Don’t break the bricks

Brick is one of the most popular construction materials used for residential structures because of its nice exterior effect and its resistance to heat. But just like any other surfaces, brickworks also need maintenance otherwise any substances that might have been absorbed into it can cause erosion and damage the brick. Moreover, this does not look appealing anymore and the worse that can happen is replacement which is undeniably costly. When it comes to cleaning brickworks, brick companies would always remind people to be cautious in using pressure washers because there is a possibility that if used incorrectly it might scar up the bricks and can eventually break which would cause more damage. But in the nature of how bricks are applied in construction, they are usually used in the exterior areas which mean that they are exposed to factors such as heat, rain, mold, mildew, dust, etc. and it is a fact that if this is the case it would be impossible to clean the bricks by just wiping them. With this in mind, the best way to clean brickworks is still pressure washing.

               There are several differences when cleaning a brick surface from cleaning a concrete surface using a pressure washer. Extra steps should be done if bricks are involved. An example of this is scraping first the surface of the brickwork to remove any mortar left after construction. It is also a general rule in brick cleaning is to pre-soak the area and then apply a cleaning solution. Once the surface is wet, then you can start pressure washing. The typical way to do it is start from the top to the bottom. However, it is very important that you be careful with the mortar joint specifically on the corners because they can be easily blown out. If there is a heavy or stubborn stain or dirt on the joint, instead of focusing the pressure on that area, it is better to use a stronger solution that is still just enough not to ruin the bricks. Because focusing the pressure on the joint can cause it to be weak and would eventually break down. Pressure cleaning can be very effective and safe on bricks if it is done correctly and properly. But there have been incidents that instead of positive effects, damages have been the result. That is why before anyone can perform pressure washing on bricks, training must be done.

                In cases like this where we want to get optimum result, two options are available. If you are the type of person who wants the D-I-Y thing, you must invest in the correct pressure washer together with the needed attachments and gadgets as well as the best cleaning solutions and of course proper training to do it right. But if you want the easier way out, you can contact a pressure washing service, talk to a professional and let them perfectly do the job for you. Surely, experienced pressure washing professionals will not break your bricks.