[Tim Downer]

Hi all
Thought i would post this problem for you.....which i have to go and see tomorrow (thursday)
On the Balconies of a small block of flats (new appartments still being built!) They have Marine Hardwood flooring for these balconies. The site Developer says that they have put plywood down ontop of this to protect it during the site build. However the Hardwood has gotton wet before the plywood was placed down and he is suggesting that the "plywood" has leaked a brown substance down the edge of the balconies, the stone wall / bricked walls, and down the window frames too. He called it the tannin! from the plywood.
It has already been suggested to him that he may need "caustic soda" to remove the substance!
But he would like me as the "proffessional cleaner" to come and have a look and advise him.

To be honest i have no idea what he is talking about.....never heard of plywood leaking!! However i said i would come and have a look for him tomorrow. Some ideas of what to look for or suggest to him would be handy.....or even if any of you have come across anything similar?

Could it be the Marine Hardwood leaking and not the plywood as he has suggested?

What would you suggest to clean such "tannin" off? (what is tannin?)

It could be the supplier of the wood has sent problem wood and they are liable for damages?? Will find out tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for your help

Kind Regards

Tim

[Simon H]

Hi Tim

Tanninis a substance found in tea and used for pigmeting leather its quite possible it is this from the ply  or from the hardwood whereit would have been uesd to stain it.

I would imagine a solvent would remove it

Just another thought it could be the glue used on the laminating process for the ply

Best regards

Simon

[Tim Downer]

Thank you for your pointers there Simon.

Tim

[Tim Downer]

Yeap, went to site and its the dye from the plywood that seems to be leaking down the brick and rendered facing. Am going to try and use causic soda (spelt right?.....) first and if that doesn't shift it, then am going to get some graffiti remover as suggested by my supplier.
Will let you know how it goes.....

Regards

Tim

[martin19842]

tim

what are you using on upvc windows at the moment, i am trying something that might help

regards

martin

[Seers]

Tim,

We've encountered this problem on a couple of our new build sites, where wooden decking/balconies have leaked a stain down white render etc. I know perhaps you shouldn't use it put bleach from a 5L spray bottle, worked in with a sponge has worked every time.

Let it absorb in for ten minutes and wash it down with water if needed. However, the wood will continue to leak in the rain, so this is often an on going problem. Often site managers get us to do this a day or so before properties are handed over.

Cheers,

Huw.

[Tim Downer]

Yes this a problem that i mentioned to the developer, that i will get it all cleaned up, for it to continue leaking the dye.
But he does not seem bothered about this, he is more concerned with finding out if he can sue the supplier of the plywood - not that the wood comes with any guarantee!!


Hi Martin

Hows it going?

What are you suggesting to use on pvc windows? At the moment we are just using slightly worn out scourers on sponges. Any problems with deep dirt, i use a very small amount of cream cleaner.......

Kind Regards

Tim

[Tim Downer]

Oh well, the caustic Soda cleaned the dye off the actual brickwork, however it didn't touch it on the concrete facia over the patio doors. Some dye came out but i think it is in too deep! (Note to self, next time wear a face mask, not just goggles.....as caustic soda when applied by scrubbing brush stings the face when scrubbing.....Ouch!)

However, think me crazy.....but i have in my box of tricks some Prochem Coffee stain remover.....which also apparently deals with Tannin stains and removes it from fabric, carpet and "other" substances.

Also going to try the "One Step" spot remover....the gold one reckons it takes stains out of various substances.....including concrete!!

So i will let you know if this works and my supplier is also eager to find out if it works......as they would rather think i am crazy to have suggested using "carpet cleaning chemicals" on concrete......but i hate not finishing a job for the clients.

I will keep you posted!!


Kind Regards

Tim

[martin19842]

hi tim

has the stain penetrated the concrete sills,  the best solution would be for the developer to repaint the concrete sills.

they tend to repaint quite often.

regards

martin