October 2011

New Breakthrough with Poulticing

We have now accumulated a considerable amount of knowledge about the use of Poultices in stain removal. We were recently asked by a major Leeds contractor, on behalf of a major Leeds property company, to examine the cleaning of epoxy/stone chip/glass fibre cladding tiles on a tall City Centre office block. The solvent/oil used in the silicone sealant between the tiles had leached into the adjacent tiles causing an irregular dark stain that compromised the clean lines of the cladding. After a few experiments we achieved the results shown below with a very simple and economic lime based poultice. The client has expressed his surprise at the improvement and we are currently awaiting further instructions.

Click the thumbnails below for an enlarged version

• Before
• After

October 2011

The Steamacc Process and Listed Buildings

WGL Stoneclean Ltd have just been awarded the contract to clean the front elevation, entrance hall and side alley of Retford Town Hall - a Grade II listed building in North Nottinghamshire. We were awarded the contract by Robert Woodhead Ltd of Newark and worked under the site supervision of Jane Harrison M.Sc.CHE. B.A. (Hons). One of the few women site managers in the UK with qualifications in the conservation of listed buildings. So far, only part of the building is visible from underneath the encapsulated scaffold (shown below). Jane says that "WGL Stoneclean have recently carried out works on behalf of Robert Woodhead Ltd, and I found their system of working to be both methodical and professional. Their clear understanding of their profession meant that I was kept updated and informed at all times".

• Cleaned Porch at Retford Town Hall
• Jane Harrison M.Sc.CHE. B.A. (Hons)

August 2011

WGL Stoneclean: Six Streets Regeneration Project - Hyde Park, Doncaster

WGL Stoneclean Ltd. have pioneered Powered Paint Removal (PPR) for the Six Streets Project in Doncaster with Hobson & Porter. This process is less messy, less damaging and easier to clean up than abrasive grit blasting.

For more information, we have produced a video of the PPR process below:

November 2010

WGL Stoneclean Ltd win at York Design Awards 2010

We are delighted to announce that WGL Stoneclean have been successful at the York Design Awards 2010 in the Conservation: Listed Buildings category for the refurbishment and repair of stonework carried out at Bootham School, York.

The images below showcase a before and after comparison of the work undertaken:

September 2010

In January 2010 we asked the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds to scientifically investigate our acid/super- heated steam cleaning process for the removal of carbon staining from masonry.

This “Steamacc Process” as we have now christened it, was found to cause erosion of the masonry surface in the range of 1 to 100 microns. The cleaned surfaces were examined under a Scanning Electron Microscope and surfaces compared before and after cleaning. At this rate of erosion, and repeating the process every five years we would “wash” a building away in just under 7000 years!

We now believe that this makes the Steamacc process the least damaging, most cost effective and environmentally friendly (as lower acid concentrations and dwell times are used) available in the UK market.

A full copy of the University report is attached to the Professional pages.

March 2010

Using very short dwell times we have successfully proved our mild acid/super-heated steam wash method to Conservation Architects in York when cleaning a Grade II listed brick façade.

All WGL Stoneclean operatives now have an IPAF Certificate for the operation of powered Access Platforms.

We are currently planning to have all our operatives certified under the new Heritage CSCS scheme.