Changing Color of Stucco

Hi, new to this forum. I'm looking for help with a stucco house.

I have a job at 3 story residential stucco house coming up. Its definitely stucco. The stucco has dirt and algae on it. The house is old and the stucco is too. I would describe the stucco as rough compared to the stucco I've cleaned on newer homes. I usually increase (add) the strength of the SH in my mix for stucco. My mix for stucco is a five gallon bucket with 2-3 gallons of SH, half cup of liquid laundry detergent, half cup of Mr. Clean and 3 gallons of water. None of the stucco houses I've cleaned in the past have been this dirty and they are usually only stucco in the front and the rest vinyl.

Can I discolor, lighten or harm the stucco by going too strong with the SH in my mix? By strong I mean,3 or more gallons of SH and rest of five gallon bucket water.
Would I be better off using Elemonator in my Mix instead of laundry detergent and Mr. clean?

I've searched this and other forums to find the answer to my question with no luck. I would appreciate any advice, tips or warnings you guys/girls have on cleaning stucco.

I am using a 4 gpm belt driven cold water machine.

There are some colors of paint that will change colors. It's is not usually the strength of SH that does it, but rather the paint itself, or the pigment in the paint, that reacts with the SH. It is usually most common on pastel type colors, greens, pink, browns, red, etc. Also I have it heard it happen, and it usually a couple Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore Paints that it will happen too. It has happened to me once, and the paint was "light orange" color.


If your stucco is white, or a lighter shade you shouldn't have a problem. I teach to ALWAYS do a test spot first, in couple different spot's, and let it sit a few minutes before proceeding.

I would use a dedicated pump to ensure the exact mix is being applied at the strength you need. A 3% would be the max I would go and as doug said do a test spot and let it sit for 10 minutes to see if there is a color change. If it's white color stucco it shouldn't be a problem.

The other thing to be careful of is painted front doors. The stucco might be fine but the front door may be an issue if it is painted. If it is painted cover it with plastic and you're safe. The strength of your mix won't hurt the stucco, just the plants.

Make sure to water the plants, windows and doors constantly. And over rinse everything. You will be fine.

Some paints can turn brown and some green.






Doug Rucker
Clean and Green Solutions
Pressure Washing Roof Cleaning School
Call or Text 281.883.8470

Doug is spot on with the benjamin moore. It sucks.

Thank you for the help.
I will definitely try a couple spots first. If the test spots are fine would you recommend a high dosage of SH for my mix or just keep re-applying? Should I brush the walls if its not coming clean, use pressure or (again) increase SH in my mix? I want to increase the SH obviously, because it makes my job easier but I also fear this could harm the color.

Good advice

Great Thread

Bill - You said your using a 4 gpm cold water machine so I assume you are downstreaming.
Almost every home I wash is stucco. I downstream straight 10.5% SH through my siphon - let dwell for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse -repeat if necessary.
Hope this helps.

Harry

Evenly apply the solution to the walls and it should take the streaking out and blend it all one color. That is if your lucky, sometimes that doesn't happen.

Too hot of a mix can definitely make a difference on some paints in my experience.