"Rust" streaks on white cement capstones

C

Chris Dragotta

New member
I did a job that involved cleaning white cement capstones. All the caps came out great except for a few that look like they have rust on them. The common ground all the "rusty" caps share is that they are under crepe myrtle trees, almost in direct contact with them. Only the caps under the crepe myrtles look like that.
I x-jetted a ~2% SH solution, dwell for 5 minutes then rinse with 120 degree hot water. Before they dried, I sprayed oxalic on them, let it dwell for 3-5 minutes then rinsed. Check out the pics to see what I'm talking about. Anyone know what this is or how to get rid of, or prevent, it?

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Chris Dragotta
Owner
No Pane No Gain Window Washing and Exterior Cleaning
Benson, NC
 
This happened after I cleaned them. They looked great for two days, then that stuff showed up.


Chris Dragotta
Owner
No Pane No Gain Window Washing and Exterior Cleaning
Benson, NC
 
You might do a google search on those trees. Find out the when they bloom and what the fall out is from the bloom and so on. The last one I had was from olive trees that do not produce fruit. The stain was caused by the blooms and also the worm poop that eat the tree. They do this every year and a hot hot mix with heat dose not touch them. The season is almost over or is over for the place I take care of and the sun did the work that I could not other than the mold.
 
We did have rain. I'm apt to go with Solopressure's theory. I'll ask my good buddy Google what he thinks about those trees.


Chris Dragotta
Owner
No Pane No Gain Window Washing and Exterior Cleaning
Benson, NC
 
Ok...but if they looked great for two days after you cleaned them, then it rained, and they looked like that....then....

I agreed with Guy Blackmon all along that it is not rust, but from the trees, but was trying to help you analyze and see it.
 
Doug Rucker said:
Ok...but if they looked great for two days after you cleaned them, then it rained, and they looked like that....then....

I agreed with Guy Blackmon all along that it is not rust, but from the trees, but was trying to help you analyze and see it.
Click to expand...

Agree with this 100%. Look at more than the dirt, trees,shrubs, grass, fertilizer, rust,paint, the list goes on. Sounds like Doug is trying to get you to find,determine the root cause or multiple causes for the retuning stains.
 
Thanks for jumping on this guys! I know the crepe myrtles are causing this. The blooms have great stain-making capabilities. I think I need a doctor...of botany! Is there a horticulturalist in da house? Haha! Seriously...I'll give a call to the local Ag extension office on Monday and see what they recommend to get rid of those stains and prevent them from coming back. Thanks again for the advice and direction! Have a safe and blessed 4th!


Chris Dragotta
Owner
No Pane No Gain Window Washing and Exterior Cleaning
Benson, NC
 
For those interested:
Crepe myrtle stains are gone! Didn't have to do anything else to the caps. I now use that house a reference for customers who ask if I can make their brick look better. I could not have done such a great job with this if it had not been for the information I garnered from this forum.

Thanks to all of you guys and ladies for posting all that great info! I also love the fact that if I can't find info using the search bar, you all step up to fill in the blanks. And in my brain, there are a lot of blanks.

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Chris Dragotta
Owner
No Pane No Gain Window Washing and Exterior Cleaning
Benson, NC
 
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