Cleaning Red Brick walls

BraveDonut

Can anyone tell me the best way to restore the colour on these bricks?

It seems that all of the houses in the estate that face a certain direction are being affected in the same way by the weather.

I tried a power washer but it had no effect.

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058246374/cleaning-red-brick-walls

They are fine just leave it and anyway if you do one house it wont fit in..

10-10-20

That white powdery finish is called efflorescence. Does it look better when the brick is wet and then dry back with that white powdery form?

A few methods of cleaning it are here:

https://etbricks.co.uk/brick-articles/efflorescence-on-bricks-the-causes-prevention-and-cure/

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119081236#Comment_119081236

Thanks interesting article... Have you any idea what causes the red coming through plaster...

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119081836#Comment_119081836

Do you mean the red colouring on external cement finishes which is commonly observed on gable walls in the West of Ireland?

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119081850#Comment_119081850

Absolutely yes... i was not aware only in west of Irl...

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119081836#Comment_119081836

Probably red algae on the surface of the render.

grows on damp shaded walls , wash off with bleach .

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119082045#Comment_119082045

It's a red alge. Very common in the West, but not exclusive to there.

Try this thread:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2057557804/algae-on-walls

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119082268#Comment_119082268

What causes red algae i am wondering... i think likely construction material...

Tree

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119082577#Comment_119082577

Blows in on the wind, algae spores are tiny.

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119082282#Comment_119082282

That thread does not know the cause either...

10-10-20

https://www.google.com/search?q=red+alge+on+walls

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119083892#Comment_119083892

I did not ask for solution... does anyone know the cause of this...

seamus

What do you mean the cause? The man says it above. It's red algae, it's a form of life. The spores can come from anywhere, blown in on the wind, falling in the rain, etc. Parts of walls which remain very wet for prolonged periods (e.g. exposed north-facing walls) are susceptible to the spores finding a foothold and growing. They can sustain themselves on the nutrients naturally found in the water.

It's a bit of a snowballing problem once it starts. The presence of the algae allows for more water to be held against the wall, and these algae produce spores, which are carried further down the wall by the running water, hence the familiar streaking appearance that it takes on.

BraveDonut

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119081214#Comment_119081214

Not all of the house is red brick.

If my neighbours won't paint their house I should not do it so that I fit in too?

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084657#Comment_119084657

Its entirely up to you as you can paint over if you please... i was trying to say i would not be unduly concerned about it...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084057#Comment_119084057

Thanks i was not aware that red algae was the name of an actual marine plant... that makes sense as it is usually more prevealent around the coast...

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084763#Comment_119084763

"Marine" nothing. Actually reading the content of what's provided is a time-proven method of education.

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084920#Comment_119084920

10-10-20 what are you on about... sounds like fertilizer...