Ideas to clean badly tarnished brickwork

johndaman66

Hi folks,

Years of neglect has resulted in the brickwork at home becoming badly tarnished and also what I assume to be efflorescence particularly in one gable end wall.

Tried sugar soap and milder detergents but to no avail.

Any constructive ideas on how these may be improved would be very much appreciated.
Please see pictures attached.

Calahonda52

I don't believe it to be efflorescence as is evident from the images in the search below.
Is the gable north facing?
https://www.google.ie/search?q=brickwork+efflorescence+removal&safe=images&biw=2185&bih=1276&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDo-_n84zSAhXhK8AKHZxPDQgQ_AUIBigB

Sinbad311

I looked into this before when looking to remove paint from redbrick, there was a crowd I found online (cant remember name) that offer a sandblast service to remove paint etc. to restore original brick. I think in the end I ruled it out due to cost but in my case it was a large area that need blasting.

Maybe a quick google for sand blasting co. may help

FrancieBrady

johndaman66 wrote: »

Hi folks,

Years of neglect has resulted in the brickwork at home becoming badly tarnished and also what I assume to be efflorescence particularly in one gable end wall.

Tried sugar soap and milder detergents but to no avail.

Any constructive ideas on how these may be improved would be very much appreciated.
Please see pictures attached.

That isn't efflorescence it is mildew or moss growth. Have you evergreens nearby? Not that you can do much about them, just wondering.

A treatment with an anti fungal solution, letting it kill the growth and a damn good power hosing would make a big difference. If trees are still around it will return slowly unless treated every few years.

FrancieBrady

Sinbad311 wrote: »

I looked into this before when looking to remove paint from redbrick, there was a crowd I found online (cant remember name) that offer a sandblast service to remove paint etc. to restore original brick. I think in the end I ruled it out due to cost but in my case it was a large area that need blasting.

Maybe a quick google for sand blasting co. may help

Sand blasting would be an extreme solution for brick and could end up doing more damage. Even power hosing can be too strong for some brick. Not the ones pictured though, they look ok for power hosing. (but loose or dodgy cement will disappear too)

The Real B-man

Might be worth a shot http://www.softwashireland.ie/

_Brian

I'd be getting a 20litre drum of Hypachloride from an agri merchant, ~€20

Spray it over the surface with a pumped garden sprayer. Leave for a few hours and blast off with a pressure washer.
Also works well on concrete for algi growth.

Wear gloves and eye protection.

jack of all

_Brian wrote: »

I'd be getting a 20litre drum of Hypachloride from an agri merchant, ~€20

Spray it over the surface with a pumped garden sprayer. Leave for a few hours and blast off with a pressure washer.
Also works well on concrete for algi growth.

Wear gloves and eye protection.

+1 in the absence of hypachloride I've used a mix of diluted Jeyes fluid and some biological washing powder apply with a fine spray to treat brickwork, render and tarmac that was badly affected by algae and moss growth, does work but you'll need to retreat on an annual basis. Whatever you do don't go down the sandblast route- this was a popular treatment on old brickwork years ago but actually destroys the brick, removing the hard face produced during the firing/ kiln process and exposes the brick to water and frost damage, accelerating its deterioration resulting in frost damage (spalling) over time. Even over-zealous powerwashing can do more harm than good.

johndaman66

Calahonda52 wrote: »

I don't believe it to be efflorescence as is evident from the images in the search below.
Is the gable north facing?
https://www.google.ie/search?q=brickwork+efflorescence+removal&safe=images&biw=2185&bih=1276&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDo-_n84zSAhXhK8AKHZxPDQgQ_AUIBigB

The gable is facing west Calahonda52, would have being exposed to lots of driving wind; rain; sleet and snow over the years. I would have thought the worst of the staining is mould and mildew but there are some small white patches which I was thinking was efflorescence.

FrancieBrady

johndaman66 wrote: »

The gable is facing west Calahonda52, would have being exposed to lots of driving wind; rain; sleet and snow over the years. I would have thought the worst of the staining is mould and mildew but there are some small white patches which I was thinking was efflorescence.

No, it isn't. It is a common enough growth. You can usually rub it with your finger and the surface growth will break up.

I would go with the bleach suggestion and power hose. Spend the money on a good anti fungal clear coat after washing.

johndaman66

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Have you evergreens nearby? Not that you can do much about them, just wondering.

