Soft washing block paving paths and drives (Cobblelock, Cobble lock, Cobble block, Cobbleblock)

June 02, 2015

Block paved drives are usually constructed from materials that can withstand far more punishment than can roof tiles, walls and even concrete.

So we generally recommend lightly pressure washing block paving during the first clean (and only for the first clean). But pressure washing alone cannot kill the spores and so, if left untreated, the surface will re-colonise and look filthy again horrifyingly quickly.

Benz Bio Cleanze is the solution to this problem, as it rejuvenates paths and drives by killing the spores of black, green and red algae, along with mould, lichen, moss and most other biological growths.

So always follow up a pressure wash with a treatment of Bio Cleanze at 20-50:1*, which will kill the spores and continue deep cleaning over the following weeks and months.

Bio Cleanze imparts residual protection against re-colonisation, ensuring the path or drive stays cleaner far longer than would be the case with pressure washing alone, which is a great selling point for your soft washing services.

Put your customers onto an ongoing "Clean & Maintain" soft wash property maintenance programme

Re-treat with Bio Cleanze every 6-18 months (depending on the local environment and tendency to re-colonise) to keep the drive permanently clean. Maintenance cleans can be at 40-50:1 dilution.

As long as the surface is kept clean by regular maintenance treatments there should be no further need for pressure washing. This is another BIG selling point for your softwash services. Let your customer know that you can give them a permanently clean drive, without them having to wait for it to get intolerably filthy before they do something about it.

Important: Apply sufficient mix to flood all the gaps, cracks, and crevices. This ensures all the spores are killed and therefore cannot re-colonise. Within a few minutes the biocide will have done its work and the algae and spores will be dead. Nature will cleanse the surfaces during the next weeks and months, washing away the dead algae and leaving a wonderfully clean path or drive.

Black or white dots on sandstone and concrete: These are black  or white lichen and are usually so deeply ingrained that power washing alone will not shift them. But a treatment (sometimes two) of  Benz Lightning Cleanze brushed in at 4-5:1 dilution will kill the lichen within minutes. This will loosen their roots and make it possible for a light pressure wash to remove them, after which the surface will look astonishingly clean.

Quick tip: For particularly severe infestations of lichen (often called "black spot") – especially when the lichen has been allowed to grow into the surface for a long period of time – we suggest treating with Benz Tornado Cleanze.

Then we suggest applying a post-treatment of Bio Cleanze at 20-40:1. This will delight your customer by continuing to cleanse the path, patio or driveway even more deeply and imbuing it with residual protection against re-colonisation.

Quick Tip: Bio Cleanze can be used as a surfactant that will help remove greasy marks. A weak mix can be used in a rotary surface cleaner, which then cleans more effectively than using water or most standard soaps.

Click here to learn more about removing lichen from concrete, brick and tiles

Click here to learn how to keep weeds out of cobblelock drives after pressure washing and softwashing

We hope this info is helpful and wish you success in your softwashing business.

Cheers

Ben, Leo
 & Fiona

*Important: If children or animals are likely to walk on the treated surface treat at a maximum dilution of 50:1 and ensure the surface completely dries out before they are allowed access.

Click here to learn about protecting children and animals when softwashing

Click here to explore the extensive range of Benz softwash cleaning products

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up. Please revisit to read our response.

Also in Benz Trade Tips