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STORAGE / HANDLING:

1. Keep units clean. Units are shipped with a protective cover to protect from dirt and water penetration, leave this wrap on until units are used.
2. Opened pallets must be covered with a protective cover to prevent contamination.
3. Pallets are not to be stacked on top of each other.
4. To help disperse units with acceptable color variation throughout the wall, draw units from at least two different pallets.
5. Take care in handling units to prevent chipping and soiling the face. If a unit has been damaged, do not install it in the wall.

INSTALLATION:

Install units in accordance with best concrete masonry practices. Do not install damaged units and handle units in such a manner to prevent damaging faces, edges and corners. Carefully saw cut units for fixtures and bonding and remove any dust or paste that may get lodged in pores of face. E. Dillon & Company does not recommend the use of raked joints. All portland cement and masonry cement should meet applicable ASTM specifications. E. Dillon & Company recommends the use of Krete Gard Mortar Mix in the mortar. A colored mortar to match base color of units is highly recommended.

CLEANING:

Product: "Sure Klean ® Custom Masonry Cleaner," general purpose cleaner for removal of light mortar smears, job dirt and normal job stains from new masonry surfaces. CAUTION: Do not apply Muriatic Acid to concrete masonry units

WARNING: These cleaning procedures must be followed. If cleaning other products (i.e. brick, precast, etc.) ensure that their cleaning agents do not come in contact or run down onto our products or damage could occur to the finish.

Good construction practices are the first step in obtaining a clean masonry wall. Excessive mortar smears are most often the result of poor workmanship. An experienced mason will construct walls with minimum mortar smears and droppings that will result in a wall requiring minimum cleaning effort. Extra care must be taken in keeping these units as clean as possible as you lay them. In addition to developing good masonry skills that will keep the walls as clean as possible from mortar smears, the mason must take the following steps to minimize cleaning requirements:

1. CLEAN AS YOU GO: Remove excess mortar smears droppings and splashes throughout the day as laying units by brushing with a soft-bristle brush. Keep brush clean. Allow the mortar to achieve an initial set prior to removal to avoid smearing mortar in masonry, but do not leave mortar smears or droppings on for extended time.
2. Cover the top of wall at the end of each day to keep water from entering the wall cavity during construction and cleaning.
3. Cleaning of units should be complete prior to installation of any fixtures, doors, windows, flooring, non-masonry materials, etc. to prevent possible damage to these materials. If any of these materials have been installed, test with the cleaning solution and protect accordingly.
4. All caulking and joint sealant should be installed and fully cured prior to cleaning.
5. Keep adjacent areas, walls, floors, and materials saturated with water and flush away any cleaning solution before it dries.
6. We recommend cleaning type N mortar between 21-28 days and type S mortar between 14-21 days. Always test first.

TEST PROCEDURE:

A test area (minimum 4 ft. x 4 ft.) representing surface conditions, must be cleaned before overall application to ensure suitability and the desired results. Test a small area to determine acceptability before cleaning entire job. Conduct test area of each type of masonry and allow to dry 3 to 7 days before inspection and approval by the project architect and/or building owner. Clean test area first according to the following application procedures detailed below. Clean surfaces within the time recommended. The longer mortar smears remain on the surface, the more difficult it is to remove.

APPLICATION:

1. Starting at the uppermost portion of the wall and working laterally and downward, thoroughly pre-wet a large area (using clean water only).
2. Apply diluted solution (l part cleaner to 6 parts water as a starting rate) freely to an area using a low-pressure spray (hand pump-up garden sprayer). To insure even application, we recommend spraying the cleaning solution on the surface. Do not brush the cleaner on the surface. Apply evenly till running down the face of unit. Do only a small section (8 ft. x 8 ft.) at a time. If mortar lumps are encountered use a soft scraper (wood) to remove mortar lumps and reapply solution to that area. Do not use metal scrapers. Be extremely careful not too scratch or damage surface
3. Allow cleaning solution to remain on the wall for 2 to 3 minutes. Do not allow cleaner to dry into masonry, because it may leave a residue or stain.
4. Rinse thoroughly and evenly with fresh water, removing all cleaning compounds, free sand, and loose material down the wall. Thorough rinsing is required to insure that the entire cleaner is removed from the surface to avoid streaking. Rinsing equipment providing between 600 - 800 psi should be used. Use a fan tip nozzle that has approximately a 30° spray pattern providing 3-4 gpm volume. The spray nozzle should be held 1 foot from the masonry surface. Keep the nozzle moving over the wall and angle spray to avoid hitting surface of the masonry with a perpendicular stream of water. The wall beneath the area being cleaned must be kept wet with water so that the rinse-down from above runs to the ground to avoid streaking.

NOTE: It should be noted that cleaning masonry walls typically gives the units a darker appearance than before cleaning. It is extremely important that a systematic approach in applying and removing the cleaner be practiced. The amount of solution applied, method and timing in removing the cleaner must be consistent throughout the process.

It is the responsibility of the mason to test thoroughly and follow the procedures outlined. E. Dillon & Company assumes no responsibility for the cleaning of the units.

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