Since high pressure is not safe for cleaning brick siding, the recommended route is using a soft wash method. Soft washing leans on biodegradable cleansers that cut through surface contaminants. This is followed by a low-pressure rinse that effectively removes those contaminants and is safe for the brick.
Pressure washing is great for new or particularly strong brick. Scrubbing with bleach, trisodium phosphate or buffered construction cleaner are other options. As with interior brick, it's best to avoid using a wire brush if possible. The wire can damage the brick.
And brick is one of the most popular choices for outdoor patios and walkways because of its rich and classic look. However, over time; dirt, grime, and even moss can cause nasty discoloration, leaving your patio looking dull and unwelcoming. Luckily, pressure washing can restore brick to its former glory.
Rinse the Bricks
Again, we recommend starting with a low-pressure setting below 800 PSI, and adjusting slowly to higher pressures if needed. Unlike before, to wet the brick, spray from top to bottom to remove the detergent and residue. Move slowly, but keep it moving. Don't hold the pressure washer in one spot.
If you want to remove the algae yourself, you can use a combination of chlorine bleach and warm water to gently scrub on the brick before power wash with your low pressure nozzle.
In a perfect world, you should wait about three to four days afterward before you start exterior painting. This gives typical surfaces like wood, brick, and other porous materials time to fully dry. It's never a good idea to paint onto still wet surfaces.
Yes, it's recommended to seal your brick wall after pressure washing to protect it from further damage caused by weathering, moisture, and UV rays. Sealing your brick wall will also enhance its appearance and make it easier to clean in the future. Make sure to allow the wall to dry fully before applying any sealant.
Mix equal parts vinegar and water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray on the bricks and let is sit for a few minutes. Use a sponge mop to clean the bricks. If the bricks are very dirty, use a nylon-bristled scrub brush and put some elbow grease into the scrubbing.
You can use a garden hose to wet the bricks or use spray water. For stubborn stains, you can do some of the following mixtures or solutions: Scrub the bricks with table salt and dish soap and put them in a sealant to maintain the condition of the bricks. Try to use a siloxane sealant to try and restore the bricks.
Mix Dawn and baking soda into a paste to clean detailed brickwork. For old brick, always try the least abrasive method and work your way up. Use a sturdy bristle brush when it comes to fireplace brick cleaning.
Scrub the brick with a mixture of dish soap and table salt. Combine 1 c (0.24 L) each of dish soap and table salt to make a spreadable paste, then spread the paste in an even layer over the surface. Working from top to bottom, scrub the paste into the brick with a bristle bush.
One of the requirements for durability is that each brick must be able to carry a compressive load of at least 2500 pounds per square inch (PSI). This means you should be able to put a load of at least 69,000 pounds on a normal modular size brick without it crushing.
Water and mild dish soap is a popular cleaning solution because it's easy to find at home and it won't damage brick, but it will tackle stains. The BIA recommends using hot water for surface cleaning with a detergent. White vinegar and water, another common household cleaner, can also be used on mildew.
All bricks are porous, and therefore susceptible to penetrating damp. Water seeps through pores to penetrate deeply into masonry. The more it rains, the more water permeates brickwork. Damp patches on interior walls increase in size during periods of heavy rain.
DATA SHEETS Data sheets on other Thompson's products are available on request from our Technical Services Department. Thompson's Water Seal, offers superb weather protection for bricks, mortar, stone & concrete.
For a quick, polished effect, add a cup of vinegar to the water and detergent before mopping. After mopping with detergent or vinegar, rise the bricks well with clean water. This can be accomplished in a couple of ways, but the easiest might be re-mopping with clean water. Wipe dry for best results.
Apply the detergent by using the low-pressure nozzle, and for rinsing, use the high-pressure nozzle. The high-pressure nozzle should not be used on brick surfaces because it can damage them.
If the discoloration or stain is green and is occurring in damp areas, it is almost certainly some sort of algae or moss growing on the brick. Algae can create black stains as well. Algae needs moisture, and brick walls located underneath roof drainage or in shady, humid areas can quickly develop algal growth.
If vinegar does not work on your hardscape, you can use bleach. To create a powerful mold-killing mixture, you can add one cup of bleach to a gallon of water. However, you should exercise meticulous care and caution since bleach can discolor your brick pavers and thus ruin your precious hardscape.
Brick companies tell you to use low pressure when washing brick. They state around 500-1000 PSI should be sufficient enough and they also insist to never go over 1500 PSI. If you just blast the brick wall with 5000 PSI you will scar up the bricks and cause a lot of damage.
Vinegar (For Basic or Interior Cleaning): Alternatively, some people skip the dish soap and mix a solution with equal parts vinegar and water, then pour it into a spray bottle. This solution can be surprisingly effective at removing basic stains from brick.
When wet or moist the brick slips can be much darker in appearance than their eventual dried out colour. Some of our brick types show little variance in colour and a high resilience to moisture levels and are practically unnoticeable, and others can have a high moisture level and colour wise be noticeably different.
Sun Joe SPX-APC1G All-Purpose Heavy-Duty Pressure Washer
Sun Joe SPX-APC1G All-Purpose Heavy Duty Pressure Washer is a highly versatile pressure washer detergent that can clean brick and other hard, abrasive surfaces.