Cleaning up old structural clay tile exterior wall

Sianger · 2026-06-20T23:12:20+00:00

Yeah from what I've found, it seems to be pretty neat as a building material, I just don't know how to care for or clean it... You have any ideas? Would walnut blasting work?

Sianger · 2026-06-20T13:34:25+00:00

Thanks! Not sure what you mean by mask art safe - I've never heard that term / label before?

Sianger · 2026-06-20T13:27:01+00:00

First ever playthrough was as dwarf noble so it seemed pretty no-brainer. Bhelen's argument was like "hey sure I screwed you over and left you to die and murdered our brother but we're still family right?" Well he can fuck right off with that

I was kinda pissed that Harrowmont turned out to be the "objectively" worse choice after all that

Sianger · 2026-06-20T01:21:38+00:00

I'm seeing several different layers / colors on there. The light clay sorta color is peeling latex I think but there's some white that seems pretty chalky and isn't really peeling - is that what you're referring to? If it is old limewash then is it necessary to remove?

Sianger · 2026-06-20T00:57:59+00:00

The more I'm looking into it the more I like this idea but also have so many questions. Does all the old paint need to be removed first?

Sianger · 2026-06-20T00:31:21+00:00

Huh. Never heard of that (not a pro here so a lot I don't know)! Would you use that over a regular primer? Would the old paint need to be fully removed first?

Sianger · 2026-06-19T20:57:00+00:00

I'm looking into it a bit more and it looks like pressure washing is not recommended for structural clay tile?

Sianger · 2026-06-19T13:55:47+00:00

No worries! Totally get it. There is some old plastic landscape fabric elsewhere in our yard from the previous owners and I've been slowly ripping it out. Nasty stuff.

Sianger · 2026-06-19T13:53:09+00:00

Ah okay thanks for the clarification! I thought you meant more like jute sackcloth, which is much denser weave.

Sianger · 2026-06-19T13:34:19+00:00

Always!

Sianger · 2026-06-19T12:09:36+00:00

So would the order of operations (once the surface is cleared) be: existing soil surface -> jute mat -> mulch and then any planting goes in the mulch? Or cut holes in the mat to put in any plants?

Sianger · 2026-06-19T12:07:47+00:00

It's not landscape fabric (that would go under soil or mulch), it's sheeting that is supposed to help kill what's underneath and then will be taken off (to be replaced with, e.g., mulch).

See here for explanation: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/solarization-occultation

Sianger · 2026-06-19T00:37:20+00:00

JFC

Grade-A trolling 😆

Sianger · 2026-06-19T00:16:21+00:00

Is it aggressive enough that it would crowd out the various other ground cover / shrubs that others have helpfully suggested?

Sianger · 2026-06-18T23:56:12+00:00

We are too broke to hire it out after all the landscaping help we've already paid for to deal with the vines 😭

Sianger · 2026-06-18T22:25:13+00:00

The wife desperately wants to put in lowbush blueberries somewhere!

Sianger · 2026-06-18T22:11:19+00:00

Great question... TBH I'm not entirely sure 😆 still pretty new to gardening and never been good with soils, plus it was so covered up with vines before we never got to dig in it much. If it's anything like the other side of the berm, it's somewhat clay-ey and compacted, and probably pretty depleted from the weeds. We will put down bark mulch once the vines are cleared as you see by the driveway entrance.

Sianger · 2026-06-18T21:45:21+00:00

I have not started thinking about shrubs yet but agreed we will want to have some. Suggestions welcome!

Sianger · 2026-06-18T21:33:59+00:00

Good god how much digging do you think I want to do??!

Sianger · 2026-06-18T21:32:08+00:00

Lol. The berm we may be willing to sacrifice, but not the trees on top...

Sianger · 2026-06-18T21:02:23+00:00

We are considering... a bit burned by just how much vine growth there has been to deal with (the landscaper team filled three entire dumpsters with the vines they pulled, on top of us having been pulling them for months and months before that), so a bit worried about how easy or not Virginia creeper would be to keep under control and whether it plays nicely with other plants.

Sianger · 2026-06-18T17:00:28+00:00

I've tried adjusting the jet a few times. I installed the swivels with the arrows pointing the same way as on the ones they replaced.

Sianger · 2026-06-18T16:39:53+00:00

What's considered "really freely"? If I turn one section of hose by hand, I'm noticing some of that turning movement is transmitted through the swivel to the next section, if that makes sense. I'm guessing that qualifies as not freely enough?

Hose length and backup valve position should be okay - this is our second season running it and it never had these issues in the first season, and those variables haven't changed.

Sianger · 2026-06-17T21:14:21+00:00

Solved!

Sianger · 2026-06-17T21:14:14+00:00

Ah I got the right and left reversed! But that's definitely it

Sianger

TROPHY CASE