Frequently Asked Questions About Brick Cleaning
What is Brick Cleaning and When is it Required?
Brick cleaning is the process by which bricks and masonry are cleaned. Brick cleaning methods will be regularly required throughout a building’s lifespan. It should also take place whenever any renovation or extension is being added to help the building blend in. After construction works, bricks can often get scuffed or marked with cement and may need cleaning to help the new areas settle in.
Brick cleaning methods are also required on older buildings where brick efflorescence, dirt, grime, algae, or paintwork have caused the surface to look old and tired. This is especially true of buildings in large cities in London, where pollution and vandalism can be an issue. Damp weather can also encourage algae and moss to grow, causing brickwork to look unsightly.
How do Brick Cleaning Services Work?
The surface of brickwork is rough and porous, meaning dirt and grime can get in and accumulate. Over time, this can cause discolouration and staining, which can ruin the appearance of the brickwork.
A common problem is people using pressure washers as a brick cleaning method, but we strongly advise against this. Jet washers exert too much pressure on bricks and can crack or erode the top layer. It can also force more water into the brick, which will often expand in the winter and cause cracking. This adds additional costs in the future. If you’re unsure of how to clean brick, then it’s time to consider our services at Spectrum.
What is Needle Gun Restoration?
Some internal brickwork is finished with a needle gun to give a worn and more mature-looking texture. This can bring out beautiful characteristics in the brickwork. It is a delicate process that requires care and experience to ensure that no damage is done to the bricks and minimal brick is removed.
The process can be used to breathe new life back into the bricks too. This process is especially useful if they look jaded or have suffered water damage over time. If you’re remodelling an interior space and want to create beautiful, exposed brick surfaces or are unsure of how to clean brick, needle gun restoration is a great solution.
How to Get Paint Off Brick?
Removing paint from brickwork can be a painstaking process, especially if you have a large section of the wall to complete. It may be tempting to sandblast or pressure wash the brickwork, but this may only cause further damage in the long term.
The good news is that paint-stripping products have come on leaps and bounds in the 21st century, making this an easier task than it was a few years ago.
Getting paint off brick requires patience, but when done properly the results are more than satisfying.
There are cheap products available on the market. However, to get the best quality results, you should use brick cleaning professionals.
The beauty of using a brick cleaning expert is that they can provide the safest and best methods to save you time and money. There’s also the danger that you could accidentally do damage to the brickwork.
How to Clean Brick?
When cleaning brick, we advise cleaning at the earliest opportunity. If you’ve just completed a construction or renovation project, you should aim to clean the brick as soon as possible to avoid cement and masonry solidifying and becoming too hard.
You can use a cleaner and dilution solution to clean the brick, which will remove excess mortar. As with removing paint from brick, you should avoid using a pressure washer or sandblaster as this can cause further damage.
You must identify the type of brick before cleaning the brickwork, as some types take on the appearance of another material. For example, some bricks look like clay bricks but are made from concrete. So, if you use the wrong cleaning method, you could cause sustained damage to the concrete brick.
Your local DIY store will have the necessary cleaning solution available, but make sure you check it is the correct product before applying and cleaning your brick. If you’re not 100% sure, we recommend calling a brick cleaning and restoration expert like us.
How to Remove Efflorescence from Brick?
Efflorescence is crystalline salt deposits that form on porous building surfaces. It often occurs when water mixes with salt. Brick efflorescence is extremely common in masonry, historic restoration projects and even everyday modern buildings.
On some surfaces, you may be able to remove efflorescence with a stiff brush. While in other instances, it will require an acidic cleaning solution to get the tougher stains out of the brickwork.
For optimum brick efflorescence removal results, we recommend contacting a specialist to remove the stains for you. Removing efflorescence from brick is not an easy task and must be done carefully to avoid further damage to brickwork.
How to Remove Paint from Masonry?
Brick, render, concrete, and stone can all be absorbent surfaces. Building and renovation projects can often risk paint ending up on masonry and other stone surfaces.
To remove paint from masonry, a paint stripper can often be effective without damaging the masonry. This solution is an effective way to clean up your masonry and will not break the bank either.
However, we recommend contacting a professional to remove paint from the masonry. Or check out our Ultimate Guide to Brick Restoration.
Let’s Discuss Your Brick Cleaning and Restoration Needs
If you would like to find out more about our brick restoration or brick cleaning services, get in touch with a member of our team. As one of the leading brick cleaning specialists in London, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
