Vines on Brick

[Aplus 525]

It's been asked before what can be done about vines growing on brick. In this case, the plants were cut at the bottom, and the vines were allowed to dry 3-4 weeks before they called me.

First thing I had to do was pick off the bulk of the vines by hand, talk about sore fingers..... we tried brooms and brushes, but nothing worked as well as our fingers.

We washed with about 1300 psi, a #8 tip if I remember correctly. It was slow, tedious work, but the results were worth it.

I felt glad to get these results, because sometimes, it doesn't turn out so well. I'm not sure if the differences are because of the type of brick, the type of vine, or what, but I have had other jobs that did not turn out so well.

I told the homeowner up front that we would not know exactly what the results would be until we actually started the work. Of course it worked out favorably this time, and we even got a $25 tip!

[seymore 90]

That looks pretty :cool: Tony,

SO you didn't use any chemicals on the bricks?

[Cleveland Mobile 14]

hey tony....just did a job like that myself. I used hot water and a rotating tip at 3000 psi to clean it. One job a year like that is enough for me

Andy

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

I use bleach to get the vines to come off. It helps to break downs the fibers in the wood of the vines (just like in paper mills) and the vines attachments let go of the surface easier.

Rod~

[Aplus 525]

Actually I did spray bleach on about 15 minutes before washing, because there was quite a bit of mildew growing as well, and I wanted to make sure all the mold spores were killed off.

Rod, I was thinking about the softening and breaking up of the vines too, but I didn't have proof that happened, but it was a theory.

[One Tough Pressure 580]

Tony,

Did you use hot water or cold? I have something similar to check out later, however this one will be stucco.

[flimmy 14]

Alan , I had a job just like Tony's and used Eaco Chem's stripper cream. I put it on with a paint brush , let it sit over night and washed it off the next morning with warm water. I did try it with just hot water and it didn't do a thing. I'm not sure about stucco. You may have to call Eaco Chem on that.

http://www.eacochem.com/

[PA Dutchman 14]

Squirtgun/Scott Karvonen once mentioned using a total vegetation killer ie...Triox or a comparable product to kill it. Makes sense if you think about it.

[One Tough Pressure 580]

Looked at this place today and the vines are very dried out and dead. I will try the bleach/chlorine, lower pressure and heat. I just hope the extension pole does not kill me as I will be slinging it around for hours on this one.

[flimmy 14]

The vines I cleaned were dead for over a year. The customer had pulled them off and tried his pw'er and it didn't do a thing.

[Aplus 525]

Alan,

I used cold water. I personally don't think hot water is going to make a difference in this situation.

Since you say the vines are already dried and dead, try the bleach spray and cold water with under 1000psi and see what happens.

You may have to remove some of the larger vines by hand, and I'd think it would be easier when they are dry.

If you are unable to get the results you're looking for, then perhaps the Eachochem products would be worth a try.

I don't support the idea of applying vegatation killer. Way too toxic, and you don't want to leave the ground poisoned so that it can no longer support plant life.

You can kill the plants just as easy by cutting the vines at the bottom.

[One Tough Pressure 580]

I'll post pics when done.