Brick is one of the strongest surface materials there is, hence, its use in building, but if incorrectly cleaned, it can easily get damaged. Brick is a porous material, and this means if the facing material is removed during cleaning, the brick will quickly absorb water, and this can result in considerable damage. Damaged brick decays much more quickly than if it is looked after properly so regular cleaning and maintenance is essential.
Cleaning and maintaining your brickwork can be carried out in a number of ways but some methods are better than others, and some methods could result in more damage to the brick and even more restorative work being necessary. First, let’s look at some things to avoid when cleaning bricks and mortar.
No Power Tools or Wire-Based Brushes
Cleaning stains off brick using a wire brush or wool or even the cleaning disc from your power tool can damage the integrity of the brickwork. Cleaning discs and wire brushes are not designed for brickwork, and they will strip away the surface of the brick, causing more damage than good and leaving the bricks even less water resistant.
No Hydrochloric Acid
Acid-based cleaners are never recommended for brickwork and hydrochloric acid in particular should be avoided. This kind of acid dissolves the outer surface of the brickwork, and it will also cause damage to the mortar joints. This creates a pitted surface to the brick which draws in even more water and causes the bricks and mortar to crack and breakdown. Using an acid-based wash for your home will ensure you need more regular remedial and repair work as the bricks cannot stand the damage the acids cause.
Avoid Power Washing Brick
Pressure and high-power washing processes can damage the surface of your brickwork and ultimately lead to further restoration work becoming necessary. You should never consider power washing brick or using a high pressure setting when cleaning grime from the exterior of your property. The deterioration caused by pressure washing may only become apparent after a couple of years, but it can result in all the brickwork needing replacing as it crumbles.
Lower levels of pressure washing can be used carefully, with professionals using soft washing processes with 100 psi to 1500 psi of water force considered safe for most regular brickwork.
Safe Steam Cleaning for Brickwork
An alternative to power washing brick is steam cleaning. Sensitive and low pressure, steam cleaning can remove grime, paint, and other surface soiling of brickwork, bringing it back to its best. For older and period properties steam cleaning minimises the risk of damage to brickwork which may not be able to be like-for-like replaced. Ageing brick facades need additional care and attention and while it may seem easy to simple acid wash or even power washing brick walls, it can lead to significant damage.
Sensitive steam cleaning systems are designed to protect the integrity of your brickwork and ensure no damage is caused simply in the process of keeping it clean.
It’s important to think carefully before beginning any project and of course, working with brick cleaning and restoration specialists ensures a professional level of cleaning throughout.
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Building Transformation’s unquestionable honesty and enthusiasm for ensuring the client receives the correct whole-life solution (rather than a quick fix) resulted in us being able to ensure the building was not only returned to its former glory, but will stay that way for years to come. I would recommend them to anyone.
Kenny Gash - Carillion Amey
The work provided by Building Transformation was excellent. Their product and building exteriors knowledge is detailed, comprehensive and practically applied to the client’s needs. They offer a professional, detailed, high-quality and customer- focused service which meets the short, medium and long-term needs of the client, and provides practical, cost-realistic advice.
Kerry Quinn - Echo Arena
Customer service is paramount to Building Transformation and they invested vast amounts of time in providing me with a programme to facilitate what was a very complex and time-specific programme of work for the site. The quality and level of support provided by Building Transformation is priceless to any client/contractor.
Marc Blow MCIOB MBIFM - Carillion Amey
The approach and advice on setting up the works at the Wolverhampton Civic Centre were first-class. Building Transformation’s attention to detail was excellent and the RAMS were followed meticulously to every detail. We were delighted with the works and service, and would not hesitate to use them again, nor hesitate to recommend them to any organisation.
Kevin Egginton - Wolverhampton Council
A 200,000 sq. ft., four-storey leisure venue in the heart of Nottingham city centre surrounded by major traffic routes needed work to be done overnight to deal with the traffic issues, while the site remained open throughout. The project took around three weeks to complete and went exceptionally well; the Building Transformation staff were flexible and able to work round dynamic operational issues. The clean was of a high standard and has made a significant different to the image of the building. A very difficult job done well.
Suzanne Green - Land Securities
May & Co have worked with Building Transformation on a number of projects which have included external building cleaning and refurbishment. They provided a great service, supported by the high level of documentation from the initial quotation to books and industry-related guidance, all relevant to our project.
Anton Theobald - May & Co
I am very satisfied in the manner the job was conducted. Also the level of cleaning provided and attention to detail is much appreciated.
Waqas Bin Tahir - Ibis Southampton
I am using Building Transformation’s work to help justify façade restoration works around our business. They have produced excellent presentations on what can be achieved and is a brilliant piece of informed marketing that is helping slowly win people over in our business to take façade cleaning and restoration more seriously.
Needless to say Building Transformation is a name that is now becoming known and respected.
Simon Attwood - Broadgate Estates Ltd.
Building Transformation gave great communication throughout our projects. It will be my pleasure to recommend Building Transformation.
Sarah Cameron - My Hotels Group
Just signed off the job with Richard. Myself, the bosses and the tenant all are very pleased with the work. It definitely looks rejuvenated just a case of painting the concrete window surrounds in the new year to finish it off. Have found your company and staff very professional and helpful which has facilitated a project with minimal inconvenience and disruption to our in situ tenants.
Mark Hollinshead - Headruddy Property Development
I had a walk around today with Dave and am impressed with the work so far. Dave and the team have done a great job.
I’d certainly love to work with you in the future so perhaps before the job is completed we could look at what opportunities there are for the future.
Marie Green - Novotel Sheffield
At this stage, from my point of view your team has been extremely professional, informing us of what was happening at all times and most importantly no disruption whatsoever to our guests and business.
Ludovic Verzi - Novotel Leeds
We are very satisfied in the manner the job was conducted. The operatives on site were very professional and communicated to us at all times.
Maria Pinana Mateu - Science Museum
The team at Building Transformation understood our challenge of finding a facade cleaning solution that would initially restore the glazing to its original state, protecting our building for years to come. Through intelligent and thorough testing right through to the full restoration of Block D, we have been very satisfied with the project management and delivery of the cleaning programme.
Colin Pilkington - Renaker Build Limited
Thank you for all the work that you carried out in cleaning the outside of our school. We are delighted with the results. You have managed to completely remove heavy staining from many areas around the building.
We found you extremely easy to work with: your quote was reasonable, you carried out the work quickly and you were very flexible in terms of timings.
Tamsin Griffith - Courtney Road Primary School, Bristol
have worked with Building Transformation on several projects within the hospitality industry and have found them to provide high levels of professionalism and workmanship.
Stephanie LE COUTEUR - ARTELIA UK
e will definitely be working with you again! Your engineers were very polite and accommodating every time they visited site and have done a first class job. I will be recommending Building Transformation to everyone!