Brick, stone, and concrete are all exposed to outside elements and constant weather which causes these materials to age and slowly break down over the years. All masonry structures will eventually need some cleaning and restoration at some point over the life span of these materials.
First, we will start with a basic water cleaning
to determine how much of the dirt and grime may be simply removed without using additives or chemicals. Many times the majority of dingy grime and build up may be removed with a steady stream of water and a stiff bristle brush; however, using a pressure washer may allow for deeper cleaning across a larger surface
Please take caution prior to blasting
any masonry surface with a pressure wash as damage may occur causing the surrounding brick and mortar to break and fall out. Typically, most masonry surfaces clean up the best using a combination of water and an acid based solution. Always add your acid base product to a larger quantity of water when mixing up the masonry cleaning solution.
Sure klean and traditional muriatic acid
are 2 of the most common cleaning agents used in today’s masonry cleaning and restoration. Regardless of which you choose, we highly recommend you test your cleaning solution on a small inconspicuous area of the masonry before applying it to a larger surface area to ensure the masonry surface is not damaged.
Sandblasting is another cleaning method
that is not recommended for brick or stone exteriors and should only be used as a last resort to remove paint and other products that will not come out with traditional masonry cleaning solutions. The problem with sand blasting is it completely removes the top surface and layers of brick causing it to begin spalling and slowly deteriorate over time. Sandblasted brick leaves the top surface extremely rough and will begin to spall, flake away, and rapidly disintegrate which limits the life span of the building material.
As you can see, there are several ways to go about cleaning and restoring your masonry surfaces and having an experienced professional is highly recommended in order to prevent damaging your building materials. Some surfaces will call for more or less of the acid based cleaning agent and understanding the proper mixing ratio is essential to achieving optimal results while minimizing any dangerous risk
Superior Masonry has years of experience assisting homeowners and commercial businesses with cleaning and restoring of masonry surfaces including home exteriors, decks, patios, walls, buildings, and other building structures. Give us a call today to schedule your on site consultation and discuss your cleaning and restoration needs.
Do you need masonry work in the DFW area?
Superior Masonry strives to help our customers with quality masonry work and excellent service.
If you need masonry work in the DFW area, please call, email, or use our online form to schedule your free estimate and consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!
972-433-9372 – info@superiormasonrydallas.com
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