Masonry Magazine September 2008 Page. 29
To get white or beige colored brick, foundries use vanadium salts, which are quite soluble in acid. If you try to clean those bricks with raw acid, that acid acts with the vanadium salts and creates horrible stains.
"We sell products to repair that damage," says Henry, "and it is repairable in some cases, but it's expensive and the contractor usually bears the brunt of the cost."
In other cases, muriatic acid etches and dissolves mortar joints, and that damage is not easily repairable. Also, muriatic acid has a yellow color, because there are particles from the industrial processes that created it still floating around in the acid. That can stain any brick work.
According to Bert Adams, president of Glaze 'N Seal in Irvine, Calif., "Another recent product is what I would call a 'safety stripper.' These products are not as harsh to use but, in general, they take much longer to be effective. Some of them, such as the soy gel products, will often remove difficult coatings if you have enough time and patience."
With the growing need for contractors to go green, cleaning and sealing products that conform to various environmental standards, such as those vested in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications, can be a benefit from the environment standpoint and from the public image of a concerned contractor and industry.
"We have pushed aggressively to add a number of water-based products, which have lower levels of VOCs."
Bert Adams, President
Glaze 'N Seal
Many states have legislated rules on levels of VOC (volatile organic compounds) allowed in a variety of chemicals. "That's been a factor for 30 years, a gradual push towards lower VOC types of products," Adams says. "That push initially came primarily at the state and local levels, and then migrated to the national scene, but it is also being encouraged by a growing percentage of contractors and homeowners who are looking for 'green' types of products.
"Our business began with high VOC solvent based products, and our home market is California which has been one of the leaders in reducing VOC levels," he continues. "As a result, we have had to, many times, reformulate and modify products to ensure that they continue to meet the appropriate regulations. Additionally, we have pushed aggressively to add a number of water-based products, which in general have much lower levels of VOC and are an alternative."
This can be costly for the vendor but, overall, a good thing for the industry and environment.
DIEDRICH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
800.323.3565
www.diedrichtechnologies.com
ENVIRESTORE 100™ - Newly Formulated
This product is perfect for the environmentally conscious architect and historic preservationist who want to eliminate harsh acids. It is a citric based gentle restoration cleaner-safer, environmentally friendly, now made more effective and blended slightly stronger to take on a wider variety of surfaces. It depends on the action of citric and phosphoric acid for its results rather than harsh mineral acids, making it a milder product that poses fewer hazards to workers and the environment. Glass safe, the product will not over-clean brick and stone. Formulated for restoring brick, sandstone, unpolished granite, terra cotta and some limestone, this product is ideal for maintenance cleaning of dirt streaks and stains in strip malls, commercial centers, etc.
Diedrich Green Clean 250
This is the product to use for cleaning manufactured stone, with special appeal for environmentally conscious architects and customers. Green Clean is an organic proton with chelator for use in the final cleanup of new masonry construction (use within 3 to 7 days for best results). Formulated to meet state and federal specifications where muriatic/hydrochloric acids are not allowed, it efficiently cleans off residual mortar smears and day-to-day soiling that occurs on job sites. Also works well on sand faced brick, brick, stone, tile, exposed aggregate and several other types of new masonry construction. An extended dwell time permits a safer concentration to be used in comparison to the customary harsh, dangerous muriatic acid washes, and results in equal if not better cleaning with less harmful acid exposure.
DIEDRICH TECHNOLOGIES
7373 S. 6th Street
Oak Creek, WI 53154
Toll Free 1-800-323-3565
Phone: 414-764-0058
Fax: 414-764-6993
SANDELL CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS
829-34th Street
Birmingham, AL 35222
Toll Free 1-877-Sandell
Phone: 205 263-1030
Fax: 205 263-1033
310 Wayto Road
Schenectady, NY 12303
Toll Free: 1-800-283-3888
Phone: 1-518-357-9757
Fax: 1-518-357-9636
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