Whether you’re building a brick porch yourself or buying a home with one, you won’t have to do anything to maintain it besides cleaning. Durability is one of brick’s best qualities.
You may wish to clean the porch from time to time due to vegetation growth, silt buildup, or fallen leaves. Before you start, go through these basic steps to ensure that your brick porch will last for years to come.
Cleaning Methods for a Brick Porch
A brick wall can be built around a robust brick house. A brick pathway may weave its way around the yard. But a brick porch is often the first thing people see when they come to your home. To maintain its appearance, you must clean exterior brick regularly.
Smoke, time, and the environment may discolor and wear away at outdoor brick. If cleaning isn’t your favorite thing to do or you have a busy schedule, companies like Brickworks Property Restoration can help.
There are many ways to clean bricks, depending on their age. For new or very strong brick, pressure cleaning is ideal. Other methods include scrubbing with bleach, trisodium phosphate, or a buffered construction cleanser.
What to Avoid When Cleaning a Brick Porch
If at all possible, avoid using a wire brush on exterior brick. The wire has the potential to harm the brick. It’s also not a good idea to use an orbital sander or any other power tool. Brick is significantly more delicate than it appears.
Pressure washing may be ineffective on certain older brickwork. Consider seeking a professional assessment if you reside in a home that is 80 years old or older. The best way to care for a historical home should be discussed with a local historical group. Pressure washing old bricks will only require a low pressure of 100 to 800 PSI.
If you encounter any issues with your pressure washer or require maintenance, consider reaching out to experts in New Jersey pressure washer repair for prompt and reliable service.
This is where professionals like Hotsy of Houston come into play. They offer a range of specialized pressure washers designed for various applications, ensuring that your cleaning projects are efficient and effective without causing unintended damage.
If you don’t plan to repaint, don’t use a power washer on painted brick. Even if it’s only whitewashing, it’ll most likely blow the paint off. After pressure washing, you’d have to fully redo the whitewashing.
Treating Mildew, Mold, and Stains on a Brick Porch
Remove any surface particles with a sponge first. Then, using a spray bottle, saturate the discolored areas with clean water and a bleach-based cleanser. Scrub using a scrub brush made of nylon or natural bristles. On outdoor brick, you may notice green or black growths.
Mildew and mold are frequent in gloomy, moist areas of your porch where the brick isn’t exposed to much sunlight. A solution of bleach and water should do the trick. It’s always a good idea to wear rubber gloves and a respirator when working with chlorine bleach. Make sure to rinse off brick to finalize the cleaning process.
