CASTinTACT® Concrete Tactile Warning Panels

Cleaning and Sealing CASTinTACT ® Concrete Tactile Warning Panels A Maintenance and Protection Guide For more information please visit: CAST inTACT .com When properly installed, CASTinTACT ® concrete tactile warning panels have low maintenance and provide an attractive finish. Under foot traffic, CASTinTACT ® become exposed to dirt, stains and wear. This is common to all pavements. This technical bulletin addresses various steps to insure the beauty of CASTinTACT ® and to help restore their original appearance. These steps include removing stains, cleaning and sealing. Stains on specific areas should be removed first. A cleaner should then be used to remove any efflorescence and dirt from the entire panel. A newly cleaned concrete can be an opportune time to seal it. In order to achieve maximum results, use stain removers, cleaners, and sealers specifically for colored concrete panels. These may be purchased from Masons Supply or other reputable dealers. Removing Stains Commercial stain removers available specifically for colored concrete provide a high degree of certainty in removing stains. Many kinds of stains can be removed while minimizing the risk of discoloring or damaging the panels. The container label often provides a list of stains that can be removed. If there are questions, Masons Supply should be contacted for help with determining the effectiveness of the chemical in removing specific stains. Identify the stains prior to applying the cleaner. A test application should be evaluated in a small inconspicuous stained area for cleaning effectiveness. Some stains may require repeated applications of the remover to achieve effective cleaning. This is often the case for deep set oil stains. Make sure that the cleaners will not remove or damage the CASTinTACT ® panel. With all stain removers, cleaners and sealers, the label directions and warnings should be read and carefully followed for all precautions, and for first aid. Start removal of stains at the bottom of the panel and work up the slope in manageable sections. By working up the slope, cleaning fluids will drain down the pavement. This technique assists in uniform removal while allowing the used cleaner to be rinsed away consistently. Take care in selecting and applying cleaning products, as acidic ones may harm vegetation and grass. These cleaners should not run onto vegetation. When using strong acidic stain removers or cleaners that might drain onto vegetation, spread some agricultural lime on the ground around the perimeter of the concrete. This will help neutralize the cleaner and reduce the potential for damage to grass and/or vegetation. After cleaning, remove the lime from the vegetated ground in these areas. Removal of Common Stains There are proprietary cleaning products specifically designed for colored concrete panels. Many have been developed through extensive laboratory and field testing to ensure cleaning effectiveness. Using manufactured cleaning chemicals for specific stains relieves the user from the uncertainty of attaining the proper mixture of chemicals. These chemicals should be used whenever possible. If no proprietary stain removal products are available, a comprehensive source of information on stain removal is a 28 page booklet entitled Removing Stains fromConcrete by William H. Kuenning. It describes chemicals, detergents or poultice (scrubbing) materials recommended for removing particular stains, and the steps to be followed in removal. Make sure that the cleaners will not remove or damage the CASTinTACT ® panel. This publication recognizes that some of the treatments involve hazardous chemicals and it advises specific precautions. Masons Supply disclaims any and all responsibility for the application of the information. The user is advised to use cleaners specifically made to remove stains that commonly occur on colored concrete. They will likely be more effective. Proprietary Stain Removers Asphalt and emulsified asphalt | MASCO CITRI-CLEAN Cutback asphalt and roofing tar | MASCO CITRI-CLEAN Blood, candy, ketchup, mustard, grease drippings from food | MASCOCITRI-CLEAN Caulking | MASCO CITRI-CLEAN Chewing gum | MASCO CITRI-CLEAN Clay soil | DEIDRICH 202V Creosote | MASCO CITRI-CLEAN Leaf, wood rot, or tobacco stains | DEIDRICH 202V Mortar | DEIDRICH 202V Smoke | DEIDRICH 202V Oil or grease that has penetrated | MASCO CITRI-CLEAN Dried paint | MASCO CITRI-CLEAN Tire skid marks | MASCO CITRI-CLEAN Overall Cleaning Overall cleaning of the panel can start after stains are removed. In preparation for cleaning, low tree branches, shrubs and vegetation adjacent to the pavement should be tied back or covered to protect from overspray of cleaning solutions or sealers. The area should be inspected for any cracked or broken units. These should be replaced. Badly stained units can be replaced, but it is usually easier to clean stains and less costly than replacing the panels. When panels have stains too difficult to remove, replace them with the same type of units. If panels must be replaced, there may be a difference in color from the surrounding panels. This variation should eventually disappear. If color variation is unacceptable, controlled use of proprietary cleaners designed to improve the color of concrete panels can minimize variation. Removal of accumulateddirt and efflorescence is the objective of cleaning. It is essential in preparing the panels for sealing as well. Many cleaners effective in removingdirt andefflorescenceareamix of detergent andacid. Cleaners with strong acids will change the color of the panels slightly. JAN 2010 -16-