How to Clean Brick

Brick is one of the easier surfaces to power wash in terms of making it look new again. Homeowners could probably handle this job themselves and not hire a professional powerwashing contractor but it is tedious and quite time consuming if you do not have the right equipment. There are plenty of parts of your home that may be made of brick including porches, retaining walls, patios, and even the home itself. If you want to tackle your brick power washing yourself, there are a few things you need to know before starting. Pressure washing brick is a little different than pressure washing vinyl siding. With vinyl siding you can simply spray on a cleaning agent, let it sit there for several minutes, and then rinse clean. Unfortunately, brick is not as simple. You have to spray on a cleaning agent, let it sit for several minutes and then pressure wash each brick individually. If there is build up dirt or mold you may have to  hand scrub all dirt and debris and then rinse clean. To set up a free estimate call us 609-431-0853 or fill out our online form. Click on the images below to enlarge them or visit our portfolio page for additional before and after pictures.

Brick Patio Pressure Washing
Brick Patio and Retaining Wall Before
Brick Patio Powerwashing
Brick Patio and Retaining Wall After

 

Tips for Cleaning a Brick House

  • make sure all windows are shut and all doors are closed
  • if possible turn off the power to all electrical fixtures including lights and fixtures
  • remove everything that can be damaged by a cleaning agent including furniture
  • cover all plants, shrubs and flowers

Items you will Need to Wash Brick

  • water
  • cleaning agent
  • soft brush
  • ladder
  • hose
  • pressure washer
  • bucket

Process of Power Washing Brick

While you can clean any way you want it makes the most sense to start from the top and work your way down regardless if you are cleaning a brick home or a brick wall. If you have a brick patio spray some water and see which direction the water is flowing and start with the side that it is running away from. This way you do not have to rinse or clean the same areas more than one time. The professionals at J&J Power Wash will mix cleaning agents into a five gallon bucket and apply to one side of your home with our spray applicator.  Let the cleaning agent work its magic on the siding for several minutes before you start hand brushing or rinsing the brick. It also helps to keep an additional 5 gallon bucket filled with a cleaning agent that you can periodically dip your soft brush into during the brushing process.