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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Cleaning paving slabs
We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a
slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? -- Frank |
#2
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote:
We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Bac 50? https://mistralni.co.uk/products/c10...um-chloride-ba I've used it to remove algae on a transparent plastic roof. Sprayed on and left for a week or two before washing again with clean water from a hose. -- mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk |
#3
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Cleaning paving slabs
On Fri, 06 Nov 2020 22:27:09 +0000, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 6 Nov 2020 20:59:05 +0000, F news@nowhere wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? 'Patio Magic' aka Benzalkonium chloride. It contains the same stuff as Alan recommended, but with a more pronounceable name, and is more dilute! Take your pick from e-bay suppliers here https://tinyurl.com/y56baf45 +1; good stuff. Wilko and Robert Dyas sell it for something like £8. |
#4
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 06/11/2020 21:28, alan_m wrote:
On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Bac 50? https://mistralni.co.uk/products/c10...um-chloride-ba I've used it to remove algae on a transparent plastic roof. Sprayed on and left for a week or two before washing again with clean water from a hose. Thanks. It sounds to need some fairly serious [protection when spraying it. How plant-safe is it? -- Frank |
#5
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 06/11/2020 22:27, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 6 Nov 2020 20:59:05 +0000, F news@nowhere wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? 'Patio Magic' aka Benzalkonium chloride. It contains the same stuff as Alan recommended, but with a more pronounceable name, and is more dilute! Take your pick from e-bay suppliers here https://tinyurl.com/y56baf45 Bac50 needs to be diluted 10:1 to 20:1 water:BAC50 for this application. Possibly not that plant friendly. -- mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk |
#6
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 06/11/2020 22:27, Chris Hogg wrote:
more pronounceable name, and is more dilute! Sold on Ebay and elsewhere as easy to pronounce BAC50. -- mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk |
#7
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote:
We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Green goes with bleach and heavy power washing. Its the black ones that are impossible to shift. -- "A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding". Marshall McLuhan |
#8
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Cleaning paving slabs
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Green goes with bleach and heavy power washing. Its the black ones that are impossible to shift. Does everyone *really* worry all that much about what colour their patio paving ends up as it weathers? Our patio paving (two areas outside sliding doors outside the house and one area round the pond) just get cleared of the weeds that pop up through the cracks and that's it. If they go funny colours with lichen or other such things then that's part of their attraction IMHO. You don't clean all the funny patches off the bark of beech or silver birch trees (or do you). -- Chris Green · |
#9
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 7 Nov 2020 at 10:43:20 GMT, "Chris Green" wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote: On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Green goes with bleach and heavy power washing. Its the black ones that are impossible to shift. Does everyone *really* worry all that much about what colour their patio paving ends up as it weathers? Our patio paving (two areas outside sliding doors outside the house and one area round the pond) just get cleared of the weeds that pop up through the cracks and that's it. If they go funny colours with lichen or other such things then that's part of their attraction IMHO. You don't clean all the funny patches off the bark of beech or silver birch trees (or do you). That's how I feel about the 3cm deep moss on my outside concrete. Not everyone agrees with me though, especially the hedge sparrows which rip out great chunks of it looking for invertebrates. -- Roger Hayter |
#10
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Cleaning paving slabs
On Sat, 7 Nov 2020 10:43:20 +0000, Chris Green wrote:
Does everyone *really* worry all that much about what colour their patio paving ends up as it weathers? Only when it's algae and wet, when the coeffcient of friction drops close to zero... -- Cheers Dave. |
#11
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 07/11/2020 10:43, Chris Green wrote:
Does everyone *really* worry all that much about what colour their patio paving ends up as it weathers? Our patio paving (two areas outside sliding doors outside the house and one area round the pond) just get cleared of the weeds that pop up through the cracks and that's it. If they go funny colours with lichen or other such things then that's part of their attraction IMHO. You don't clean all the funny patches off the bark of beech or silver birch trees (or do you). You don't normally walk on the lichen or algae on the bark of trees. Algae on paving slabs can be very slippery when wet. -- mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk |
#12
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 07/11/2020 09:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Green goes with bleach and heavy power washing. Its the black ones that are impossible to shift. We have black too. Forgot to mention that. -- Frank |
#13
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote:
We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Thanks, all. It looks like an order for BAC50 will be going in. -- Frank |
#14
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 07/11/2020 14:17, F wrote:
