skip to main content

Home Repair Renovating Exteriors

Removing water stains from concrete/Bradstone

last year

Our house has concrete/Bradstone rainwater gutters and over time the joints between the blocks have degraded and allowed water to seep through, staining the gutters and walls underneath. We have resealed the gutters now but the stains remain and we would like to find the best way to remove them. Any suggestions?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

User
last year
They look like clay tiles. Very unusual for guttering. Is it a period property? Perhaps there's a stone cleaner you could use to remove the water stains. I've only used patio cleaners though on concrete paving.
Alan thanked User
Alan
Original Author
last year
The house was built in the late 1950s and the gutters are definately concrete blocks, not clay.
Related Discussions
Concrete floors - love it or leave it?
Q
Comments (22)
Got to agree with radicalman - there are actually a lot of downsides to a concrete floor. Because they're so brittle and hard they are almost guaranteed to crack - they're also very cold and unforgiving underfoot. We offer a poured resin that is just 3-4mm thick and is so similar looking to concrete a lot of people can't tell the difference. Essentially we pour two pigments at the same time and blend them so you get the same finish/effect - but it's warm, smooth, soft (elastic) and really comfortable so you can walk around your home/kitchen etc. barefoot without worrying about it! Aesthetically though I love a polished concrete floor - such a great blank canvas for any style as it complements contemporary interiors and provides a really interesting contrast with more traditional styles! If you want a warmer finish (in a taupey grey or warmer pigment) that's also possible and stops it looking too industrial...
...See More
Concrete kitchen floor and work surface
Q
Comments (2)
Conscious Forms is a small London based concrete specialist design and make studio established in 2004 by Concrete Artisan Junior Phipps. Junior and his team of master craftsmen collaborate with private clients; architects and designers to create bespoke cast in-situ, seamless polished concrete furniture and surfaces. Sealing and Maintenance With in-situ cast concrete there are 2 main types of surface seal, 1. Topical seal, a bit like a varnish on top of the concrete surface, a non-breathable finish. Advantage of the topical seal is that it is less prone to staining due to the acrylic or polyurethane barrier. Disadvantage of the topical seal is if you puncture the surface moisture/water can get underneath leaving white bubbly pockets resulting in the delaminating of the topical seal. Topical seals will also add a slight discolouration as the topical seal ages. Also vulnerable to acids like red wine, vinegar, lemon juice which may etch the seal leaving a slightly 'milky' patch, if not wiped up soon after spillage. 2. impregnating seal which soaks into the surface to seal the concrete top layers but allows concrete to breathe. If the concrete gets wet this type of seal allows the concrete to dry out naturally. Disadvantage of the impregnating seal is it is more vulnerable to acids like red wine, vinegar, lemon juice which may etch the surface leaving a slightly dull unsealed patch. Impregnating seal very slightly alters the final colour of the concrete finish. At Conscious Forms we recommend that Lithofin Cream Polish and/or Lithofin Easy Care be regularly applied to the worktop after being sealed with an impregnating sealer like Lithofin MN Stainstop or Lithofin MN Stainstop Plus. Concrete worktop should be cleaned with a damp cloth only or with mild soapy water (no bleach or aggressive chemicals, chlorine based cleaners are fine). Do not cut or place hot pans directly on the surface or you may damage the seal. The sealant is effective against most dirt and grease but acidic spillage’s and liquids will have to be wiped up as soon as possible to prevent staining. Stains can be reduced and removed and we can advise on this. Contact us to discuss the surface repair treatment or resurfacing of your polished concrete worktop. Best regards Junior
...See More
What to do with hearthstone when polishing/staining old floorboards?
Q
Comments (0)
I moved into my Victorian home six months ago and am redecorating all of the rooms. They are in different states but mostly pretty good condition. At some point over the last century the dining room has had the entire fireplace and chimney breast removed. I discovered this when the walls were stripped and re-wallpapered over the weekend. My next job is to get the floors sanded and varnished. Yesterday I peeled back the (hideous) carpet and discovered a large concrete slab, presumably where the old hearthstone used to be (or the hearthstone itself? I have no idea). My friend suggested tiling over it, which I'm not opposed to in theory. My problem is that not only is the hearthstone itself 50cm deep, but since the chimney breast no longer exists, it's a further 40cm away from where the wall now is (with well-fitted stumpy bits of wood in between the wall and the back of the concrete). So that's almost a metre out, in a room which is only 2.8m wide anyway and which I am using as a dining room - i.e. the table in the centre of the room, so the hearthstone will be right underneath the chairs, and the edges would be a trip hazard. It wouldn't really matter in any other room since the furniture could be rearranged to accommodate it. But in a dining room, raising it in any way (i.e. tiling) simply isn't practical. Has this completely scuppered my plans to sand down the floorboards? Will I need to shell out for new wooden flooring that covers the entire floor? Or is there some way of removing this slab and its stubby surrounds, and filling the gap with reclaimed floorboards, without causing irreparable damage to the house? There is a bit of chipboard in place of some floorboards but only in one corner. The remainder are, I believe, the original floorboards from 1876. I'm very open to creative suggestions, but whatever happens, I refuse to have carpet in the dining room. The hearthstone is under the carpet on the left of this photo.
...See More
Concrete fireplace
Q
Comments (30)
I love what you have done with your fireplace but also have to say I totally loved the original look too. Agree the hearth needed to go but really liked the shabby stone look. But changes also depend on your house. The stone look would be fab in a large living room with a gothic or earthy vibe but perhaps not so much in smaller contemporary space. But as I say really like the new look too.
...See More
User
last year
Oh, they're called Finlock gutters. Never heard of them before. https://www.tayross.com/blog?aid=19648

Sponsored

More Discussions

2nd reception room dilemma

13

Can I fit a Dishwasher in this space?

7

Putting a window in a garage - do I need to get planning?

5

Advice on my design

3

Designing a Bathtub panel

1

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.