Soft Washing in Elmira

If your Elmira home is older brick, it shares its materials with the town's own landmarks. The brick post office opened in 1914. The Carnegie Library was built in 1913. Bristow's Inn, an 1860 farmhouse, was restored in 1989 and is now the Country Inn. Older brick often has softer mortar than newer work, and sometimes old paint over it. A high-pressure blast can strip both. A soft wash, with a mild cleaner and a gentle rinse, cleans without cutting into either.

Brick in shade grows green algae, and near the ground it wears a grey film of splashed dirt and road salt. Look for bricks whose faces are flaking, which is called spalling. It means water has been getting into the brick and freezing. Any pressure makes spalling worse, so we use a test area, keep the rinse soft and stay clear of the worst bricks. A wash does not stop spalling. A mason does.

Vinyl and aluminum siding on newer additions need a different mix, and wood needs a lighter rinse again. We choose the cleaner and rinse for each wall. Soft washing starts from $350, and your free written quote names each wall and material. We confirm it before work starts.

What we plan for in Elmira

• Mortar test: we test one hidden joint on older brick, and stop early if the mortar is sandy or crumbles under a light rinse.
• Spalling check: we look for flaking brick faces before wetting the wall, and mark the worst bricks to keep clear of.
• Painted brick: we check whether paint is firm or chalky first, and tell you what may lift before we begin.
• Wall by wall: we set a mix and rinse for each material, since brick, vinyl, aluminum and wood do not clean alike.
• Salt line: we treat the grey salt and splash film near the ground before the general wash of the wall.

Questions from Elmira homeowners

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