Removing mold and mildew comes with certain risks. Typically it is on a walkway that is all concrete or cement, where it can easily be pressure washed away, we have a very effective pressure washer with a surface cleaner attachment which provides an even cleaning over a large surface. If however, it is on brick or stucco then you have a different animal, one where a lighter hand is required and heavy chemicals do most of the work. you have to have strong and healthy stucco or grout for the bricks. I may start a job and have to inform the customer their stucco or grout is less than capable for the mold or mildew removal process. If successful, we can provide a sealant for brick which should keep mold and mildew away for 2-4 years. I do not suggest doing the same for stucco, it can be done, it’s just that it makes a line across the area protected which looks odd after a year.
Stucco and mold: a special note here, we have all seen those structures with the discolored stucco along the bottom 2 feet, and for this I blame the builder. You never want an area of dirt to make contact with stucco, ever; that is how the discoloration happens. It is the leaching of minerals and salts from the dirt which cause the discoloration, and here in bakersfield that is mostly calcium. What I tell customers to do is put down rocks or pave around the house with cement or concrete. What you want is an area that has no dirt within 3 feet of stucco, because rain will make it splash up. Also beware of shrubs next to the house, if not watered 2xweek or more they will do the same thing, thanks to all that wonderful bakersfield dust that is always falling, it has minerals in it too.