Sandstone cleaning and sealing in Church Point

Sandstone on a Church Point property is usually there because the slope demands it. Retaining walls hold the house platform, long flights of stairs link the road to the front door and the front door to the water, and landings provide places to stop along the way. Near the water there may be a sea wall and steps into the bay. Under the bush canopy, almost all of it stays damp, and black mould, moss and lichen build up on treads and wall faces. Lower down, weed and salt mark the stone near the tide line. Our technicians walk the whole route with you and trial cleaners at each level before quoting.

We work from the top of the slope down, so dirty water never runs onto stone that has already been cleaned. First a biocide goes on and is allowed to soak in, then the dead growth is worked free by hand and washed off with a gentle flow of water. Stone close to the tide line is brushed and rinsed with fresh water, and products are not applied to surfaces that sit below high water. Every landing is bunded and rinse water vacuumed up as we go, which on a steep site takes planning but means nothing reaches the street gutters or the bay. Loose treads or cracked walls are noted and reported to you rather than cleaned over.

On stairs and landings, a breathable penetrating sealer helps the stone shed water and resist mould and tannin, while keeping the natural texture that gives grip. We never use glossy coatings on stairs. Retaining walls and sea walls are usually left unsealed, because water moving through them from behind would be trapped. In shaded Church Point gardens, stone may need a run of fine days to dry out enough to seal, which usually means a return visit. Afterward, sweeping leaves off stairs regularly and keeping drains clear make the biggest difference. Plan on a professional clean every year or two for most properties here.