Be Careful When Pressure Washing Brick!

Beautiful and durable brick homes appear to stand up to anything. However, over time, the outside elements take their toll. Dust, dirt, emissions, moisture, mold and mildew all can work their way into the brick’s textured surface. You may notice your bricks look darker or have a worn-out appearance. Aside from not looking their best, these elements can damage the brick. The fastest way to restore the beauty of your Alpharetta brick home is by pressure washing, but it may not be a do-it-yourself job.

Considerations When Pressure Washing Brick

In experienced hands, pressure washing is a completely safe way to clean brick. Incorrect use of a pressure washer can damage the brick or other features of your home.

Some of the more common issues with pressure washing brick are:

Improper Inspection
Cracked mortar or mortar with holes may go unnoticed by the homeowner. This can lead to several problems, including water infiltrating the imperfections and widening cracks and gaps. The mortar may chip off in large sections, compromising the structure. Under the high-pressure of the washer, the chips can become hazardous if they fly toward your head and face.

Improper Pressure and Improper Technique
The pressure required to clean brick is not as high as most people think. Brick is porous, which means it can soak up water and cleansers, resulting in staining or efflorescence. Following an inconsistent pattern or not having a cleaning plan can cause streaks.

Using the Wrong Materials
When it comes to stubborn stains like paint, egg, rust or some types of molds and mildew, it seems like the logical solution would be to increase the pressure. Unfortunately, all this is likely to do is damage your brick. These types of stains require special care and specific chemicals to remove the stains before the area can be properly washed.

Professional Brick Pressure Washing in Alpharetta

Cleaning exterior brick surfaces is one of the many services Alpha Pressure Washing offers our Alpharetta customers. As industry specialists, we can safely restore the beauty of your brick. Call us today for your professional pressure washing needs.

Posted on behalf of Alpha Pressure Washing