Stontex Black Spot Remover is a professional grade outdoor cleaner which eliminates all traces of stubborn grey lichen and black spots from all masonry and stone surfaces. This one off treatment eradicates black spots and algae with ease.
Give the surface of the stone a thorough wetting with neat Biorase. Leave for 12 to 24 hours. Rinse thoroughy (again, with a pressure washer if this is what you are using; ensure you check our guide here first). You may need to repeat the treatment with Biorase on very severe cases.
The patio black spots that grow on your garden stonework are actually spots of black lichen. The spores from the black lichen start life as tiny dust-like spores growing on the underside of leaves on trees and plants. These spores are carried, by the wind and the rain, onto your stonework in their millions.
What is black spot? It's a lichen that looks like a spot or smudge, basically black marks in various sizes. It is a living organism which inhabits the surface of garden stonework, this can be on both floors and walls. Black spot on sandstone tends to be more difficult to remove than black spot on block pavers.
If allowed to set seed properly, black mould will continue to spread and grow. It attaches itself to natural materials both inside and outside the home, including natural wood, stone, wicker and paper materials.
Black stains on stone are quite often caused by a cyanobacteria (Gloeocapsa sp. that not only stain the stone black, but also increase water absorption by penetrating veins in the stone (or marble, for example) leading to honeycomb weathering damage to the stonework.
Instead, you want to specifically target mold and mildew with the bleach when those problems appear. To safely use bleach, you start by watering it down. A one-to-one mixture of bleach and water in a spray bottle will work perfectly. Spray the affected area; scrub it with your gentle brush, and wipe it clean.
The black dots in the specimen you refer to must be what geologists call “inclusions”. These are tiny crystals of other minerals which were captured inside the rose quartz at the time it was forming from silica vapour or silica liquid. they must have crystallised at approximately the same time.
On lighter stone, white stones use hydrogen peroxide. On darker, black stones use acetone or lacquer thinner. Use small amounts and remove immediately with a cloth and rinse with a damp cloth, particularly on marble, limestone, onyx, and travertine.
Many aquarists dislike Black algae because of its stubborn nature, which is extremely hard to get rid of. Your black algae problem typically won't go away on its own.
Mix one cup of chlorine bleach with a gallon of water, or use straight five percent white vinegar. Scrub with a soft-bristled brush or scraper, but be careful not to scratch the pavers or remove the filler between the stones. Rinse well with water, and allow time for the stones to dry thoroughly in the sun.
Remember, if black spot stains are left for longer than 2-3 years, the algae roots can sometimes penetrate the pool interior and discolour your pool surface permanently.
If you have dark areas of discolouration on the hard surfaces of your garden (patio, drive, paths etc) it could just be dirt so see if it can be removed with a scrub over. If it can't, and it looks like ink splatters, it's most likely to be black lichen, also known as black spot.
Black Spot Lichen
This variety of lichen appears to be almost flat and is dark-grey-to-black in colour. It thrives on patio and paving slabs as the fungi spores penetrate beneath the surface of the paving, acting as a sort of anchor.
Many home cleaning products, particularly bleach and vinegar, are too harsh or acidic to be on natural stone. These cleaners strip down the stone and leave it in a weak, damaged state. Unfortunately, whenever natural stone is damaged it cannot always be repaired back to its original condition.
Iron minerals in rocks deposited in deep water, such as in the ocean or deep lakes, are less oxidized, and these rocks tend to be black or gray. If rocks are deposited in shallow water, they may be more greenish or brown.
Hematite
Hematite is a black, shiny rock that's also one of the most important sources of iron for our modern world.
Quartz Inclusions: Brookite
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) forming in the orthorhombic crystal system. The longer needle-like crystals found in quartz usually are usually black to grey, however they can have a brownish colour with larger crystals which are prismatic in form.
While a significant mold infestation is best handled by a professional restoration company, you have a powerful weapon against occasional mold growth in your kitchen cupboard: white vinegar. This humble household staple can kill more than 80% of mold species, including hazardous black mold.
STONETECH® Mold & Mildew Stain Remover is a ready-to-use, powerful specialty cleaner specifically formulated to remove mold, mildew and even algae on natural stone, tile, masonry and grout. It quickly dissolves unsightly mold and mildew stains without degrading or harming the surface.
The Best Way of Preventing Growth
Mold is especially unsightly because of how harmful it is. These growths form when moisture and humidity mix. From there, these spores will begin to cause issues on your stone. The best way you can prevent the growth of these unhealthy spores is through sealing your natural stone.
Black staining on the exterior of buildings
That dark discoloration on the side of your house can be one of three things: algae, mold or moss.
Decades of carbon emissions from factories and industrial plants fill the air in cities with invisible particles which settle onto our brickwork and cause carbon stains. If you look around any major town or city, you're likely to find black stains on the brick exterior of old buildings, monuments, and statues.
Staining agents commonly present in the kitchen, bathroom and other areas where natural stone is used include: Organic materials, such as wine, fruit juice, food scraps, tea/coffee and leaves. Oils, such as cooking oil, cosmetics, grease and oil-based paint. Ink, such as pen or marker.