How to Pressure-Wash a Brick House
Brick homes are elegant and sturdy. Brick is a strong building material and holds up well to external elements. However, like any object left outside, brick can become dirty. Over time, this dirt will begin to erode the brick. One way to clean the brick is by using a pressure washer. When pressure-washing brick, it is best to use a psi between 500 and 1000. Using pressure above 1500 psi can cause damage to the brick. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Set your pressure washer to a low pressure setting. Stand approximately 3 feet from the house and spray the water onto the brick. Work from the bottom of the wall up. Move the sprayer slowly back and forth; do not hold it in one place.
-
2
Prepare the cleaning detergent according to the manufacturer's directions. Pour the mixture into the cleaning solution tank on your pressure washer. Make sure the solution you use is formulated for pressure washers and safe to use on brick.
-
-
3
Spray the detergent onto the brick with light pressure. Again, work from the bottom of the wall up. There are brush attachments available. Use these to scrub any area which has stuck-on dirt. Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding how long the detergent should sit on the brick.
-
4
Flush out any detergent left in the pressure washer. Rinse the detergent off the brick using light pressure. Work from the top of the wall down. Position the sprayer close enough to the wall that the spray covers only 3 layers of brick. Move the sprayer back and forth over the brick to remove all the detergent.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Do any mortar repair before pressure-washing your home. Allow the mortar to dry for one week before pressure-washing.
If a white powder appears on your bricks once they have dried, apply an efflorescence remover by hand.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
