Yes, you can power wash brick homes and buildings. Brick is a strong surface that is built to last, but it is still susceptible to damage during cleaning. Notably, brick cannot sustain constant, high water pressure the same way concrete can. It is best to use low water pressure or to contact a Soft Wash expert when working with older homes. Brick is porous, which means it is not waterproof. If you accidentally remove the facing material or sealant during the cleaning process, the brick will absorb more water than usual and decay much faster. We recommend hiring our professionals at Petersburg Power Washing, Inc. to handle the cleaning of your home’s exterior.
Don’t Use Certain Acids or Cleaners
No matter how dirty your bricks look, it’s important to avoid using certain acids and cleaners. For example, muriatic acid will dissolve the mortar joints and the outer surface. Water can then get sucked into the brick and concrete mortar, which will cause them to start cracking and crumbling. If you use acids on your brick home, you will need to replace the sealant continuously every year.
Do Not Use for Brick Cleaning:
- Ammonia
- Muriatic Acid
- Drain & Oven Cleaners
Use Safe Cleaning Solutions
Regardless of what material your home is constructed with, the best option for cleaning the exterior of your home is using safe cleaning solutions. Our experts at Petersburg Power Washing, Inc. in Springfield, IL clean brick and other surfaces with a soft-washing technique that utilizes eco-friendly cleaning solutions that are safe and effective. Since we get our cleaning supplies from commercial providers, you won’t have access to the same products. However, if you want to clean your brick house yourself, you can try other methods. They won’t be as efficient as our solutions, but they may be best for your DIY project.
- Baking Soda for Spots and Stains
- Vinegar & Water for Bigger Areas
- Oxy Foaming Action Exterior Surface Cleaner
Don’t Use Power Tools or Wire Brushes
While it may be tempting to use a wire brush or power tool to clean stains off the bricks on your house, it is not an approach we advise because it can cause damage to the exterior of your home. It can chip away at the brickwork and decrease the stability of the structure. Paint can also be stripped off, which would not be good for masonry surfaces. When in doubt, consult with our experts at Petersburg Power Washing, Inc. in Springfield, IL, and we’ll either guide you in the right direction or offer our professional cleaning services as an alternative.
Don’t Use High-Pressure Washing
As experts in the field, we at Petersburg Power Washing, Inc. do not recommend using high-pressure settings when power washing a brick house because it can damage the surface and lead to many more serious and expensive problems. If the brickwork has been damaged, it may take you years to notice, but once the delamination process has started, it can’t be stopped. When the brick on your house or patio starts crumbling, it will all have to be replaced. Keep this in mind when cleaning your home yourself because if you use too much water pressure, you could damage the grout or loosen and crack the bricks. If this occurs, your home becomes vulnerable to further damages, water infiltration, and significant safety concerns because of its weakened condition. Our advice to avoid this is to use a low-pressure nozzle.
Contact Our Power Washing Professionals
Your home is your own and you can choose how to care for it. If you want a professional opinion, our technicians at Petersburg Power Washing, Inc. in Springfield, IL recommend hiring one of our experts to provide the very best cleaning services for your home’s exterior. Let us grant you peace of mind by handling the difficult job ourselves and relieving you of your stress. If you want the job done correctly and with the best results, contact our team today at either 217.415.9013 or 217.416.6388, and we’ll get started on restoring the beauty of your home immediately.