There are, the nearest one being about 25 - 30 metres away from the wall Francie

FrancieBrady wrote: »

A treatment with an anti fungal solution, letting it kill the growth and a damn good power hosing would make a big difference. If trees are still around it will return slowly unless treated every few years.

Thanks Francie, the treatments that _Brian and jack of all suggest later in the thread may be just the ticket. I will most likely try the same when the weather improves and I get a free Saturday.

FrancieBrady

johndaman66 wrote: »

There are, the nearest one being about 25 - 30 metres away from the wall Francie




Thanks Francie, the treatments that _Brian and jack of all suggest later in the thread may be just the ticket. I will most likely try the same when the weather improves and I get a free Saturday.

Evergreens close by will cause some of this. No scientific proof of that, just experience.

Patience and methodical covering of areas with the hose (take it in large squares) and you won't recognise it when it dries out. Seen a lot worse come up like new. Check the pointing after too.

dodzy

A good powerwasher alone would make a huge difference.

johndaman66

Update all: I was doing some cleaning over the long weekend and here are the results attached. I'm sure you will all agree this is an immense improvement compared to the earlier photos.

johndaman66

On a side note I use Cillit Bang

johndaman66

johndaman66 wrote: »

On a side note I use Cillit Bang

Only joking! Used this stuff. They called it Chlorus in the DIY store.


I used a hard bristle brush and it took a lot of elbow grease. Was nice to see the dirt oozing out when rinsing the wall off though. Still need to clean up around the eaves and I think its the mortar that looks the most grotty now where its still tarnished - For this I might go again with a softer bristle brush. Appears some bricks are discoloured too, suppose this is from years of weathering

BrokenArrows

Looks great. Good job.

tweek84

@johndaman66 how does the brickwork look now? I have a similar problem other people i have talked to have suggested power washing but i have seen the brickwork afterwards and it looks very aged after a very short period.

johndaman66

tweek84 wrote: »

@johndaman66 how does the brickwork look now? I have a similar problem other people i have talked to have suggested power washing but i have seen the brickwork afterwards and it looks very aged after a very short period.

Hi tweek84, my apologies I only seen your post now. All still looks good as per the after photo I posted. Having said that I should really have sealed the bricks after with the likes of Thompson water seal. Not getting a moment to spare to do any of them kind of jobs at present but hopefully in the Summer if I get a day to spare will give one more scrub in particular around the eaves and seal the walls after. Being honest if your walls are anywhere near as tarnished as mine were I can't see a power washer alone doing much.

dok_golf

Owatrol ATM 007. Pat McDonnell stock it or can get it in for you.

tweek84

johndaman66 wrote: »

Hi tweek84, my apologies I only seen your post now. All still looks good as per the after photo I posted. Having said that I should really have sealed the bricks after with the likes of Thompson water seal. Not getting a moment to spare to do any of them kind of jobs at present but hopefully in the Summer if I get a day to spare will give one more scrub in particular around the eaves and seal the walls after. Being honest if your walls are anywhere near as tarnished as mine were I can't see a power washer alone doing much.

Cheers John i might get cracking on that over the weekend, from dok_golf's post Pat McDonnell paints are opening in Raheen next too Caseys

whowantstwoknow

_Brian wrote: »

I'd be getting a 20litre drum of Hypachloride from an agri merchant, ~€20

Spray it over the surface with a pumped garden sprayer. Leave for a few hours and blast off with a pressure washer.
Also works well on concrete for algi growth.

Wear gloves and eye protection.

Finally got to purchase Hypachloride. Should it be used neat or diluted for the sprayer?

Thanks
W

johndaman66

whowantstwoknow wrote: »

Finally got to purchase Hypachloride. Should it be used neat or diluted for the sprayer?

Thanks
W

Ugh, I definitely wouldn't think its a great idea to use it neat if cleaning concrete/ paving etc. As I recall a ratio of 20:1 was instructed for cleaning patios/ brickwork/ concrete. I used a slightly stronger mix as you seen from first photo how badly tarnished the brickwork was...not dramatically stronger though as would be conscious of causing damage to the brickwork with too strong a mix. I recall that it definitely instructed a stronger mix for sanitising milking parlours and cattle units...what that mix was I can't recall. I'm no expert but guessing you could potentially cause damage to the internals of a sprayer if you were to use it neat.