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8|April 2020
Pioneer Award
Thinking About Spring Cleaning?
Navigating the Dangerous Waters of Pressure Washing Stone and Masonry Surfaces
Slippery rock GAzette
Missing Grout
damaging, but whoever per- forms it needs to be aware of the following:
1. The surface to be cleaned should be inspected and evalu- ated to determine the softness of the material – especially structur- ally important material.
2. Grout and point should be ex- amined carefully before washing.
3. Never use a pressure washer over 1000 PSI.
4. Never use a zero-point tip. Only fan tips should be used.
5. Do not use bleach, acids, or high-alkaline chemicals on stone or masonry surfaces.
6. The pressure washing tip should be at least 12 inches from the surface of the material being cleaned to mitigate the impact.
In order to avoid damage to your stone or masonry, always consult with a professional stone and masonry restoration contrac- tor. This article will help you ask the right questions about training.
Dr. Frederick M. Hueston, PhD. has written over 33 books on stone and tile fabrication and installa- tion, and also publishes a weekly podcast, The Tile and Stone Show. Fred has also been writ- ing for the Slippery Rock for over 20 years. Send your comments to f hueston@stoneforensics.com
WOMEN IN STONE
Patsy Fell-Barker
BG Hoadley Quarries
getting ideas and making wonderful friends.
Patsy remembers that after Bert died, Dorothy Kender, then Executive Vice President of the Building Stone Institute, became a friend and confidant, and she wanted Patsy to excel as another woman in the industry. “She was very helpful, I think. Invited me to attend meetings, and I did,” Patsy said. “They felt that I could do the job, I guess, bring a new perspec- tive of women being on the board. Which hadn’t happened before.”
Patsy served on the BSI Board from the late 70s until early 1982. She would earn the BSI’s presti- gious “Man of the Year” designation in 1981, an obvious, gender-incor- rect label signifying that the stone industry wasn’t yet prepared for the contributions of a female leader. But this didn’t concern Patsy much. She didn’t believe that women of her age were that concerned about being women of equality. They just did it because it seemed to be a nat- ural thing to do. Patsy went on to serve as Secretary of the BSI Board in 1989 and became its first female President in 1992.
Patsy’s inherent success has al- ways been driven by her passion for natural stone. She adds, “I don’t care where you go, the most beauti- ful buildings and the ones that seem to be aging the best are those that were made from natural stone.”
Her advice to women just entering the industry is to be willing to make sacrifices, which Patsy has, and to never give up. She recommends looking in the mirror every day and saying, “I am capable of doing this today.”
On receiving the Pioneer award, Patsy said, “It’s very special to me. I hope it will be an inspiration for my family to continue to work as hard as they do now.”
Congratulations to Patsy Fell- Barker, the 2020 Women in Stone Pioneer.
P
driveways, and other surfaces, but when it comes to stone and masonry, did you know that pres- sure washing can cause damage? Also be aware that anyone can purchase a pressure washer and claim to be qualified to clean exterior stone and masonry. One should always opt to have a pro- fessional stone restoration con- tractor to achieve safe, lasting results. There are things you should know about if you are considering offering this service.
Oversaturation Can Cause Efflorescence
Pressure washing can remove the natural protective patina of stone and masonry surfaces. It will also remove any coating or sealers. This opens up the pores in the surface, allowing water to seep deep into the stone or ma- sonry. The higher the pressure, the more water the stone or ma- sonry will consume, and the more saturated it will become. Oversaturated stone or masonry can cause a condition known as Efflorescence, a white powdery residue that accumulates on the surface. This powder consists of salts originating from the stone
Efflorescence in masonry shows as white salts leaching to the surface.
and the setting material. The salts are dissolved from the water and deposited on the surface. In many cases the salts will deposit into the pores without making their way all the way to the surface, causing pitting, flaking and delamination.
Scaring/Gouging
In order to get difficult soiling removed, many contractors will intentionally not place tips on their pressure washers. This can cause
ressure washing is a fast and easy way to clean concrete, sidewalks,
Frederick M. Hueston, PhD Stone Forensics
severe scaring of the surface. It is easy to recognize scaring by deep patterns carved into the surface of the stone or masonry.
Visible scars from a no-tip pressure washer can carved into the surface
Chemicals
In addition to pressure wash- ing, unqualified contractors often use inappropriate chemicals in an attempt to help remove the soil- ing. These chemicals are applied before and during the pressure washing process. The chemi- cals can be driven deep into the stone with the high water pres- sure, causing etching and other damage. Common chemicals are acids, bleach, and high alkaline cleaners, which if not applied and neutralized properly, can cause ir- reversible damage.
Chemical damage as a result of improper use of chemicals
Missing Grout and Point
Grout on interior surfaces and pointing on exterior surfaces can be removed by pressure washing. Old grout and pointing becomes soft, weak, and cracked with age. Using a pressure washer accelerates this process through oversaturation.
The Proper Use of a Pressure Washer
Not all pressure washing is
AS
the wife of a fourth-genera-
tion owner/operator of BG Hoadley Quarries — a limestone quarry and fabrication operation in Bloomington, Indiana — Patsy Fell-Barker was destined to enjoy an active role in the stone industry.
After her husband, Bert Hoadley Fell, passed, Pasty became very involved in the business. She was determined to see the family name continue in the stone industry and wanted their company to survive.
The dedication and determination Patsy had to succeed in this indus- try were admirable. Things were not easy. The company was in debt. But Patsy believed in what she was doing, was determined to continue her husband’s legacy, and even sold her home to buy their first saw.
Patsy’s son David added: “in the time that everything evolved in the late 70’s, there were very few women in the industry. When she took over the business, word got out that here was this woman running an Indiana Limestone company, people were interested. Her name became well known.”
Under Patsy’s leadership, BG Hoadley had to adapt and cut costs wherever possible. She reinvested all she could and righted a sinking ship.
The company transitioned from a Buff slab and sill operation to in- corporate gray block sales, and also became the first Indiana limestone company to employ the use of a large disc blade saw for the mill.
Patsy’s late husband had been a member of the Building Stone Institute and together they had en- joyed going to BSI conventions,
“Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower