Oxidation on vinyl siding

[Gutter Squad]

Have a home with medium slate blue vinyl siding that I washed yesterday (the siding is about 22 years old - the owner has not had it washed and has been at the residence for 19 years). The siding came clean, but there is a layer or patina of oxidation on it (kind of like the kind that gets on cheap vinyl outdoor furniture after a number of years).

Any thoughts on getting this "patina" off the siding. Homeowner is happy with the cleaning, but I'd like it to look better. Did a scratch test with my fingernail on one side and found that there seems to be a glossier "hard" layer beneath the oxidized patina.

Thoughts appreciated - considering just taking a stiff bristle to it...

[814jeffw]

Something butyl based such as one of the purple cleaners should work. Start with a weak mix and go stronger until it's bringing it all off. Be careful around any painted aluminum though, it will take the paint off of it as well. Applying with a sprayer is what I would do, and the warmer it is, the better it will work, especially at a lighter mix. Don't allow it to dry on glass neither, and try and pre-wet any aluminum if possible. And if any aluminum does turn a yellowish color just use a little acid on a brush and hit the yellow spots, this will bring it right back to white.

Jeff

[anthony szabo]

RESTORA - By Flood is your answer! Now you have to find it! Maybe call Flood and see if they know where to get product!

[Ron Musgraves]

How long does siding last? Just curious...

[jeffex11]

having the same problem on one I did last week. some uneven areas of oxidation still showing after it dried. the customer and I walked the house before I was paid and NO signs of oxidation were left. I hit every sq. onch when cleaning and that is reflected in my price.. she gave me a call later that night and said she notice some discoloration. I told her I would be over in 2 days and she agreed. I gave it a second go on sat eve. with purple stuff but thunderstorms prevented it drying out and checking for oxidation. I haven't seen oxidation this bad in many years on vinyl. Only on the eastern and southern side where sun exposure is bad. I will be cautious on bidding on any other homes with this brand of siding in this neighborhood. It could have been residue from the cleaner or even cleaner weeping out from the drip holes in the vinyl I explained but I haven't had this much problem with vinyl in my whole time of cleaning houses. Hell I may have to get a big jar of armor all and brush the 2 sides with it!

[Integrity.PSI]

Originally Posted by jeffex11

having the same problem on one I did last week. some uneven areas of oxidation still showing after it dried. the customer and I walked the house before I was paid and NO signs of oxidation were left. I hit every sq. onch when cleaning and that is reflected in my price.. she gave me a call later that night and said she notice some discoloration. I told her I would be over in 2 days and she agreed. I gave it a second go on sat eve. with purple stuff but thunderstorms prevented it drying out and checking for oxidation. I haven't seen oxidation this bad in many years on vinyl. Only on the eastern and southern side where sun exposure is bad. I will be cautious on bidding on any other homes with this brand of siding in this neighborhood. It could have been residue from the cleaner or even cleaner weeping out from the drip holes in the vinyl I explained but I haven't had this much problem with vinyl in my whole time of cleaning houses. Hell I may have to get a big jar of armor all and brush the 2 sides with it!

How are you applying your chems? If the S-hypo is too strong... and the sun is beating down... then it may be crystalizing on the siding.
Are you downstreaming or x-jetting? If ds-ing, what is your draw percent?

[jeffex11]

pump sprayer applicaton 1part cleaner to 3parts water

[Integrity.PSI]

Originally Posted by jeffex11

pump sprayer applicaton 1part cleaner to 3parts water

What chems are you using? How longis it taking you to clean vinyl siding? Are you usung high or low pressure?

[jeffex11]

outdoor bleach ..mixture of bleach and soap from home depot. tired it at start of season and it works great. I wash each lap of vinyl siding like I'm spray painting it . each side takes roughly an hour on most houses with high pressure

[Thad]

Originally Posted by jeffex11

outdoor bleach ..mixture of bleach and soap from home depot. tired it at start of season and it works great. I wash each lap of vinyl siding like I'm spray painting it . each side takes roughly an hour on most houses with high pressure

[Gutter Squad]

Jeff- I've got a few different butyl-based cleaners (mild to strong) that I keep in my truck's arsenal. Just didn't think about using them on vinyl... I've washed hundreds of houses and two things about this:

1.) I have never seen siding that looked like this siding (has no "grain" to it and is rounded at the bottom of each lap).

2.) I again have to say how odd it seems - it really looks just like cheap walmart vinyl furniture that is over 10 years old.

Thanks for the tip on windows - way back when I first used butyl based stuff I did two dumbs things: took the paint completely off a 10 foot run of gutters & etched a window quite nicely (razor blades and windows = no fun).

I have a good deal of aluminum sided homes in my area and they account for about 20% of my housewash jobs, so I am familiar with oxidation remove from that aspect. I just didn't put 2 and 2 together to think of using that product on vinyl that same way.

Would have come back for replies sooner... but got a great father's day gift - Red Sox @ Reds tickets today and yesterday! Great seats - four rows up from the Reds dugout! SWEEEEEEEEET!!!! Loved watching the Sox kick the crap out of them today!

[jeffex11]

congrats on the fathers day gift!!! my son walked in the door with crabs, shrimp, and a dale jr 88 hat and shirt just about the time he won the NASCAR race yesterday!!! My wife said she called Jr and asked for the win for me for fathers day!!! well its a great thought......

[814jeffw]

I've seen that weird siding before only a couple of times, (rounded at the bottom and smooth) and you're right it doesn't clean up as easily as the typical vinyl we see. But I still think the butyl-based at the proper strength will take care of it. I bet that kind of siding is expensive also.

Jeff

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by jeffex11

outdoor bleach ..mixture of bleach and soap from home depot. tired it at start of season and it works great. I wash each lap of vinyl siding like I'm spray painting it . each side takes roughly an hour on most houses with high pressure

You shouldn't be using high pressure on vinyl, nor should one side of a typical house take an hour unless you're hand scrubbing it! The proper chems and you can wash a vinyl house in an hour with a garden hose. And yes, get it clean.

[Integrity.PSI]

Originally Posted by jeffex11

outdoor bleach ..mixture of bleach and soap from home depot. tired it at start of season and it works great. I wash each lap of vinyl siding like I'm spray painting it . each side takes roughly an hour on most houses with high pressure

You need to search downstreaming and sodium hypochlorite. High pressure can damage vinyl, and low pressure not only performs better with the right chems, but it is easier and quicker. Feel free to call me if you have any questions.

Scott