Cleaning Lichen Off Granite Gravestones

Clean a granite headstone.

Cleaning lichen off granite gravestones. It is important to avoid haphazardly removing lichen or algae that is embedded in the rock. Make or buy a cleaning solution. Box 13 598 onehunga auckland new zealand that is said to be a fast acting and effective concentrated product designed to remove all lichens moss and fungal growth from most surfaces. Dampen your sponges in your bucket of water.

Therefore you should not try to clean a headstone marker or memorial on a very hot or very cold day. Lichens growth cleaning prevention on stone surfaces. I need advice on how to remove the lichen and if possible prevent it from growing back. Doing so may cause large pieces of rock to become dislodged.

A note about removing lichen. The front of the granite stone is smooth and the sides and top of the headstone are rough cut. It doesn t look very pretty and it makes it difficult to read. This article describes and provide photographs and advice on identifying cleaning and preventing lichens growth on stone surfaces such as buildings cultural artifacts statues gravestones sidewalks stone walls and pictographs.

Once you have checked out the stone you are ready to start actually cleaning. This second spray will work the product into the second layer of the lichen. Lichen is one of the more challenging growths to clean from memorial stones. While this article focuses on cleaning granite headstones.

Once they are wet gently begin wiping down the surface of the stone. Hard dark stone such as granite and cast metal markers grow surprisingly hot due to direct sunlight and or higher temperatures which can result in the rapid evaporation of the water you ll need for basic cleaning. Follow the directions on your cleanser. Power washers or sprayers can severely damage a headstone.

They can break off pieces of the monument remove the. Mix it with the proper ratio of water. Recently i met with family members to clean the granite gravestones of our ancestors we scraped off surface mold and scrubbed with stiff brushes and anti mildew detergent. Steps for cleaning granite headstones.

At a certain point the lichen moss or other things that have grown on it are now part of the marker. The graves look much. Scrape the dried poultice off the granite headstone with a soft bristled brush or your hand. Always work from the bottom towards the top when cleaning a gravestone to prevent dark streaks.

Wait 15 minutes and spray the surface again. There is a new product bio lichen off produced by sunnz international ltd p o. To make the cleaning solution mix approximately one cup of pure ammonia with one gallon of water. My husband s grandmother s headstone is covered in lichen.

So you need to ask if it s worth the risk to clean it.