I'm working on a project where the facicas and soffits looked like they had some wood damage caused by pinholes in the paint job, when I did my estimate. I didn't think much of it.
Yesterday, when I got to that part of the job I attempted to clean it using a mix of water and green wash only. It didn't even touch the stuff. So, I got up there to check it out and upon closer inspection it looks like mold and it appears to be behind top layer of paint, and there are no pinholes. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
I don't have any pics right now, but I'll get a few today. I've been really bad about not taking pics lately. This job should have been done yesterday, but we had to fight high (30kt) winds consistantly - all day. Maybe the wind was a blessing in disguise, because yesterday afternoon the previous Prez of the HOA stopped by and asked me to give him an estimate to clean the roofs on his 3500sq ft house, huge barn (with a 10 on 12 roof), and detached screenroom!
The pic below is an example of what I was talking about in my first post. We also noticed after cleaning all the window frames today that there mold appears to be beneath the surface of the chalking along the sill of every window. We soft washed all the wood today and had to brush every inch of it. It took 2 applications. The first application made it look better, but it wasn't clean. After the second application, we had to brush it - all of it.
Here's another thing that's weird about this place; the HO was telling me today that 3 of his perfectly healthy trees suddenly died over the past few months and a 4th tree is currently dying. Several branches on it have already died.
The 1st pic I posted (above) is part of the soffit and I had the camera zoomed all the way in from 3 or 4ft away.
The windows of the home were all replaced about 3 years ago and the chalking around them has never been painted. As another test, today I fired up the hot water skid and hit a spot with 150 degree water at about 600psi and got as close to the paint as I dared without melting it. It didn't even phase the stuff. This was a 1st for me. I've never seen mold that could withstand heat and pressure.
Snapped a few more pics before I rolled out of there today.
Here's another thing that's weird about this place; the HO was telling me today that 3 of his perfectly healthy trees suddenly died over the past few months and a 4th tree is currently dying. Several branches on it have already died.
You may want to suggest to the homeowner, in regard to the tree blight, that he (or you) take some sample cuttings from the dying tree to the local "extension office" to see if they can identify what is causing the trees to die. This may help you determine if you can kill it where it is attacking the house - if it is the same cause. You may even want to take a paint chip from the house with you to see if they can determine if they are the same agent. If so, they may be able to steer you toward something that may save the trees and the woodwork.
Awesome Baby!! I'd still advise taking a sample of a dying cutting of the tree to either an extension office or Southern States Co-op (if they have them there), or any certified nurseryman who is qualified to ID horticultural blights. This way you'll know exactly how to treat it with "ease" the next time you run into it.