looks like a great selling point vs pressure washing. However I have a few questions that have come to my mind, and I think the customer would ask the same questions.

  1. The chemicals that are being used won’t they be harmful to the micro organisms in the soil that make the soil rich for my landscape?

  2. How does the softwash effectively remove cobwebs, which is one of the main issues here with the needs of residential homes? Pressure washing effectively removes them as they can be very sticky.

  3. What about other debris stuck on the hoe like dirt dobber nests, which are very common here in North Texas?

  4. Will the chemicals harm the finish on the paint?

Thanks ahead of time for the info.I would like to switch to softwash but am not confident it will handle the job.

13

We added a longer hose, I forget the actual length…but maybe 20-25 ft. Its never an issue with the soap. I usually hit 2 sides, then disconnect, and my worker moves container to next location. With the low pressure on the house at this job, in addition to the longer hose added to application/mixture problems

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  1. not if you take the proper precautions and soak down the vegitation before and after

  2. Takes the cobwebs off very nicely

  3. I dont’t know what a Dirt Dobber is…sorry. good chance it will come off

  4. we only use this solution on vinyl houses (and Stucco)

15

Is softwash itself only for vinyl and stucco, or are there other solutions for other surfaces?

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Questions addressed above in your text. Call me any time 407-832-1108,

AC