On 07/11/2020 09:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote: On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Green goes with bleach and heavy power washing. Its the black ones that are impossible to shift. We have black too. Forgot to mention that. If BAC50 shifts it, please let us know. I've tried everything -- €œIt is not the truth of Marxism that explains the willingness of intellectuals to believe it, but the power that it confers on intellectuals, in their attempts to control the world. And since...it is futile to reason someone out of a thing that he was not reasoned into, we can conclude that Marxism owes its remarkable power to survive every criticism to the fact that it is not a truth-directed but a power-directed system of thought.€ Sir Roger Scruton |
#15
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 07/11/2020 14:20, F wrote:
On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Thanks, all. It looks like an order for BAC50 will be going in. https://job-prices.co.uk/best-moss-killer/ Lots of sellers on Ebay. Price last December was around £25 for 5 litres (incl postage) from many sellers. During the last lock-down the price rose by 3x to 4x and now back to around £30 for 5 litres from some sellers. Smaller quantities are available but postage probably forms a disproportionate percentage of the overall cost. -- mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk |
#16
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 07/11/2020 15:02, alan_m wrote:
On 07/11/2020 14:20, F wrote: On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Thanks, all. It looks like an order for BAC50 will be going in. https://job-prices.co.uk/best-moss-killer/ Lots of sellers on Ebay.Â* Price last December was around £25 for 5 litres (incl postage) from many sellers. During the last lock-down the price rose by 3x to 4x and now back to around £30 for 5 litres from some sellers.Â* Smaller quantities are available but postage probably forms a disproportionate percentage of the overall cost. The problem is that this says its to treat moss. It says nothing about algae. I hope that it works But I fear it may not -- €œA leader is best When people barely know he exists. Of a good leader, who talks little,When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,They will say, €œWe did this ourselves.€ €• Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching |
#17
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 07/11/2020 15:18, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
The problem is that this says its to treat moss. It says nothing about algae. I hope that it works But I fear it may not In the first link I gave (random listing) it says Quote:
a thick film of green algae. From https://hlssupplies.co.uk/bac50-biocide-blog "BAC50 is used for removing algae, moss and mould and preventing regrowth. This BAC50 solution is a professional grade and is still effective in dilutions up to 1%. We recommend a finished solution between 2.5% and 5% (Depending on the substrate being treated)" -- mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk |
#18
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 07/11/2020 15:29, alan_m wrote:
On 07/11/2020 15:18, The Natural Philosopher wrote: The problem is that this says its to treat moss. It says nothing about algae. I hope that it works But I fear it may not In the first link I gave (random listing) it says Quote:
I have personal experience of it effectively clearing a plastic roof of a thick film of green algae. From https://hlssupplies.co.uk/bac50-biocide-blog "BAC50 is used for removing algae, moss and mould and preventing regrowth. This BAC50 solution is a professional grade and is still effective in dilutions up to 1%. We recommend a finished solution between 2.5% and 5% (Depending on the substrate being treated)" Good. Now will it clear black algae? I have no problem clearing green and red algae and moss with a pressure washer... -- "What do you think about Gay Marriage?" "I don't." "Don't what?" "Think about Gay Marriage." |
#19
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Cleaning paving slabs
On Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 4:52:55 AM UTC-6, Roger Hayter wrote:
On 7 Nov 2020 at 10:43:20 GMT, "Chris Green" wrote: The Natural Philosopher wrote: On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Green goes with bleach and heavy power washing. Its the black ones that are impossible to shift. Does everyone *really* worry all that much about what colour their patio paving ends up as it weathers? Our patio paving (two areas outside sliding doors outside the house and one area round the pond) just get cleared of the weeds that pop up through the cracks and that's it. If they go funny colours with lichen or other such things then that's part of their attraction IMHO. You don't clean all the funny patches off the bark of beech or silver birch trees (or do you). That's how I feel about the 3cm deep moss on my outside concrete. Not everyone agrees with me though, especially the hedge sparrows which rip out great chunks of it looking for invertebrates. -- Roger Hayter The cats don't eat the sparrows? They would eat a komodo dragon we sold our house and I had a great deal of agitation about what to do about two patios (one concrete and brick) that were not cosmetically special. Had a friend who wanted to power wash, but some of the bricks were loose and I did not think that was a good idea. These advices are good for the next set of patios I have to sell. The buyer took the house s is, making it all moot. Now all I have is a small balcony, which is getting weathered looking after ten years, but in addition, post hurricane last week seems to have developed a nasty crack. I have been hearing a cat since i moved back I figured he was on someones Balcony Nope he is roaming around We have a leash law in our leases I do not know why the cat is allowed Also this may be the ugliest cat on planet esrth It is orange, and looks like a huge furry shoe box on legs Bet he is ten years or more old, his fur looks crazy not well groomed I cannot help but wonder if he is feral I would still hang some suet from a basket for the birds especially with winter coming up I guess I will clean it up some day but not now. That's going to make the balcony even messier. mk5000 So unaware As one-by-one your subjects Vanish into air Chatter to the wind==King Of Insects (Red Sparrow Remix) Lyrics by Assemblage 23 |
#20
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Cleaning paving slabs
On Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 6:19:44 AM UTC-6, alan_m wrote:
