At Right Wash, we understand the importance of brick cleaning. And while most people might think that it's all about having pride in your home, there's more to it than just this.
Brick houses have a long history in the UK, and this continues even today with brick buildings accounting for at least 80% of all new constructions. One reason for this is that bricks can generally withstand the constant changes in our weather. They also provide strength and security, and they look great!
However, after a while, they begin to accumulate grime and organic matter, which spoils their appearance. More seriously, lichen, moss and algae can damage the surface; bricks are porous, allowing moisture to pass through. When dirt and organic growth gather, they trap the moisture which expands when it freezes, causing cracks and loosening the mortar.
That's why it is essential that you consider hiring a professional brick cleaning company like Right Wash to keep your walls looking amazing and reduce the need for expensive repairs in future.
Environmental pollution plays a significant part, particularly in urban areas. Carbon staining is common in buildings on busy roads, where particulate matter enters the brickwork and accumulates over the years.
Biological matter, such as algae, lichen, moss, fungi and bacteria, are attracted to the porous surface as it provides an ideal environment in which to thrive. If this isn't cleaned off, it will continue to grow and colonise the surface where it acts as a sponge, soaking up water and saturating the brickwork.
Water-saturated bricks will eventually give rise to problems with damp and mould on the inside of your home, and ice damage will cause spalling on the outside (where small pieces of brick break away).
One curious fact is that although pollution levels have improved due to recent environmental initiatives, this has led to an increase in organic growth. Cleaner air provides better conditions that encourage plant life. So, as carbon staining becomes less of a problem, the issue of moss, algae and lichen has worsened.
You've probably seen this, maybe without knowing what it is. It appears as a white (sometimes brown or yellow) crust on exterior brickwork. This is caused by mineral salts present in the moisture within bricks or mortar leaching out onto the surface. The moisture evaporates, leaving crystalline deposits on the bricks.
While it isn't too much of a problem and can be cleaned off (and sometimes weathers away on its own), it is often a sign of moisture penetration into a building, so it is worth getting your walls checked out to avoid problems with mould and damp further down the line.
Note: chemicals should never be used to clean efflorescence.
While some call it urban art or tagging, most people know it for what it is; pointless, unsightly vandalism, particularly when it's on your house! It lowers the tone of your neighbourhood, potentially affects the value of your home, and can be a real pain to remove and require a graffiti removal service.
There are several causes of brown staining and it's important to identify which one is responsible before deciding on the best way to clean it:
It is essential that these are treated correctly, as what is right for one problem would be disastrous for another. For example, a weak solution of hydrochloric acid can be used to treat iron stains, but this would make vanadium staining worse, and possibly permanent.
Similar to efflorescence, this often occurs on recently constructed walls, although it may appear on older buildings under certain circumstances. Essentially, this staining is due to the surface becoming saturated soon after construction. A lime solution is released as the Portland cement in the mortar sets. This dries on the surface as calcium hydroxide, slowly converting to calcium carbonate as it reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Unlike efflorescence, lime stains won't weather away naturally and will require considerable effort to shift them.
The technical name for bird faeces is guano, and it causes severe staining on brick and masonry walls. It is also corrosive to your bricks and can carry some very nasty diseases, so it's always best to have it cleaned off as soon as possible.
The friendly team at Right Wash are brick cleaning experts, with extensive knowledge and experience of the methods and processes required to restore your old bricks to their original colour. They know everything there is to know about all of the problems listed above, and many others that aren't!
Here are some more details and FAQs to let you know what's involved.
The first step is to get in touch with Right Wash to discuss your brick cleaning requirements.
We can offer a free quotation but will need to arrange a full site inspection to determine the scale of the job as well as the state of your walls. During the assessment, we will watch out for any potential hazards or problems with access.
We will also identify the brick type involved as this is crucial to deciding which cleaning method we use. Once this has been established, we will arrange a convenient date for our visit.
If required, we will erect scaffolding to reach upper floors or use mobile platforms. All of our staff hold relevant licences and qualifications for the use of such equipment. Depending on where your property is located, we may have to set up barriers around the working area.
Once the preparation is complete, they will begin to clean your brick walls using the appropriate method.
