How To Clean Slate Stone
Time for a clean slate
When it comes to cleaning slate, there are a few things that we have to keep in mind. Slate stone tends to attract organic growth. This can lead to very slippery conditions when it gets wet so keeping it clean can prevent slip and falls and injury.
I am willing to bet that you probably didn't think about slate stone being a cause for injury. It seems unlikely that one would just slip and fall from stone on the ground; however, it can happen and it happens more often than you may think.
With that in mind, I wanted to give you a few tips on getting this cleaned up so you can prevent slip and falls.
#1 Kill Organic Material
First of all, you need to kill off any organic material on the surface of the slate stone. Algae and mold grow on this stone making it very slippery and unsightly. You can easily kill the organic material with a 1:1 mix of Sodium Hypochlorite and water. Applying this mix with a Quality Pump Sprayer and letting it penetrate for 10 minutes will kill any organic material on the slate.
#2 Low Pressure Rinse
After the solution has had time to sit, use a pressure washer with a low pressure rinse to take off the loosened dirt and dead algae. Be Careful because slate is soft and will flake off. Ultimately you won't be able to avoid flaking but you can minimize it drastically with a low pressure rinse. A Professional can use a surface cleaner to clean slate. If you are not a professional do not attempt to surface clean slate hire a professional to do this.
#3 Treat Mold Spots
After the low pressure rinse there may be organic mold spots on the stone. These can be removed with a high concentration of Sodium Hypochlorite. Use a 6% Sodium hypochlorite full strength. Apply it with a pump sprayer and let it dwell for 5 minutes. Rinse with water afterward. If there are grass areas around the stone make sure to water the grass around the stone to keep the Sodium Hypochlorite from burning the grass up. The rule of thumb is to water the grass until you see a mud puddle then rinse for another 90 seconds.
If you follow the steps outlines in this post, you can get the results you see above. And as always, If you don't feel comfortable doing the work described, please hire a professional.
As you can see, this is an involved process that we at Dream Clean Windows and Powerwashing take very seriously. We have tons of experience cleaning Slate Stone and the results we get will definitely make you happy. however, if you want to DIY this guide should get you on your way to getting a professional clean.
If you need help with cleaning your Driveway contact us at (678-400-3234)for a FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE. We will give you a customized quote over the phone in minutes.
Dream Clean Windows and Powerwashing, LLC
5262 Buford Hwy
Norcross, GA 30093
www.washatl.com
678-400-3234
info@washatl.com