Soft Washing in Fergus

Solid stone houses are part of what defines Fergus, and many buildings from the 1800s are still lived in. Old mortar is softer than modern masonry. A hard spray can loosen it in the joints and push water into the wall. Soft washing uses low pressure and a cleaning product chosen for the surface, so the product does the cleaning and the wall keeps its joints.

Drying is the second concern. Stone that is soaked all day can bloom white salts as it dries, and wet stone always looks darker than dry stone. So we keep water on the wall to a minimum, rinse with care and judge the colour only after the wall dries. Painted trim, wood sills and doors sit close to stone, and they get lower strength and shorter contact time.

Not every wall is stone. Vinyl, aluminum and stucco each get their own mix. On every kind of wall, algae and mildew show first where the sun is weakest, on the north side and under the eaves. Soft washing starts from $350, and the price is set after we see the height and the materials. Plan for a dry, above-freezing day between spring and fall.

What we plan for in Fergus

• Mortar test: we check joints for crumbling or recessed mortar first, and test a hidden patch before treating a stone wall.
• Drying time: we limit water on stone, and judge the finished colour only after the wall has dried.
• Trim and sills: we note painted wood, old sills and doors beside stone, and use lower strength there.
• Newer siding: we identify vinyl, aluminum and stucco separately, and match the mix and rinse to each.
• Beds and shrubs: we agree which plants to cover or pre-wet, and plan where rinse water will run.

Questions from Fergus homeowners

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