Every attempt will be made to minimise disruption and the team will ensure that the site is left clean and tidy afterwards.
We guarantee that you'll be amazed at the results!
Brick cleaning companies use several methods, and the Right Wash team is proficient in all of these. Essentially, it depends on the severity of the problem, the type of brick and whether other materials are involved (such as rendered walls, pebbledash, lime mortar, etc.).
Your Right Wash brick cleaning specialists will always select the very best method for your walls, including the following:
This method is straightforward: you use a pressure washer that blasts water at high pressure (somewhere between 500 and 2,000 psi) for brick paint removal, moss, dirt, and so on. It's effective and quick and will clean bricks in no time at all.
However, pressure washing carries the risk of damaging bricks and mortar if it's not used correctly or used on the wrong type of brick*. What's more, the damage isn't usually identified until a couple of years later, once the process of delamination has begun. This is seriously bad news, as it basically means that the brick is crumbling away in layers.
*There are a vast number of brick types, depending on the clay, firing and manufacturing processes. These affect the colour, texture and how they respond to different types of cleaning methods. Right Wash experts can determine which method is best for the brick type. You can discover more on this subject further down.
Where organic growth has taken root firmly, it is sometimes necessary to use chemicals to discourage it from returning to the newly-cleaned surface.
Many of these chemicals can be hazardous to humans, pets and wildlife, and they must be used carefully. At Right Wash, our team uses specially formulated chemicals that are safe to use, yet effective enough to clean your brickwork and prevent future regrowth.
This method is fast becoming popular because it has many attractive qualities: it is eco-friendly, effective, and can be used safely on delicate surfaces without causing any damage.
Essentially, the DOFF system uses a special steam cleaning machine that superheats water to around 150º C. It sprays the steam at low pressure, cleaning the walls gently but efficiently.
This amazing brickwork cleaning method gets deep into the surface, dislodging dirt and plant growth. It also sterilises the surfaces and kills spores, so there's no need to use chemicals or other abrasive procedures.
It also uses far less water than pressure washing does, and the walls dry within minutes as there is no saturation.
The Right Wash team have found the DOFF cleaning method effective in many different scenarios, including:
As you can see, that's an impressive list! Because of this, it's one of the most frequently requested cleaning methods and this is likely to increase as more people become aware of its amazing benefits.
This brickwork cleaning method is more commonly used for removing heavy carbon staining from bricks, as water and steam cleaning sometimes aren't enough to shift it. It is also very effective when it comes to paint removal.
While it is still often referred to as sandblasting, common sand is never used these days because of the risk of silicosis. Instead, other abrasives are used, such as recycled glass grit, bicarbonate of soda and aluminium oxide.
The key to the success of this brick cleaning method is choosing the right pressure and the correct abrasive for the brick type. For example, to remove paint from bricks you'd need a medium-grade media sprayed at reduced pressure. This would be enough to strip the paint
If you get this wrong, you risk damaging the surface. That's why it is absolutely essential that you only hire reputable brick cleaning experts to do the job.
And that's precisely why you should choose Right Wash brick cleaning services.
First and foremost, you want your building to look attractive. Most of us have pride in the places where we live, and we want them to look their very best. We want them to have kerb appeal.
Grime, mould, algae, moss build-up or graffiti makes your property's brickwork look unattractive, which can affect its value. This is very bad news if you are trying to sell your home!
As we have learned, aside from spoiling its aesthetic appeal, dirt and grime will damage your brick work if it's left for too long.
That's why we believe that you would be wise to hire a reputable brick cleaning company, like Right Wash.
Of course, it's entirely reasonable to take on this job yourself. This makes sense if the staining isn't too bad and you are able to access it safely. A light scrub using a brush and a branded detergent or brick cleaner should do the trick.
If you do take on this job, there are several points to bear in mind:
All too often, homeowners reach for a jet washer when there's a big cleaning job to be done. This is understandable, to some degree, as these machines certainly shift the dirt.
Unfortunately, they also shift mortar and brick if you use too much force! That's why this method is never recommended for older buildings, particularly those with lime mortar.
Sand-faced bricks, soft mud bricks or heavily textured bricks are also at risk of being damaged by a jet wash on a high setting. And with older properties, there's a chance that there is no cavity wall system as you'd have in modern properties. This means that if the wall is saturated - as it would be when you use a jet wash - there's a danger of penetrating damp at a later stage.
