Exact Match Masonry Staining

Before Exact Match's Process, Efflorescence and Acid Burns on Split-Face Block

  Copyright by Exact Match Masonry Staining/Photos by Matthew T. Gill. All rights reserved.    

Efflorescence can be a problem. This is when the mineral salts migrate to the surface of the block. This before photo shows split-face block which was mistakenly power washed with an acid solution. This compounded the problem with brown mineral burns which became a permanent part of the block face.

Prior to Exact Match Masonry's process, the only option for the client would be to destroy and rebuild the 90 feet of retaining wall, causing costly destruction to the neighboring property as well as their own.

 
The tear down and rebuild process would require heavy equipment to be brought to the site, which would likely have damaged the near by freshly poured concrete driveway. This replacement would have cost many tens of thousands of dollars to complete as well as much disruption to all involved.

Click on Photo to Enlarge

  Copyright by Exact Match Masonry Staining/Photos by Matthew T. Gill. All rights reserved.    

This overhead door opening's location was changed, leaving a gaping hole which needed to be filled in. The masonry contractor was required to order a minimum of 3,000 special order blocks in order to have a fairly close match. Rather than order 2,950 more blocks than needed, a more readily available block was used. This block was the same except that the color was far too light.

After Exact Match's Process for Efflorescence

Copyright by Exact Match Masonry Staining/Photos by Matthew T. Gill. All rights reserved.

Our team of colorists arrived fully prepared to meet the challenge.The team carefully neutralized the acid, and then implemented a multi-step process to complete the restoration.

As the colorists began the process, the client quickly realized that our team could create virtually any color that he wished. He asked us to forgo restoring the original color and instead requested that his wall be matched to the cultured stone on his home.

In the end, the client was happier with the restored and newly matched wall than he was with the original wall before the damage happened. 

The risk of very costly damage to two properties was avoided completely with our fast and non-invasive process.

Click on Photo to Enlarge

 Copyright by Exact Match Masonry Staining/Photos by Matthew T. Gill. All rights reserved.

Exact Match's team was called in to stain the block to match and the costly special order was avoided. The process we use is the most cost effective method available. Rather than delay construction while a special order is filled, Exact Match can help contractors meet construction deadlines and assure the quality and uniformity that their clients expect.

Copyright 1997-2007 All photos and text by Exact Match Masonry Staining/Photos by Matthew T. Gill. All rights reserved. No portion of this website may be copied without written permission from Exact Match Masonry Staining.