On 07/11/2020 10:43, Chris Green wrote: Does everyone *really* worry all that much about what colour their patio paving ends up as it weathers? Our patio paving (two areas outside sliding doors outside the house and one area round the pond) just get cleared of the weeds that pop up through the cracks and that's it. If they go funny colours with lichen or other such things then that's part of their attraction IMHO. You don't clean all the funny patches off the bark of beech or silver birch trees (or do you). You don't normally walk on the lichen or algae on the bark of trees. Algae on paving slabs can be very slippery when wet. -- for sure, I have fallen on that stuff. Ther's a dead tree way out in the back of my yard, out of the way, cant even barely see it from my house, which is covered in this stuff, but i have never walked on it And exactly what I considered doing But I have so many neighbor cats in my yard I hate them I think its so rude to let your cat wander all over everybody elses property Its YOUR cat, I dont want him here! If I let a dog do that Id get arrested in less than 5 minutes I want to get a Komodo dragon and let him wander all over THEIR yards mk5000 Old pond Frog jumps in Sound of water--Matsuo BashÅ |
#21
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote:
We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? I use diluted bleach in a large watering can to clean my patio, and have done so for years. It's as clean now as it was just after it was first laid. |
#22
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 07/11/2020 14:54, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 07/11/2020 14:17, F wrote: On 07/11/2020 09:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote: On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Green goes with bleach and heavy power washing. Its the black ones that are impossible to shift. We have black too. Forgot to mention that. If BAC50 shifts it, please let us know. I've tried everything have you tried thin bleach as demonstrated on various Youtube videos although many example swimming pool chlorine. I have had a huge amount of black and green lichen on concrte pavers and simply brushed on the bleach over a slightly dampened surface on a sunny day and kept it damp for the rest of the day. If no kids or pets around I left it and 98% has gone in one or two sessions. Exception is the crumbly edges which are a bugger. Oddly, as mentioned in one video, it seems to go on having an effect for a while afterwards. Good luck |
#23
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 08/11/2020 10:42, Ian wrote:
On 07/11/2020 14:54, The Natural Philosopher wrote: On 07/11/2020 14:17, F wrote: On 07/11/2020 09:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote: On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? Green goes with bleach and heavy power washing. Its the black ones that are impossible to shift. We have black too. Forgot to mention that. If BAC50 shifts it, please let us know. I've tried everything have you tried thin bleach as demonstrated on various Youtube videos although many example swimming pool chlorine. I have had a huge amount of black and green lichen on concrete pavers and simply brushed on the bleach over a slightly dampened surface on a sunny day and kept it damp for the rest of the day. If no kids or pets around I left it and 98% has gone in one or two sessions. Exception is the crumbly edges which are a bugger. Add a couple of drops of washing-up liquid to a watering-can of diluted bleach, and stir it in. The idea is to avoid making it foam, you just need it to be evenly distributed throughout the bleach solution. It lowers the surface tension, enabling the bleach solution to penetrate to places where the high surface tension of water would otherwise limit the penetrating power of the solution. Oddly, as mentioned in one video, it seems to go on having an effect for a while afterwards. Good luck When the solution dries out, the active ingredient is still there, re-dampening the treated surfaces or a shower of rain will reactivate it. Dilute bleach, especially with added washing-up liquid, will kill black spot and brown spot invasions; it might kill white spot too but the remains seem to persist. Unfortunately it doesn't get rid of the blackened areas. -- Spike |
#24
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 08/11/2020 12:14, Spike wrote:
Dilute bleach, especially with added washing-up liquid, will kill black spot No, it wont. Or at least it wont remove the staining. BTDTGTTS -- "Women actually are capable of being far more than the feminists will let them." |
#25
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Cleaning paving slabs
On Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 9:39:31 AM UTC, RobH wrote:
On 06/11/2020 20:59, F wrote: We've got a patio made up of light coloured concrete paving slabs with a slightly rough texture. I've used a Karcher power washer to remove the compost that the resident gardener has managed to tread into them but there's a green stain (algae?) that's pretty resistant to removal. Anyone got any suggestions on what might shift it? I use diluted bleach in a large watering can to clean my patio, and have done so for years. It's as clean now as it was just after it was first laid. Moss on tarmac drive was ou problem but sprinkling it with biological washing powder (Aldi's cheapest) wiped it out. Good for a few year |
#26
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Cleaning paving slabs
On 08/11/2020 12:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 08/11/2020 12:14, Spike wrote: Dilute bleach, especially with added washing-up liquid, will kill black spot No, it wont. Or at least it wont remove the staining. BTDTGTTS I get an old trigger-pack - mostly the tops are a sort of bayonet fitting and are easily replaced once removed - I flush it out then add 1 part of thick bleach to 4 parts of water and two drops of washing-up liquid; then replace the top and repeatedly invert to mix the contents. I've used this to remove several hundred black spot (and brown spot) growths from both my and my neighbours footpaths, and there's no sign they were ever there, and they have never returned. I treated them every couple of weeks for three or four treatments. I think this kills white spot too, but they seem never to fade away; they are best zapped while very small and this seems to stop them getting any bigger. -- Spike |
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