Mortar residue on windows, cleaning?

SmartinMartin · 22-03-2019 2:27pm #1

Hi all, looking for help. As per photo, recently my wall has begun weeping badly, and is dripping onto the windows. I'm fairly sure it's the mortar and not the limestone. The house is 3 years old and this wall faces out to sea so takes the brunt of the weather. This has only been happening for about 6 months, and is gradually getting worse. I think it'll eventually stop, but in the meantime I'm hoping someone has a suggestion for cleaning the residue from the windows!

Cordell · 22-03-2019 2:31pm

Vinegar?

Duane Dibbley · 22-03-2019 2:33pm

Vinegar should work.

SmartinMartin · 22-03-2019 2:48pm

Ok, off to get a bottle of vinegar.
I wonder would a sealant stop the dripping?

ht9zni1gs28crp · 22-03-2019 4:50pm

You need to create a drip detail at the front of the lintel to stop the water running back to the frame. Try a piece of small 10mm wide black rubber foam/plastic along the leading edge of the lintel. The ones that have a stick back/peel stick.

It may be enough to trap the water and drip it down directly.

Just a thought...

SmartinMartin · 23-03-2019 1:07am

Ok, vinegar has very little effect. I think this is gonna be a scrape off job.

how.gareth · 23-03-2019 1:11am

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Ok, vinegar has very little effect. I think this is gonna be a scrape off job.

Try everything possible before you go scraping as you’ll find it extremely difficult to avoid scratching the glass

how.gareth · 23-03-2019 1:13am

There might be some chemical that can soften it up enough to even power hose the heaviest off

Outkast_IRE · 23-03-2019 1:33am

I would be tempted to try a powerhose snowfoam lance and snowfoam as these are designed to soften out all types of dropings and dirt to allow removal yet are also tested with lots of different materials to ensure they do not mark or damage them . Follow up the snowfoam with a low pressure power hose and see how it reacts, wash off with a microfibre mitt.

That would be my first port of call as all these techniques have been developed to remove debris from cars without scratching

Atlantic Dawn · 23-03-2019 1:41am

Would warm soapy water not break it down?

Who2 · 24-03-2019 1:14pm

Car screen wash works on it and if not try car big and tar remover. There are chemicals available but most will react with the paint on the frames if you rub against them. Creating a drip at the leading edge is your best solution, even if you are to just run a bead of silicon out towards the front of the lintel to create a drip.

Tacklebox · 24-03-2019 1:21pm

I had something similar, the builder came back and chipped a drip line under neath the window sills.

It's basically an indentend line where the drips don't past the line and drips away from rather than pours down the window.

Make sure whoever's doing it for you is tasty at their work and not a demolition man or woman

SmartinMartin · 24-03-2019 6:47pm

Thanks for the suggestions folks, gently does it for me so.

Mortar residue on windows, cleaning?

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