Last Updated on May 31, 2019 by Royal Stone Care
When it comes to building materials, few things match bricks for their smart appearance or durability. Other benefits include thermal performance, while the maintenance needed is incredibly low.
How to Clean Brick
like anything else, bricks can benefit from occasional sprucing up, especially if your walls or patio are getting mouldy or stained, perhaps from water splashes. Brick cleaning in London and other large urban areas is especially important.
But brick cleaning doesn’t have to be complicated or hard work. In fact, with a little knowhow it can look as good as new in no time.
Brick stain and removing paint from brick
The first step is to identify the kind of stain or marking that needs to be removed. Mildew or mould, for example, needs a different sort of treatment, and chemicals than, say, cement or rust damage.
If you are dealing with mould or mildew issues, a solution of chlorine bleach is probably your best bet. Use equal parts water and bleach in a big bucket, and then pour into a garden sprayer. Once you’ve used a separate hose to web down the effect area of brick, you can spray the solution of bleach on to the surface.
If you’re cleaning a wall, start at the top if it and work your way down, soaking the brick thoroughly as you go.
You’ll need to let the bleach on long enough for it to get to work on the stains, but not so long that it starts to dry out. See if the solution is working by rinsing off a small part of the wall or patio area.
Brick cleaning acid
If your bricks have become very heavily stained, use undiluted bleach and scrub with an acid brush at the end of a broom handle. When you’re done, give the wall a thorough rinse with water. Again, don’t leave the bleach on so long it dries out.
For more stubborn stains, such as rust, mortar or heavier dirt, an acid solution may be best. You could try a muriatic acid or acid-based masonry detergent, available at DIY and hardware stores.
Add acid (about one part to three parts water) to a bucket that’s two thirds full of clean water, but don’t overfill it. Use a garden hose to wet the bricks to be cleaned. Next brush the solution on to the wall with an acid brush and scrub, the leave it to work and rinse thoroughly before it can dry out.
A sealant, applied carefully according to the manufacturer’s instructions, may help future damage.
Pressure washing
This method can help with especially stubborn stains – rent a pressure washer. Mix up a solution made up of half bleach and half water, and use a brush or bottle applicator to spray on the wall, soaking the brick in manageable areas and scrubbing before it can dry. You can then rinse off with the pressure washer.
However, for thorough, cleaning or brick restoration in London or elsewhere, get the job done professionally. We can help – get in touch today.
