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HOUSE WASHING PROCESS
We start by pre-treating areas to kill all mildew.
Then we apply a soap that is specially designed
for house washing. It loosens dirt, mildew and other pollutants so they can be
easily rinsed at a low pressure.
Gutters are scrubbed with a soap that is designed
to take off the black streaks that will often adhere to gutters.
We then apply a wax to the siding. This is done to
give the siding a protective coating that will resist the adhesion of dirt and
mildew.
Finally, we go back and re-rinse all the windows.
MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CLEANING SIDING
Q.
Why use pressure washing?
A. Pressure washing is the most efficient way to get rid of the surface dirt,
faded paint, mold, mildew and any other materials that collect on your siding.
It’s also the best method to prepare a house for painting.
Q. What results can I expect?
A. Our house washing will remove years of algae, mildew, and accumulated grime
from your siding and trim. It will also increase the value of your home and
extend the life of paints and natural wood surfaces.
Q. Do I really need to wash my house?
A. Yes. Algae, mildew, mold, and carbon deposits can degrade the painted
surfaces as well as the aluminum trim and soffit on newer vinyl homes.
Q. Can you remove gutter streaks?
A. Yes, we clean them by hand with a brush. Our products are specifically
designed to effectively and thoroughly clean exterior surfaces.
Q. Will washing my home damage my siding?
A. No. We use a proven low-pressure cleaning method, with hot and cold water,
that relies on detergents and cleaners, rather than the full power of the
equipment or harmful chemicals.
Q. Will it harm my plants?
A. No, our cleaning products are environmentally safe.
Q. Do I need to be home?
A. No, but please check that all windows are closed, and that the outside water
is switched on.
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 ARTILLERY FUNGUS
Artillery fungus, also known
as shotgun fungus, is commonly found in wood-based landscape mulch. Mulch beds
can be infected by the fungus in various ways; it can grow on trees that become
mulch, or a leaf that contains spore masses can blow into a mulch bed.
This wood-rotting variety prefers sunny, damp areas. It is
so small that even experts have trouble finding
it in mulch, but it gives the wood a bleached appearance. This particular type
of "mushroom" is a small cream or orange-brown cup containing a black, round
mass of spores.
Spore masses are produced when temperatures are between 50 and
68 degrees Fahrenheit, typical of the spring and fall seasons. The fruiting body
points itself toward strong light sources such as sun-reflecting glass and light
colored buildings and cars. As the body matures, it opens like a flower,
revealing the mass of spores in the middle. Five hours after opening, the inner
cup inverts and violently ejects the spore mass, with a 1/10,000 horse-power
force, as far as 20 feet.
The spore masses, which are sometimes mistaken for insect droppings, adhere to
any surfaces they contact. They cannot be removed without damaging or staining
the surface and are viable for at least 10 years. The fungus is found nearly everywhere in the
United States, except for dry areas like Arizona.
- from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences Website
Article / July 3, 1997
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