5 Tips for Cleaning Brick and Mortar Walls
If you love the way your brick house looks, you better invest some time to ensure the material looks its best. Bricks possess this timeless look, but even this durable material falls prey to stains and other unsightly messes. As the years go by, grime, dust and moss start to take their toll on the exterior walls/fences, turning the material from a beautiful one to a rather unsightly one.
The way to address this is by cleaning the material. A sponge works well, though it will take you some time to scrub the affected areas. A pressure washer is also a good option. In this article, you will find a few tips to restore brickwork to its former glory.
Do some patchwork
It is a good idea to inspect the brick wall sometime before you schedule cleaning. Look for damaged mortar joints between individual bricks. You will need to patch those areas, since applying moisture to them could further deepen the damage. Patching should be done a good seven days before cleaning. The reason is simple: it allows the patching material to harden, minimising the risk of water seeping behind the cracks, which may lead to mould.
And while you may lack the required expertise to do this task, it is a necessary step. That is why you may want to consider professional assistance. The experts will not just deal with this issue for you, but also check for any other present problems. It may well turn out that cleaning is the least of your troubles.
Saturate the brick surfaces with water
When the time to clean comes, you first need to saturate the surface with water. Give it a good soak and before you bust out any cleaning detergents. That way you will prepare it for a good clean. When using a jet washer, it is always a good idea to start from the bottom and work your way to the top of the brick surface. That way water will not run down in uneven streams and will help you achieve an overall good result.
Apply some detergent
Before you pick a cleaning detergent, make sure it is formulated for brick surfaces. If you use some inappropriate detergent, there is the danger of even more dirt sticking to the mortar. Once you have the right solution, apply it to the brick from top to bottom. Don’t be too quick to clean it off. Allow 5 – 10 minutes for it to work. Remember to apply less pressure from the washer. If need be, apply more detergent. The soap will loosen up the dirt and help remove it from the brick.
Brush the tougher stains
For those areas that are extra dirty or stained, you will need the aid of a scrub brush. This tool is less abrasive than other brushes and water at very high pressure. It will clean the area by working the detergent into the brick, helping to break the tough stains. Typical examples for using the scrub brush to great effectiveness include: grass, grease and sometimes tree sap are all in the category of difficult stains. To loosen them, you should use a powerful enough detergent and some scrubbing with your brush.
Rinse the area well
Spray the area to remove the detergent, once it has done its job. Remember only to spray delicately, because too strong of a jet can damage the mortar. Start from the top and move slowly to ensure all the detergent is washed away. This will guarantee the dirt is easily removed.
Following all of these tips is a guarantee for a clean brick surface. Try them out, and you will see.
