Wall softwash for St Mellion homes

What St Mellion walls are usually finished in

• Render that has lost its water repellency absorbs surface water instead of shedding it, which extends every damp spell.
• Where render sits over insulation, the wall is more sensitive still and the mix is weakened accordingly.
• Peeling in flakes means adhesion has gone; powdering under the hand means the surface has simply aged.
• Painted plinths take splash and are worked as a separate band from the main face.
• Method is set by the softest thing on the wall, not the hardest.
• Cleaning stone reveals natural colour variation, which some owners expect to be uniform and it never is.

Low pressure, longer dwell

1. 1.Ridge and verge debris that has landed on the wall head is brushed off dry before anything wet goes on.
2. 2.Boundary walls and gate piers are treated in the same visit only if they take the same method as the house.
3. 3.Cable clips, aerial brackets and old fixings are noted, and loose ones are left rather than pushed further.
4. 4.A short rinse of the whole face at the end removes residue rather than removing growth, which is a different job done at a different pressure.
5. 5.Reach is taken from the ground with a telescopic lance wherever the elevation allows, which keeps ladders off soft render.
6. 6.Treatment goes on from the bottom of the elevation upwards, which stops clean streaks forming where liquid runs onto dry surface.
7. 7.Windows are checked from inside where access allows, because a closed window with a broken seal still lets water past.
8. 8.A wall in deep shade is worked earlier in the day, when there is most light on it to judge coverage.
9. 9.Curtains and blinds behind a treated elevation are best left closed, and we say so before starting rather than afterwards.
10. 10.The van is parked so hoses do not cross a footpath, and matting goes down where they have to.

Small things that make the visit smoother

• Note where the electricity meter and consumer unit sit relative to the wall.
• Let us know whether the gutters have been cleared in the last couple of years.
• Clear the base of the elevation of pots, ornaments and loose paving where you can.
• Say whether the side passage is wide enough for a wheeled kit trolley.
• Tell us where the drains run if the garden has a soakaway rather than a mains connection.
• Note any external socket or garden power run near the base of the wall.
• Point out any window that does not seal properly, so it gets sheeted rather than sprayed near.
• Tell us about pets in the garden before the day rather than on it.

Also covered near PL12

• Darite (PL14)
• Doublebois (PL14)
• Burraton (PL12)
• Wearde (PL12)
• Trematon (PL12)
• Landrake Village (PL12)

Before you get in touch

How is a quote put together?

By elevation area, surface type and access, written down before anything starts.

Can you clean a wall covered in ivy?

The ivy needs removing first. Once it is off, the shaded face behind it is treated as normal.

Do you clean UPVC panels and door surrounds?

They are wiped by hand rather than sprayed.

Will you tell me if the gutters are the real problem?

Yes, and it is common enough that the gutter line is checked on every wall visit.

Do you clean under the eaves?

The soffit line is in the spray path and gets a pass as part of the work.

Is it worth cleaning a wall in winter?

Yes. Cool damp conditions suit the method, and heavy rain during application is the only real obstacle.

Should the gutters be done at the same time?

Usually. Overflow is behind a large share of wall staining, so clearing it protects the work.

What happens if it rains on the day?

Light rain is workable. Persistent rain moves the visit rather than compromising the treatment.

The short version

An honest no is worth more than a job that was never going to work. Method, dwell, rinse, check. There is nothing else to it. The finish underneath is usually intact. It is the film on top that has aged.