It’s no secret that brick is a porous material, meaning that it’s not waterproof.
However, like any other material, brick does get dingy over time, and it’s essential to find a way to make your home’s exterior as bright as the outside.
Therefore, the best way to do so is through pressure washing in Washington DC. However, not too many people are open to the idea of pressure washing their brick house, as bricks aren’t waterproof.
The truth is you can power wash your brick house. But you have to do it correctly and use the proper power washing technique to ensure that your brick house has a sparkling exterior with no risks. So, here is a step-by-step guide on how to power wash your brick house.
When power washing bricks, choosing the right pressure washer is essential to get the job done. The pressure washer’s PSI plays a crucial role in the power washing of your brick house.
Therefore, make sure you go for a washer with a 100 PSI to 1500 PSI power range. A higher PSI pressure washer might end up damaging your brick house.
While the damage may look minimal, over time, it increases, and this can eventually cause your house to crumble.
It’s always important to prepare your brick wall for pressure washing, as this prevents water from passing through its outer surface.
It also prevents any massive damage from occurring to the wall. Steps you have to follow for this process include:
Search for holes and cracks between the brick walls. If you spot any, ensure that you apply new mortar between each brick and leave it to dry for at least five days.
Make sure you remove any obstacles that may make your cleaning process difficult. Also, ensure you cover any nearby furniture, as you wouldn’t want them soaked during the cleaning process.
Remember, brick isn’t a waterproof material. Therefore, mildly spray water on your brick wall only to make it wet and not soggy.
Start by loading the power washer detergent tank with a safe cleaning solution. Ensure you select a cleaning solution that’s appropriate for brick washing and eco-friendly. Once the detergent is all loaded up, you can proceed to spray it on the brick wall.
The key to properly pressure washing your brick house is using more water and detergent. Also, make sure you spray the detergent and water mixture with the slightest pressure.
And ensure that you spray from bottom to top. For areas with stubborn dirt, you can use a brush.
Another aspect to remember when pressure washing is always to maintain distance from your brick house. Standing too close means using too much pressure, and this can damage your home.
Maintaining a suitable distance between you and the brick wall also ensures you get to wash off all the detergent properly.
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Never attempt to scrub your brick house with a wire brush or a power tool. Using these methods can cause you to strip paint off the wall, which isn’t good for any masonry surface.
Never operate a pressure washer without the proper safety equipment. Some of these pieces of equipment include safety goggles, shoes, headphones, and boots.
The type of solution you use to power wash your brick house makes an enormous difference in the outcome of wash. Therefore, ensure that the solution you use is eco-friendly and safe. It should also work on the tough spots with little resistance.
But if you ever have problem areas on your brick house, you can use DIY methods like baking soda or vinegar.
All you have to do is make a paste, cover the stained area, and scrub it with a stiff brush. If the stains don’t disappear, you may have to repeat the cleaning and scrubbing process during your next wash.
The first wash doesn’t have to be perfect, but it can help you get rid of those tough and heavy stains. It just gives you a foundation you can work with and with more power washes, your home can slowly attain its exterior appeal.
