Paint Removal in Malvern, Worcestershire

Research has shown that the certain paints used on the exterior of buildings can stop the circulation of air which allows buildings to breath; trapping moisture, causing damp and damage to the building. Where the wrong paint has been left on for extended periods significant damage can be caused to the pointing and eventually the bricks themselves.

Margaret from Malvern had this issue when moving to her dream home at the foot of the Malvern Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a conservation area (in recognition of the special architectural and historic interest of the area).

Margaret’s surveyor recommended the removal of the paint from the house as soon as possible, to allow the property to breath, with the added benefit of bringing the home back to its former glory. Had the paint been removed at an earlier date less damage would have been caused to the building. As it was the whole house had to be repointed, but at least the paint was removed before the bricks were compromised.

So What did Margaret have to say about the paint removal service she recived? 

“Al came to remove all of the paint from the exterior walls of my house. A huge job with lots of challenges. Al and his team worked hard to deliver a great job. Always friendly and considerate I would happily recommend them.” – Margaret From Malvern

 

There are two schools of thought when it comes to paint removal from Brickwork

 

  • Mechanical cleaning removes soiling by breaking the physical bonds between the soiling particulates and the surface. ABRASIVE CLEANING (WET & DRY) If done incorrectly, abrasive cleaning can irreversibly damage terracotta, eroding the surface. This erosion can affect the appearance of the terracotta or faience by altering the way light is reflected off it: changing the colour and lustre of the surface finish, or making the glaze appear dull. Abrasive cleaning can also blur arrises of corners and decorative details. Furthermore, if the surface is broken through, exposing a more porous underbody, it may be vulnerable to weathering and decay. It should only be carried out by experienced specialists.

 

  • British Standards PRESSURE CLEANING BS 8221–1:2000 Code of practice for cleaning and surface repair of buildings. Cleaning of natural stones, brick, terracotta and concrete Reference is often made to ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ pressures; these refer to the indications on the pump gauge. BS 8221–1:2000 defines the pressures ranges as:  • low pressure: 17 bar or less • medium to high pressure: 17–69 bar. Even small devices for the do-it-yourself market operate at pump pressures in the range of 80 to 100 bar, at flow rates of 10–30 litres per minute. These are more than capable of causing damage. For conservation work the lowest effective pressures should always be used.

 

further Information can be found: (https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/earth-brick-terracotta-conservation/earth-brick-terracotta-marketing-spread/

 

As you can see both schools of thought can cause damage to the surface. This then bring us along to the heritage approved DOFF system which is recommended by surveyors and conservation officers alike for cleaning and paint stripping of grade listed buildings and heritage sites.

So what makes the DOFF so different and unique?

Whilst the temperature in the system is high, the pressure on the surface being cleaned is very gentle and the volume of water is low. The surface is therefore not saturated and will be dry within minutes.

The superheated water vapor will remove paint, moss, algae, fungi and other biological matter and will also kill off spores. This means there’s then no need to use a chemical biocide during the removal process or as a protection against further biological activity.

The DOFF System is unique in achieving a 150 degree temperature at the nozzle end – making it a ‘superheated water system’. Designed and developed to effectively remove paint, dirt and grime without causing harm or shock to the substrate.

We recommend the DOFF for paint removal on surfaces such as brick, stone, concrete, tiled (glazed and encaustic), wood, faience and terracotta.

If you would like a paint stripping sample give us a call on: 01452 301342

Or email: discover@skylinesoftwash.com