Cleaning your brick house with a power washer, step-by-step instructions.
- It's no secret that a pressure washer can clean outdoor surfaces like decks, driveways, and patio furniture quickly and efficiently.
- But did you know that a pressure washer may also be used to clean a brick house?
- In this blog post, we'll teach you how to use a pressure washer to clean a brick house so that it looks its best.
- Good luck with your laundry!
How to Clean Brick Walls with a Pressure Washer (Instructions)
For more information, see our complete guide on the best pressure washers for cleaning brick houses.
Maintain the structural integrity of the building
- Keep in mind that when your brick wall was first constructed, it most likely had a coat of protection or sealant on it.
The brick becomes more sensitive to harm if it has not been maintained in a few years. - If you detect any broken mortar or fractures, you should repair them before washing your brick wall.
You'll need to wait at least a week for everything to dry after you've repaired it. - This will prevent small fractures from becoming larger ones, as well as seal any damaged masonry to keep moisture out during the wash and weatherproofing.
Shut the windows and turn off the lights.
- Cover all windows and doors with plastic, and don't forget about any electrical outlets.
It's critical to keep these safe while pressure cleaning. - Remove any outdoor furniture or other items that may obstruct your cleaning as you stroll around the house.
Put on your protective gear.
- You may not consider pressure washing to be a dirty task, but once the water starts pumping, there can be a lot of little particles flying around, and that's before you get wet.
If you live in a warmer climate, being wet may not be a huge concern, but if you live somewhere freezing, you need consider protecting yourself. - When pressure washing brick houses, we propose the following items as safety precautions:
- Closed-toe shoe Eye protection Old clothing
Make the Walls Wet
- Wet the first area you'll work on with just the hose or a light pressure from a distance.
- Always start at the bottom and work your way up when pressure cleaning brick walls.
- There is significantly less streaking as a result of this method.
Make Use Of Detergent
If your walls aren't especially unclean or have no algae or other living matter growing on them, you may want to skip this step.
There are a variety of cleaning options to attempt, but if you have mold or algae developing on your walls, it's best to use bleach-based products that will not only treat your walls but also prevent re-growth.
Always follow the recommendations on the bottle for brick when spraying, and err on the side of caution the first time you use it.
This should prevent any unpleasant discoloration.
Pressure Check
Never start your pressure washer on a surface because the initial burst of pressure might be extremely strong.
Once you've started, test the pressure on an inconspicuous part of your wall so that any harm isn't done in the midst of your lovely brick wall.
Use a Pressure Washer
Sweep horizontal strokes in a sweeping motion.
Begin at the bottom and gradually work your way up; you may need to go over it again in particularly difficult parts.
Allow the brick to dry before proceeding.
- After the brick has dried, you may detect some white areas.
- Do not attempt to wash them away.
- They're salt deposits that appear when you wet the brick.
- Simply brush the white patches away using a gentle brush.
On Brick, What Color Nozzle Should I Use?
- When working with brick, use the black nozzle.
- When dealing with brick, you don't need a lot of power, especially if you're using detergent, and it's preferable to use a broader angle nozzle to limit the risk of damage.
Is Muriatic Acid Safe To Use On Brick?
No, you should check to see if your detergent contains muriatic acid.
It may appear to be doing wonders, but it is actually eating away at the surface of your lovely brick walls.
To clean brick walls, what PSI should I use?
On brick walls, the optimal pressure per square inch ranges from 100 to 1500 PSI.
We recommend using a maximum of 800 PSI for pressure washing older masonry.
This will prevent the brick from being damaged.
Will Power Washing My Bricks Harm It?
You can reduce the chance of damage by ensuring that you:
- Use the PSI that is advised (100-1500 PSI)
- Over 80-year-old brick should not be washed.
- Damaged brick should not be power washed.
- Detergents that are corrosive should not be used.
- When you're close to a brick wall, never start washing.
- Do not leave cleaning solutions on for an extended period of time.
What's the Best Way to Get Rid of Algae on My Brick Wall?
Warm, damp conditions with plenty of sunlight are ideal for algae.
If these conditions exist in your home, algae will most likely grow on the walls.
If your home has a lot of moisture or if you have an indoor pool or spa, you can see various types of mold growing on your walls.
- Algae is a single-celled, water-based creature.
It grows on stone and brick buildings, although it can also be found in the soil and on leaves.
Algae can thrive in a variety of water sources, including ponds, lakes, streams, and even drinking water. - Algae has a slimy appearance and can be green, brown, or black.
Algae that develops on brick walls are often dark green in hue.
The key to getting algae out of brick is to employ a substance that breaks down the algae cells' cell walls.
By brushing or wiping away the dead cells, you can easily eliminate them.
