A. EXTERIOR WALLS AND COLUMNS Cleaning: 1. Use pressure washing or steam cleaning in combination with environmentally friendly cleaning agents to remove exterior wall staining and biological growth from the exterior walls, panels, and concrete columns. 2. Efflorescence: Use stiff-bristle, nylon brush to remove the excess salt build up, and then rinse the remainder. 3. Lime Run: Use diluted muriatic acid or professional cleaning product to remove lime run (calcium carbonate) build up from the stucco surface. Carefully remove heavy accumulations with sharp chisel or wire wheel grinder. Do not scratch or chip masonry surfaces. Scrubbing should always be done with a stiff, nylon-bristle brush. 4. Do not test or use cleaners and methods known to have deleterious effects on surfaces. Test cleaning materials and methods on small samples of the staining and on the adjacent substrate materials for possible adverse reactions and for confirmation of suitability of the cleaning method. 5. Care should be taken to use only the pressure necessary to effectively clean the surfaces without causing damage to the stucco, sealants or grout. Expansion Joints: 1. Inspect the condition of the existing expansion joint. If oxidizing, cracking, or shrinking is present, completely remove and replace expansion joint. Blisters and Peeling Paint: 1. Cut out and remove delaminated coating to fully adhered coating. 2. Prepare exposed wall surfaces as required by the coating manufacturer. Crack Repair: 1. Crack repair is a manufacturer preparation requirement for waterproof coating and paint systems. 2. Hairline and Fine static cracks: a. Apply brush-grade acrylic elastomeric patching compound over the crack and feather at the edges. The patching compound should crest over the crack and then taper to edges. A sponge can be used to texture the compound finish to match the surrounding stucco texture as closely as possible. 3. Medium and Wide static cracks: a. Rake out the crack to create a “V” shaped groove. Using compressed air or a solvent, blow or wipe the groove clean. Apply an application of knife-grade acrylic elastomeric patching compound within the groove. An additional application of brush-grade patching compound is applied over the groove and feathered at the edges. 4. Dynamic or Moving cracks (typically all cracks wider than 1/16”): a. Grind out or saw cut cracks to create a joint ¼” x ¼” to ½” x ½” minimum. Clean the joint of debris and dust. Apply a bead of polyurethane sealant within the groove and tool per manufacturer’s recommendations to create a “control joint”. Apply brush-grade acrylic elastomeric patching compound over the crack and feather at the edges. The patching compound should crest over the crack and then taper to edges.
