EASY STRATEGIES FOR CLEANING THE BRICK EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME
Brick makes for a timeless, durable exterior, but over time, dirt, grime, and even mould can build up on your walls and roofing, compromising your property’s lustre and appeal. If you have classic brick walls, you’ll want to keep them in great condition with a regular maintenance schedule. We recommend the following easy steps to have your brick exterior looking bright and clean again.
Preparing to clean your home’s exterior
Before you start cleaning your home’s exterior, make sure you protect the surrounding surfaces from flying debris and cleaning solutions. Protecting surrounding areas is important because brick-cleaning solutions, solvents, and acids can harm plants and react with non-brick surfaces on windows and doors. Cover any trees, flowers, and other nearby landscaping with a plastic tarp. Apply painter’s tape to your windows and door trim.
You might want to take the opportunity to check for water damage to see if you need to do some repointing, which involves replacing damaged mortar at the joints.
Understanding different brick surfaces
Different brick types require different cleaning solutions, so check what type or style of brick you have before selecting the right cleaning solution. Ask your local hardware store for advice on the different types of available cleaning solutions.
If you’re removing stubborn stains like paint, oil, chalk, cement, calcium carbonate, and rust, you might want to leave it to a professional who has experience working with the right chemical solutions for these types of stains.
What you’ll need
For an effective clean you’ll need a garden hose with a spray nozzle or a pressure washer which has a pressure level suitable for washing bricks without causing damage. If using a pressure washer, the maximum pressure should range between 1000 psi to 1200 psi, and the spray angle should be 15 degrees along with a fanning action. The jet should be 500 mm away from the wall and never closer than 300 mm, and the width of a run is usually 1 - 1.2 m. Please refer to the brick cleaning guide for more information. Avoid using a high-pressure nozzle or pressure washer if you have damaged or crumbling bricks. Do not use turbo or rotary head attachments as they can damage brickwork.
When selecting a cleaning solution, ensure it is suitable for your brick type and the specific stains or residue you wish to remove. You might also need a soft synthetic-bristle brush and a bucket for mixing your solution. Avoid using wire-bristled brushes as these tend to leave rust stains.
Dealing with mould, mildew, and moss
Mould, mildew, and moss can accumulate on walls receiving little sunlight, and these look like little green or black patches on your walls. You can use a plastic (never metallic) spatula to scrape off the mould, mildew, or moss before rinsing thoroughly. For stubborn spots:
1. thoroughly saturate the area with water (to help prevent the brick from absorbing the following solution and causing stains or imperfections to the wall); and
2. after first testing a small area before proceeding, apply a mixture of one cup of chlorine bleach with four litres of water, using a soft synthetic-bristle brush to remove the patches.
Steps to take
Follow these five key steps for a thorough clean and continued maintenance of your bricks.
1. Hose with water
Always start with the gentlest approach by using a garden hose with a spray nozzle to remove loose dirt. If using a pressure cleaner, please refer to brick cleaning fact sheet. Avoid using a high-pressure nozzle or pressure washer if you have damaged or crumbling bricks. If hosing with water doesn’t achieve the level of cleaning your bricks need, proceed to work through the following steps.
2. Test cleaning agent
Bricks are porous and have the potential to react differently to cleaning agents. To avoid cleaning agents damaging your bricks, test your chosen product on a small area before proceeding with cleaning.
3. Saturate with water and prevent streaking
The next step is to thoroughly saturate the area to be cleaned with water as this helps you achieve the best outcome when applying the cleaning solution. The recommended cleaning methods in this article are based on fully saturated walls and failure to comply with this requirement may result in stains developing and imperfections on the walls. Make sure the areas directly below where you are cleaning are also saturated. This will help you avoid unsightly streaks.
4. Apply solution
Apply your preferred brick cleaning solution to the saturated area. Follow the solution manufacturer’s recommendations by either letting the solution sit or lightly scrub the area.
5. Rinse
Give the area a thorough rinse after you apply the solution, using plenty of water to remove all residue from your walls. Always work from the top to the bottom to avoid streaks and an uneven look after drying. If a acidic solution was used in step 4, you may need to neutralise the wall after risining. Refer to the guide for more details.
Getting a great result with your clean
Bricks are highly durable and low maintenance, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to give them a clean now and then. While you can have a professional clean your bricks, it’s a simple enough DIY job you can easily do yourself. By making a small effort to maintain your brick exterior, you’ll keep your outside walls looking clean and well maintained, boosting the appeal and ambience of your property.
Please note that this cleaning guide is for maintenance of a brick wall. For information on cleaning newly laid bricks please refer to the brick cleaning guide.
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