Cleaning and the "Mother Road"

 Cleaning along the Mother Road Route 66

 

Sometimes it not just about the job, a person has to enjoy what they do. Today we were cleaning a rock porch, steps, and side-walk to remove the old sealer. Getting things ready to reseal. If you follow here at all you will know my love and like of the oringinal rock house and buildings found here in Southwest Missouri. Another one of my loves it following the "Mother Road" better know as Route 66 and it just happened my job was on this oringinal section of Route 66.

  This entry is more about where I was at then what I was cleaning or how. Route 66 has parts of the original road that still exist, some of the concrete pictured below is said to be part of the original construction of the road still in use today. Just think about what this concrete saw, everything form the "model T" to my power washing rig. What you see in the pictures is original road just off straighten route. This is about 1/2 to a mile from where I was working and this section runs for about 5 miles I would guess. The station, office and store are restored for you to take pictures here or have a picnic on the grass. The buildings look like they would in the days when Route 66 was the lifeline of this nation. The stores are not open but still help to keep the old road alive. Just down the road in the picture you can still see the old iron bridge most most of these iron giants have been removed or decommissioned two items from the past to see with in a half mile. Here in Missouri older sections of the road that are still in shape for traffic are being reopened and are marked with the blue Route 66 signs. In todays fast paced world a person needs to take time and enjoy. Don't let the pace of life get in the way of enjoying the simple things. Thanks for your support Cleaned by Pete

 

Stopped here today for a photo opt, Cleaned by Pete enjoying the drive on this original section of Route 66. The Cleaned by Pete power washing rig on Route 66 at Spencer's Garage.

Stopped here today for a photo opt, Cleaned by Pete enjoying the drive on this original section of Route 66. The Cleaned by Pete power washing rig on Route 66 at Spencer's Garage.

Stopped here today for a photo opt, Cleaned by Pete enjoying the drive on this original section of Route 66. The Cleaned by Pete power washing rig on Route 66 at Spencer's Garage. Some of this road pictured here is said to be part of the original construction.

Stopped here today for a photo opt, Cleaned by Pete enjoying the drive on this original section of Route 66. The Cleaned by Pete power washing rig on Route 66 at Spencer's Garage. Some of this road pictured here is said to be part of the original construction.

Cleaned by Pete's power washing rig on Route 66 at Spencer's Garage.

Cleaned by Pete's power washing rig on Route 66 at Spencer's Garage also showing the office, general store and post office.

Cleaned by Pete's power washing rig on Route 66 at Spencer's Garage also showing the office, general store, post office, and barber shop, a Cleaned by Pete photo.

Stopped here today for a photo opt, Cleaned by Pete enjoying the drive on this original section of Route 66. The Cleaned by Pete power washing rig on Route 66 at Spencer's Garage.

Route 66 and an original iron bridge in the same picture.

Route 66 and an original iron bridge in the same picture.

These blue sign point out parts of the original route of the "Mother Road" finding and driving the ares marked by these signs is like taking a trip back in time on original parts of Route 66.

If you run across one of these take the time and follow it. Time is not all that important when your on a real time machine.

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House Washing Wednesday; Cleaning the "Giraffe Rock" House

House washing Wednesday finds us washing and restoring a native stone sometimes refereed to as giraffe rock exteriors. The choice of building materials was inexpensive and produced locally from materials found in plentiful supply in the Ozark Mountains "rock", the style was most predominant on small houses, usually bungalows. With power washing we cam removing years of mold, mildew and algae from this homes sides here are a few pictures as we get under way with another cleaning on one of these homes.

At Cleaned by Pete we have taken a special interest in this unique style of Ozark's home and their construction. Finding out more about the methods of building and the rock it self. You may look at one of these homes and say yep it a rock house, but there are several different types of rock and styles and techniques of using the rock. Just for instants: worm rock with holes and small wiggly lines in it usually used as a entire rock, other styles use split or faced rock, and some masons even cut and squared the stone. Local stone, limestone or sandstone or even field stone would be split into thinner slabs we even have what is called "Carthage stone". The resulting pieces would be of inconsistent size and shape, and were pieced together like a crazy quilt or a giraffe with thick strong mortar joints. The size of rock, pattern and stacking is all done by individual masons some will flourish with a design while other use strictly stack and go method. Some home have very large stones while others are constructed of smaller stones, some masons used the slicker outside of the stone while others split and used the inner face making the walls straighter and more uniformed. We have developed a method or cleaning and restore the original look and color to these homes, while killing and removing what is growing on the stone face. We have invested in tools and attachment to clean and restore these homes. We don't just come in and blast high pressure water at them. If you want someone who under stands these homes and what it takes to clean them you need to call, Cleaned by Pete.

Cleaned by Pete is cleaning and restoring the color of these natural rock by just a good washing.

Cleaned by Pete is cleaning and restoring the color of these natural rock by just a good washing.

Cleaned by Pete is in the process of cleaning and restoring the color of this Ozark rock by just a good washing.

Cleaned by Pete is cleaning and restoring the color of this natural Ozark rock home by just a good washing.

These picture were taken after the 2nd step while the stones were drying, first we treat with cleaners, soaps and an algaeside to kill what is growing on the home's stone walls then power wash let dry, we'll follow up with an application of soap and cleaner once again and a rinse. You can see in this drying process the stones are becoming brighter and cleaner the mosses, algae and liken have been killed off and only now the wall can be power washed cleaned. Cleaned by Pete will have more pictures to follow stay tuned to see the results of this cleaning. After the home is completely cleaned, washed and restored.

Cleaned by Pete 417-459-7869