Will it strip my paint?

Sound paint is unaffected. Paint that has already lost adhesion may lift, which is why a test patch goes on first.

How soon can the walls be painted afterwards?

Once fully dry, which in practice means giving it several dry days.

Do you need scaffolding?

Rarely. Most elevations are reached from the ground with a telescopic lance.

Do you need a parking space?

Somewhere within hose reach of the elevation is enough.

When does a treated wall show its final appearance?

Some change can be visible after treatment, while remaining dead growth may continue to weather away over the following days.

Do you clean stonework?

Yes, with the method set by the softest part of the wall, which is almost always the mortar.

Can you do it while I am at work?

Yes, as long as gates are unlocked and we can reach the elevations.

Can the whole house be done in one go?

Often, depending on size and access. Larger properties split naturally into two visits.

Wall and render softwash near Grenofen

Walkham valley south of Tavistock.

Wall cleaning in Grenofen is mostly a question of what the wall is made of. Walkham valley south of Tavistock. The nearest hub we cover in depth is Horrabridge, and the building stock here follows the same pattern.

Working out what is wrong on a Grenofen wall

01A test patch at low strength shows what the surface will do before the full elevation commits to it.
02Where the pattern is vertical and narrow, plumbing is looked at before chemistry is.
03Hollow-sounding render is checked by tapping before any water is put onto it.
04A damp meter reading inside a stained corner separates a cleaning job from a building problem.
05A short section of hose test shows whether run-off drains away or ponds at the base.
06A wall that feels chalky under the hand is telling you the coating has aged, not that it is dirty.
07The condition of the cills tells you how much water has been running down the face.
08Previous cleaning is usually visible as a slightly different texture rather than a different colour.

Material first, method second

A rendered wall under a failed drip detail restains within a season however well it was cleaned.
Render responds to dwell time better than almost any other finish, which is what makes softwash suit it.
Masonry paint over render adds a film that traps moisture if the substrate was damp when it was applied.
Colour on a painted wall usually returns once the film on top is removed.
Deeply rooted lichen on granite can take a full season to fade after treatment.
Second lighter applications suit granite better than one strong pass.

Why this keeps happening on PL19 elevations

Lichen prefers hard, alkaline surfaces, which is why it shows on mortar and cills before it shows on render.
A textured coating applied over an already dirty surface holds that dirt as a feeding layer.
Airflow along a terrace is different from airflow around a detached house, and the drying patterns follow.
A downpipe discharging onto a hard surface next to the wall sends the water straight back at the brickwork.
A tree removed years ago can leave a wall that greened in its shade and never fully recovered.
Painted walls chalk with age, and chalked paint is a rougher surface than new paint.
A wall under a mature hedge takes both shade and constant leaf litter, which is the worst pairing there is.
A patio laid up against a wall reflects splash onto it every time it rains hard.
Growth thickest at head height usually means splash from a hard surface rather than run-off from above.

On site in Grenofen

1.A final walk of each finished elevation happens with the property owner where they are home, and by photograph where they are not.
2.The strength of mix is stepped up only after a weaker one has been given its full dwell and judged.
3.On thin-coat systems the lance is kept moving, because holding it still in one place is how a shadow mark gets left behind.
4.A wall in deep shade is worked earlier in the day, when there is most light on it to judge coverage.
5.Where a wall has been previously jet washed, the damaged band is treated at a reduced strength.
6.Where a property has solar panels on a wall-facing slope, the array is sheeted before treatment starts below.
7.Chimney stacks are treated from a position that keeps the operator off the roof covering entirely.
8.Gutter faces and fascia boards are wiped as part of the same pass, since they sit in the same spray path.
9.Application is by low-pressure fan, closer to a garden sprayer than a washer, and the wall is wetted evenly rather than saturated in patches.
10.Neighbouring cars and windows are checked before spraying starts on a boundary elevation.

Local detail that changes the job

PL19 covers 5 town hubs and 12 villages or districts in our radius.
Typical roof covering here is slate, which affects what washes down onto the walls.
Horrabridge sits about 1.9 miles from Grenofen on our round, so visits are often shared.
Recorded character: moorland hamlet. Walkham valley south of Tavistock.
Access is usually via A386.

See everywhere we cover in PL19

Preparing a moorland hamlet property

If a security light or camera covers the elevation, tell us so it can be isolated.
Say whether the property is occupied during the day, since that changes nothing technically but helps the plan.
Say whether the elevation backs onto a public footpath.
Flag any recent repair or repaint, because fresh work is treated more gently.
If you have a pond, a water butt or a wildlife area, point it out in advance.
Unlock side gates the night before if you are not going to be in, because a locked passage stops a whole elevation.
If parking needs a permit or a bay suspension, tell us early.
Note the position of the stopcock in case the outside tap needs isolating.

Sequencing the outside of the house

Where scaffolding is going up for other work, the wall clean is easier and safer while it is standing.

If a decorator is due, the wall clean goes in first and is given time to dry fully.

Where the property is being sold, walls are the single most visible thing to do first.

Booking services out of order is the commonest reason a clean seems not to have lasted.

Practical questions answered

Will it strip my paint?: Sound paint is unaffected. Paint that has already lost adhesion may lift, which is why a test patch goes on first.
How soon can the walls be painted afterwards?: Once fully dry, which in practice means giving it several dry days.
Do you need scaffolding?: Rarely. Most elevations are reached from the ground with a telescopic lance.
Do you need a parking space?: Somewhere within hose reach of the elevation is enough.
When does a treated wall show its final appearance?: Some change can be visible after treatment, while remaining dead growth may continue to weather away over the following days.
Do you clean stonework?: Yes, with the method set by the softest part of the wall, which is almost always the mortar.
Can you do it while I am at work?: Yes, as long as gates are unlocked and we can reach the elevations.
Can the whole house be done in one go?: Often, depending on size and access. Larger properties split naturally into two visits.

Neighbouring places we work

Summary

Wall growth is a moisture problem wearing a dirt costume. Treat the growth, sort the water, and the interval stretches out. Where the cause is plumbing, cleaning is a cosmetic answer to a practical problem. Method, dwell, rinse, check. There is nothing else to it. Monday to Saturday, 8am to 7pm.

Straight answer, no chasing

You get a price, then you get left alone to think about it.

Get the price 07830 242403

Quote for a Grenofen property

Monday to Saturday, 8am – 7pm