If you choose to go ahead anyway, here are some tips:
While it can be effective at removing some stains, it isn't always the best solution for others. It usually takes an expert to understand the problem and apply the right solution.
Brick cleaning can be a messy job, and at some stage, you'll need to access the upper areas of your property's brickwork which means working whilst standing on a ladder. This is very risky and could result in serious injury to yourself or others.
Also, if you choose the wrong cleaning method there's a good chance that you'll damage your walls permanently.
Finally, if the staining and foreign substances are severe, you'll have your work cut out trying to remove them.
That's why many homeowners prefer to engage a professional brick cleaning service in order to avoid the hassle themselves. Our friendly team will choose the appropriate cleaning methods for your walls along with any necessary equipment for working safely at height.
What's more, we guarantee that you'll be happy with the end result!
Costs vary widely, depending on individual brick cleaning companies, the methods they use and where they are based.
The average brick house costs between £500 and £600 to clean, working out to around £30 per square metre. However, these are rough estimates and the actual figure may differ depending on a variety of important factors including the method used, labour costs, supplies, equipment and your location.
It goes without saying that the size of your property has the biggest influence on the overall cost. We also have to consider the current state of your walls and which brick cleaning method will be used. It is essential that we have access to all of the walls to be cleaned, and this may involve the use of scaffolding or MEWPS (mobile elevated working platforms) which add to the cost.
Again, this will vary based on many factors, with the main one being the total area of your property's brickwork.
It also depends on which method is used, as each one requires a different approach along with the appropriate equipment.
A small property might only take a couple of hours, while larger premises may take a day or two. If repairs and repointing are required, the process could stretch to about one week.
Once we have assessed your brickwork we will be in a better position to advise on a timescale for the project.
Some buildings need special care when it comes to restoration, preservation and cleaning. Older residential properties have often been painted over many times in the past, and maybe you want to restore your walls to their original state. This is a job that needs a professional brick cleaning company to get the best results and ensure that the walls aren't damaged.
Many old buildings are protected by laws that govern how they should be restored or cared for, so it's essential that any work is performed professionally. Properties within conservation areas often have rules about how they should look and be maintained, including a regular cleaning schedule.
Do you live in a Victorian property whose walls have seen better days? Or do you own an Edwardian house with stained and moss-covered walls?
In all of these cases, a professional brick cleaning service is your best course of action, and the Right Wash team is ready and waiting for your call.
Organisations that look after some of our most treasured buildings, such as English Heritage and the National Trust, frequently request that brick or stone cleaning services use the DOFF steam cleaning system to restore old walls to their former glory.
As we mentioned earlier, there are many different types of brick and each one has its own requirements when it comes to cleaning.
There are too many to list here in full, but here's a breakdown of basic brick types to guide you:
The appearance of the brick depends on the materials used, as well as the manufacturing process.
Do you want to get your walls looking fresh and new, but you'd rather avoid the mess, hassle and frustration of cleaning them? Maybe you're worried about using the wrong method, or that you'll damage your walls? Perhaps you're concerned about the safety aspects involved?
Right Wash has the tools, knowledge and expertise to do the job properly and have your home looking fantastic within a very short time.
Call us today for a free quotation and to discuss any questions you may have concerning the process. We can also help with other projects, such as stone cleaning, or freshening up your rendered walls.
Begin the process of transforming your home today, with Right Wash brick cleaning services.
The average is around 2-3 days but this can vary depending on the size of the house, the type of brick, the level of damage, the level of dirt, algae, moss, lichen etc and the type of method used.
We advise to not use any type of high pressure cleaning system on bricks as it also takes away the mortar. Textured bricks are also likely to be damaged. Also if the house has no cavity wall it would be susceptible to penetrating damp from the saturation.
Hydrochloric acid can be used to treat iron stains, but this would make vanadium staining worse, and possibly permanent. So like many problems there are more than one solution which includes muriatic acid and hydrofluoric acid based brick cleaning solution.
No you do not need to take the day off work providing we have clear access to all areas to be cleaned as well as access to a water supply.
