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Consideration should also be given to potential re-soiling of the stone. Industrial emissions and environmental factors
have changed since many of our buildings were last cleaned, and it is unlikely that re-soiling will take the same form.
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Masonry Cleaning: Nebulous Spray Página 2 de 3
Next, cleaning trials should be carried out on inconspicuous areas, preferably using the operator who will be doing the
work finally, as skill is just as important as method. The trial will help to:
Trial areas should be selected on their ability to illustrate as far as possible the range of soiling types and fabric
conditions, to establish levels of clean which are not just desirable but also achievable, with the least risk.
Bear in mind that a uniform surface is rarely achieved without excessive and highly damaging masonry cleaning. An
uneven patchy finish is more likely as buildings are subjected to a variety of weathering patterns: regularly rain-washed
areas often appear brighter than protected areas, particularly on limestone buildings: and flat facades may also have
uneven soiling due to apparently similar stones varying in porosity, pore size, capillary action, or surface texture. The art
of cleaning, on aesthetic grounds, is to find the balance between the extremes. Often it is better to under-clean.
APPROACHES
There is a multitude of different cleaning methods, which may be wet or dry, chemical- or water-based, abrasive and
nonabrasive, many of which have a place in conservation. There are positive and negative points to all methods and
there is rarely a single method suitable for all situations. The least harmful method or combination of methods should be
selected for each case.
Nebulous spray, also known as intermittent mist spray, is a development of low-pressure water washing. The aim is to
apply the minimum amount of water for the minimum duration to soften the dirt, thereby enabling its removal by scrubbing
or other relatively gentle treatment. Ordinary low pressure water washing, by comparison, risks saturating the masonry,
causing damage to the wall by mobilising salts and causing fixings to corrode for example, as well as damaging other
features fixed to the wall such as internal plasterwork, timber or decorations. It can also lead to dry rot.
Only once all the investigations have been carried out, questions answered, options considered and the conclusion
drawn that nebulous water spray cleaning fulfils all the criteria, should cleaning be commenced by those trained and
skilled in the use of this cleaning method and following the guidelines established during trials.
GENERAL PROCESS
The system of nebulous sprays is based on the principle of passing water through a very fine mesh or filter to create a
mist that is then passed through fine nozzles. The mist spray system can be set up with nozzles at intervals along the
building, concentrating on areas of greater need and reducing the level where less dirt is present. The level of water may
be controlled electronically or by timers, allowing pulse or intermittent spraying, to avoid ever having water running down
the face of the building. Before starting, the porosity of the stone can be assessed in order to balance the amount of
water and duration required.
As the system produces such a fine mist it is important to place the nozzles close to the building’s surface in order to
ensure the water is directed correctly. Depending on the location and exposure of the elevation it is frequently necessary
to erect a screen to reduce the risk of wind disturbance.
Nebulous spray systems can be designed to be incredibly flexible, directing the spray only where needed. Straight or
flexible hoses may be employed depending on the requirements of the surface being treated and the nozzles from the
hose may be grouped or spaced according to the severity of the dirt or encrustation being treated. Flat surfaces often
require less water than a carved heavily soiled detail, which may require a cluster of nozzles positioned on an articulated
hose to the profile of the carving.
ADVANTAGES
The most obvious advantages of cleaning with water are that water is cheap, readily available, safe and environmentally
friendly. It is also particularly effective for cleaning limestone and marble.
The impact of the mist on the surface is negligible, reducing the risk of mechanical damage unless the surface is
extremely friable. Consequently the risk of washing away weak pointing material or decaying stone is almost entirely
eliminated.
Encrustations and dirt are softened progressively, reducing the risk of mechanical damage, and allowing greater control
over removal and permitting more frequent monitoring of the surfaces. This ensures that the right levels of clean are
achieved and reduces the risk of over cleaning. It also gives greater opportunity to re-evaluate the method or levels of
cleaning than with many other cleaning methods.
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Masonry Cleaning: Nebulous Spray Página 3 de 3
Where the use of harsher methods of cleaning are unavoidable, prolonged use may be reduced by first cleaning with the
nebulous spray system.
Removing softened material by brush between spraying cycles may accelerate the cleaning process and has the added
advantage of enabling progress to be monitored.
A further advantage is the ability to control the quantity of water used. Excess run off, which this method avoids, is a
particular problem with traditional water washing methods where weathered wash patterns formed by rainwater may
channel the spray, avoiding adjacent areas of the masonry. As mist sprays use less water, a more even wash is
achieved, avoiding the weathered wash channels and reducing the probability of saturation as the stone does not get so
wet.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
The employment of moisture switches, which react to differing levels of moisture in the stone, may negate the need to
predetermine the porosity of the stone.
~~~
Recommended Reading
• C Andrew, Stone Cleaning: A Guide for Practitioners, Historic Scotland & The Robert Gordon University, Edinburgh,
1994
• Jonathan Ashley-Smith, Science for Conservators, Book 2 - Cleaning, Conservation Science Teaching Series, The
Conservation Unit, 1983
• John Ashurst and Francis G Dimes, Conservation of Building and Decorative Stones, Butterworth-Heinemann,
London, 1990
• Robert C Mack and A Grimmer, Assessing Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings,
Preservation Briefs 1, HPS, National Park Service, Technical Preservation Services
• F Matero et al, 'An approach to the evaluation of cleaning methods for unglazed architectural terracotta in the USA',
Architectural Ceramics: Their History, Manufacture and Conservation, A joint symposium of English Heritage and the
United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, 22–25 September 1994, James & James, 1996
• RGM Webster, Stone Cleaning and the Nature, Soiling and Decay Mechanisms of Stone, Donhead, London, 1992
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