The Steps Involved in Cleaning Brick Siding

There aren't great complications involved in cleaning brick siding and in most cases where there is a build up o dirt and dust the most plausible solutions that offer cleaning are: using a hose and brush. Care should be taken, however, to not used pressurized water as this can chip away the mortar that is holding the bricks in place.

However, there are cases that require more than just a simple solution and some of the most unsightly situations that appear on bricks are: efflorescence, build up of mildew, build of vegetable stains and build up of rust.

Efflorescence

If you have seen a white crystal looking powder that appeared on your bricks, then you have seen what is called efflorescence. This does not harm the brick per se, but in terms of aesthetics it can be a rather unsightly thing to see on a wall. Brushing it away will not resolve the issue either. When it comes to cleaning brick siding that has efflorescence the best strategy is to prepare a neutralizing solution that dissolves the salt that is on the surface of the brick. You can do this by mixing five parts of water to one part of vinegar or if you prefer you can also buy a DIY solution as your nearby hardware store.

Mildew

Mildew is caused by the presence of moisture on a surface. When it comes to bricks, it is best to find where the moisture is coming from and solve that first before moving on. There are solutions on the market that can be bought to remove mildew, but if you prefer to replace the brick then that is entirely up to you. Bricks do not fade easily so when you replace one with a newer one you will still have a uniform aspect on your wall.

Vegetable Stains

Vegetable stains are caused by plants growing alongside your house for a prolonged period. You can either use a stiff broom to remove them or your hands to uproot he plants themselves. The stains that remain can be removed with the use of bleach of fungicide solutions. For best solutions always apply them in dry weather and not when it is about to snow or rain.

Rust Stains

Occasionally you will see rust stains on brick sidings even if you to not have any iron near to it. This rust is caused bu the Ironstone that is in the mortar which is leeching out. The best solution for removing rust stain is by re-pointing to take out the affected area. You will need to brush with and seal it with a special Ironwork paint.