[ben M]

Marks from the lead (seen in yellow) run onto the conservatory roof leaving white and yellow marks - any suggestions on how to get rid? Tried virosol and viakal with no sucess!

Thanks Ben

[AuRavelling79]

What's faulty about it?

[ben M]

What's faulty about it?

you have the explanation now 

[8weekly]

A proper windowcleaner? 

[formb]

A proper windowcleaner? 

Yeah I think David Morris is near you. He'll sort it. 

[colin purewater]

That's we're the rain water has ran down the
House and the lime in the mortar has reacted
With the lead, bits funny stuff lead, never 2 batches
The same,

As for your problem it may have damaged the Perspex
Roof, I my self will not use anything stronger than virosol

If that don't work I say " sorry I can do any more
My insurance won't cover it"

Not the answer you were looking for but best not
To waste any more time on it

I've had similar problems in the past some times it
Come of with virosol and sometime not  

[Dan crowther]

It would need a more industrial acidic cleaner to neutralise the alkaline of the lime scale than viakal if the marks have built up to a thick layer although viakal should have taken some off at least if it was just c carbonate on there. That  may point to it being something else on it too. My sister used portacleanse on some windows of her restaurant on thick years old limescale with excellent results. If you can't say no to it then its the acid cleaner and face masks but couldn't be used on Perspex. Glass would be ok. It could be a case of soaking the mark being carefull not to get it on the upvc and then using a scraper to take off what you can and then repeat as necessary. Nightmare job. Unless the lead is cleaned and treated too then the problem will return. When built the installers after doing the flashing didn't treat the lead as they should have. Perhaps a roofer/ leadworker could offer you better advice.

[ben M]

It would need a more industrial acidic cleaner to neutralise the alkaline of the lime scale than viakal if the marks have built up to a thick layer although viakal should have taken some off at least if it was just c carbonate on there. That  may point to it being something else on it too. My sister used portacleanse on some windows of her restaurant on thick years old limescale with excellent results. If you can't say no to it then its the acid cleaner and face masks but couldn't be used on Perspex. Glass would be ok. It could be a case of soaking the mark being carefull not to get it on the upvc and then using a scraper to take off what you can and then repeat as necessary. Nightmare job. Unless the lead is cleaned and treated too then the problem will return. When built the installers after doing the flashing didn't treat the lead as they should have. Perhaps a roofer/ leadworker could offer you better advice.

thank you for your advice, much appreciated 

[ben M]

That's we're the rain water has ran down the
House and the lime in the mortar has reacted
With the lead, bits funny stuff lead, never 2 batches
The same,

As for your problem it may have damaged the Perspex
Roof, I my self will not use anything stronger than virosol

If that don't work I say " sorry I can do any more
My insurance won't cover it"

Not the answer you were looking for but best not
To waste any more time on it

I've had similar problems in the past some times it
Come of with virosol and sometime not  

thanks Colim it is a glass roof

[richard jagger]

I never fail to amaze me when eve some thing makes a mark on the glass its lime scale. If it was vinegar would fix it.But its not lime scale its calcium of the brickwork.A lot more difficult to remove .

[ben M]

I never fail to amaze me when eve some thing makes a mark on the glass its lime scale. If it was vinegar would fix it.But its not lime scale its calcium of the brickwork.A lot more difficult to remove .

what do you mean calcium of the brickwork? thanks

[Dan crowther]

I never fail to amaze me when eve some thing makes a mark on the glass its lime scale. If it was vinegar would fix it.But its not lime scale its calcium of the brickwork.A lot more difficult to remove .

The lime in mortar/ bricks is essentially the same as limescale (Limescale is made of calcium carbonate) and it is the calcium that makes the mark. Lime is produced from from high purity calcium limestones but is processed and is used in plaster and mortar that isn't exposed to water and is also found in poorer quality building materials, it only sets with air. For the building trade the limestones used will still continue a high purity calcium but will also contain clay and/or silica. This mix after processing is water resistant and could actually set under water. The marks on the roof will essentially be calcium (limescale) but with small amounts of clay and/or silica and other impurities which is why it's hard to remove with water based removers as they don't penetrate the surface well. That is why it would need a soak then scrape and maybe repeat with most non-industrial cleaners. As mentioned, vinegar is a possible efficient remover. I would go for the industrial acidic cleaner but can only speak from seeing its effect on glass that others have used it on and not myself personally. It would be
interesting to see how the vinegar works though.

[ben M]

I never fail to amaze me when eve some thing makes a mark on the glass its lime scale. If it was vinegar would fix it.But its not lime scale its calcium of the brickwork.A lot more difficult to remove .

The lime in mortar/ bricks is essentially the same as limescale (Limescale is made of calcium carbonate) and it is the calcium that makes the mark. Lime is produced from from high purity calcium limestones but is processed and is used in plaster and mortar that isn't exposed to water and is also found in poorer quality building materials, it only sets with air. For the building trade the limestones used will still continue a high purity calcium but will also contain clay and/or silica. This mix after processing is water resistant and could actually set under water. The marks on the roof will essentially be calcium (limescale) but with small amounts of clay and/or silica and other impurities which is why it's hard to remove with water based removers as they don't penetrate the surface well. That is why it would need a soak then scrape and maybe repeat with most non-industrial cleaners. As mentioned, vinegar is a possible efficient remover. I would go for the industrial acidic cleaner but can only speak from seeing its effect on glass that others have used it on and not myself personally. It would be
interesting to see how the vinegar works though.

nice post,thank you mate

[stuart mc]

my old man used to always say yes I can clean it off, it will cost a bit on chemicals, then six months to a year the same stains will be there as the problem has not been sorted, usually puts them off paying or they get problem sorted and you clean,

I guess what I am saying don't let a customers problem become yours

[Tadgh O Shea]

I have used a cement and mortar residue remover diluted 3 to 1 into a trigger spray bottle, then sprayed the solution onto a damp magic eraser pad and scrub vigorously the ingrained stains, found this to be a great method for removing limescale from glass surfaces.

[Positivity]

Ben, if you do succeed in getting the residue of the glass the lead needs cleaning and some patination oil applying
http://www.calderlead.co.uk/product/construction/patination-oil/
otherwise the problem will return

[ben M]

Ben, if you do succeed in getting the residue of the glass the lead needs cleaning and some patination oil applying
http://www.calderlead.co.uk/product/construction/patination-oil/
otherwise the problem will return

Thanks for the link mate