Basics - basic knowledge for professional cleaning
Basics of roof, paving and stone cleaning
Removal of moss, lichen, vegetation and environmental pollution on roof, paving and stone surfaces
On surfaces made of stone, concrete and brick, green moss or a motley patina made of lichen is not a pretty sight. Wild plants in the joints not only disturb the visual impression, but also destroy the surface in the long term.
The difference between moss and lichen:
Visually, moss and lichen look very similar. In addition, both types favor shady, moist and cool conditions. With that the similarities are already mentioned, because from a botanical point of view there are serious differences.
Moss is a green, rootless land plant.
Lichen, on the other hand, is a colorful, symbiotic community of fungi and algae, so that they are not real plants.
The weeds, the problem child on paved roads:
Weeds are plants of spontaneous vegetation in the joints of paving stones or stone walls, which develop through root runners or through influx of seeds. In common parlance, the main criterion for designating a plant as a weed is that it is undesirable. Depending on the point of view of the person concerned, a feared economic damage caused by the destruction of the stone or an aesthetic reason can be the trigger for the disorder.
These can be unwanted wild plants or crop plants that grow spontaneously. The term is not limited to specific species in the actual sense, but also includes grasses, ferns or useful plants that grow in undesirable places.
Suggested solutions for professional cleaning of paved surfaces:
What is meant by paved paths and places?
Roof areas, with e.g.
- brick
- bitumen
- Eternit
- Sheet
Sealed area, with e.g.
- Concrete
- bitumen
- Band Aid
- Sheets or similar materials
as
paved surfaces, with e.g.
- slag
- grit
- crushed stone or gravel
- Similar materials
Possible approach:
High-pressure cleaners and gas burners: Moss can be removed from the pavement joints with high-pressure cleaners and gas burners. It doesn't take long for the next generation of plants to form between the stones.
Do not attack the moss on your terrace or the paved path with a high-pressure cleaner or flame device. Such brutal control methods only appear to remove the vegetation and the green covering.
In fact, the surface is so damaged that the next generation has an easy time of it and is all the more persistent in spreading.
You also destroy the joints or wash them out, which causes a lot of dirt and a new one.
Home remedies:
Many homeowners resort to old home remedies. Here not only the effect leaves something to be desired, but the control with e.g. salt and vinegar falls under the Plant Protection Act and is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy penalties.
Weed remedies:
Such as glyphosate & Co: All weed killers fall under the Plant Protection Act and are strictly forbidden and subject to high penalties. The Plant Protection Act states that paved paths and places must never be treated with plant protection products. No weed killer has a cleaning effect and only kills root plants (no moss, algae or lichen).
The solution: New developments from OGM Produkte GmbH cleaners that keep what they promise!
Quick overview which cleaner for which application:
Products -
when you click on the product name you will be forwarded to the product
Immediate cleaning -After application with a commercially available spray device and the specified exposure time, the surface is washed with a suitable device (garden hose and Schober - high pressure cleaner - flat jet nozzle!).
Self cleaning: -
No further work step is required after application with a standard spray device. The environmental influences (rain-wind-snow) take over the further cleaning for you
| product | Immediate cleaning | Self cleaning | application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof & facade cleaner | and | yes - only recommended for roofs | Roof, facade, all stone surfaces, wooden coverings and fences |
| Lichen, moss, algae & green film remover | and | and | All substrates |
| Stone Cleaner Extreme | yes - after 2-3 days of exposure | and | Courtyard areas, gravel and gravel paths with heavy chewing infestation |
| Solarreiniger | yes - after 2-3 days of exposure | and | Solar & photovoltaic systems, winter gardens |
| impregnation | No | and | All surfaces |
| Problem solver | and | No | Adhesive residues, rubber abrasion, painted surfaces with paint residues |
| .. |