dirty brick home in Houston TX
Brick homes are absolutely beautiful to look at, and as an added bonus, brick homes are very durable and can last for years. The downside to the long lifespan of brick is that dirt and grime will begin to accumulate, diminishing the lovely appearance of the house. Nobody wants to look at a grimy house, so here are some tips on how to restore it to its former glory. Power washing a brick home is a great way to make quick work of a tedious and time consuming job.
The first step in power washing a home is to carefully look around the outside of the house for any damaged mortar joints. These damaged spots must be patched before the pressure washing begins, to prevent water leaking behind the brick. Allow plenty of time for the mortar to dry, one full week is recommended.
clean brick home in Houston TX
After fixing any damaged areas and allowing it to dry, the next step is to beginpressure washing the house. For those who have never used a pressure washer before, it is advised to become familiar with how to set up and use a pressure washer, and even to learn how to use various cleaning solutions, before beginning.
Using a low spray, completely cover the brick in clean water. Due to brick’s porous nature, liquids are quickly absorbed. By coating the bricks with water first, the bricks will not absorb the detergent, which can cause damage.
When beginning the actual power washing process with detergent, stand several feet away from the house. This will help to reduce the amount of force the bricks take. Start at the bottom and work up to the top of the structure. Work systematically, applying the detergent to one section of brick at a time, always working from the bottom to the top. If any areas begin to dry out, re-wet them as needed. Allow approximately five to ten minutes for the detergent to work, and continue re-wetting any dry areas. In areas that are especially dirty, a rotating scrub attachment can be used to gently clean the dirt away.
Between five and ten minutes after applying the detergent, depending on how dirty the structure is, rinsing can begin. For rinsing, it is best to use a low pressure spray pattern, just as what was used in the beginning. In an unnoticeable area, rinse off all detergent and check to see if the brick is clean. If it is, the rest of the house can be rinsed off as well. In the rinsing process, it is important to work from top to bottom instead of bottom to top. Rinse several rows of bricks at a time, and be sure to make gentle, sweeping passes. It may be necessary to make several passes over the house, to ensure all detergent is gone.
It may sound complicated, but power washing is a great way to clean a home. Using these steps on a regular basis will keep any home looking wonderful all year and help maintain the value of your property. If you’re looking for a company that can help you with this process then contact us via our contact form or call us for a quote at (832) 766-5811.
