My house is about 60 years old – Central Calif. Water penetrated the chimney through some cracks that developed in a couple courses of brick. The water traveled down the chimney and came out in the living room, flowing down the front of the fireplace. The living room fireplace brick is now stained with what I’m assuming is lime from the mortar (the stain is white-gray white).
The stain won’t come off by rubbing, scraping or using conventional cleaners and solvents. Any ideas on other things to try? If your answer involves more caustic solutions should I hire someone rather than trying it myself?
Thanks.
Replies
I think I would play with some very thinned down stain. Take the problem to a paint store, like sherwin williams.
eagles soar
Tim Mooney
This is eflorescence.
Fix the leak first so it won't continue.
Then use muratic acid. This is a very caustic and dangerous product so you may want to hire it done. I saw one guy who had burned a fourth of his face off spilling it undiluted.
You will need to protect other areas so they don't get bleached out.
You will want to open the windows fpr ventilation.
You will where rubber gloves and goggles.
You will dilute it to about 10 or 20 percent with water. This depends on how stubborn the stain is. Try 10% first.
Use a scrub brush to scrub it on. Let it set and percolate for about ten minutes, then scrub again and rinse VERY WELL. The left over acid can go in the toilet bowl where it will remove rust stains if you let it set a little before flushing. Just don't set down on it ion the meantime.
Be sure no little kids have access to the straight acid.