Made from natural materials like shale and clay, real brick goes through a process called vitrification in the kiln which means its clay particles are fused together. This makes it an incredibly durable material.
Clay brick is stronger than concrete, and the two should not be confused. Another benefit of genuine brick is that it comes in myriad shades and colours.
And brick has stood the test of time, having been used for centuries, and by early civilisations like the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians.
This great looking, naturally energy efficient material is also highly sustainable and eco-friendly. What’s more it stays good looking with little maintenance and offers great fire, wind and moisture protection.
However, low maintenance doesn’t mean no maintenance, and, from time to time, your natural brick will need some attention, whether it’s inside or outside your property.
Some pointers to help cleaning bricks:
Don’t
- Use a wire brush. This just takes off the brick’s finish, leaving you with its core exposed, giving a very mismatched appearance. For the same reason, you should steer clear of sandpaper Harsh cleaning can be pretty damaging to brick.
- If fumes comes off the brickwork as you clean, don’t breathe them in.
- Work in an area without proper ventilation.
Do
- Use a hard bristle brush, with good old soap and water. This should remove quite a lot of dirt and grime and also any oily residues.
- Definitely wear gloves, and consider using safety goggles if you have them.
- Consider using a solution of water and muriatic or boric acid. Do this very carefully, and make up a solution with water according to the instructions, which you must follow to the letter. Test on a small, inconspicuous area first to be sure the brick isn’t reacting with the acid. Once you know it’s safe, spray on a small area before letting the brick sit for a couple of minutes then scrubbing with a hard bristle brush with small movements. Then rinse and repeat as necessary.
To learn more please read the How to Clean Brick page!
How Royal Stone Care can help
If all this sounds too much like hard work, let us take care of your brickwork cleaning for you. We can do a professional job and offer jet washing in London and the surrounding areas. Nothing shifts grime as fast or as effectively as jet washing – also known as pressure washing.
At Royal Stone Care, we have the equipment and expertise to offer pressure washing services to clean brickwork in an extensive variety of settings. What’s more we’re fully insured, and our work is fully guaranteed.
Speak to us today to learn more about how we could keep your brickwork looking as good as new, time after time.
