Removing silicone adhesive on stucco wall

[Jean Shimp]

Any tips on how to efficiently remove old silicone or other type adhesive from a stucco surfaced wall? We have to change the name on a rental unit, We told the landlord we didn't do refurbishment of wall surfaces because there could be damage to the stucco and we don't repair and repaint stucco walls. We did the original letters. They are asking us now if we will just remove the old letters.

 

[John_Smith]

Jean - on my woodworking forum, a member was "skeptical" about mounting some plaster corbels on the outside of his home that had stucco walls. I tried to tell him that we use 100% pure silicone for all types of mounting options. BUT - removal may not be possible without damage to the stucco.
So this sort of emphasises the strength of our adhesives. In Kingsland, the customer pried the graphics off of a stucco wall himself, and the entire wall had to be refloated because the silicone never let go and caused considerable damage. Then, I applied the new graphics.
You may be in the same situation.
Looking forward to any successful "Tried & True" methods for this problem.

 

[Johnny Best]

Garrote: I use stainless steel leader wire attacted to two wooden dowels, slide the wire behind the letters and in a sawing motion while pulling down will “cut” through the silicone and separate the letters from the wall.
It won’t remove the silicone butthat is another matter to deal with.

 

[John_Smith]

Yeah, the blobs of silicone left behind is the primary concern. It is an ulcer. No paint will ever stick to it. And, the "scar" will always be very visible if you do find a primer and paint that will stick, because now it won't match the existing texture.
I'm sure others have experienced this same issue - hopefully, someone will chime in with some "real world experience" about a product that will "dissolve" cured silicone without leaving a residue behind to deal with. (and not the standard google search with AI data).

 

[John_Smith]

I installed these HDU letters with 100% GE Silicone w/o studs because the building's owner didn't want the wall compromised with holes. A few years later, I cut the silicone pads with nylon braid fishing string like Johnny Best suggested, so the client could use them on another building.
The whole face of the building had to be refloated after the silicone residue was chiseled out.

 

[ProSignTN]

Silicone don't lie. Silicone stick.

 

[Vassago]

I've used many removers.. All soften the silicone, rather than dissolving it.

I'm in the UK - there are lots of different brands.. Think this is in home depot though.

https://share.google/vXmI29gwpPhZUEX8i

Just remove the majority with a thin wire and knife - then paint the gell on.. It's not quick though and not sure how well they would cope with some of your temperatures.. Lol