How To Clean Brick-And-Mortar Surfaces

The thing about brick-and-mortar walls that are old and crumbly is that they can be a little difficult to clean. That is, there is a greater risk of damaging the surface, particularly the mortar. But, these are also highly porous surfaces that can absorb all sorts of dirt and dust stains. Basically, stone surfaces need to be cleaned often, but it needs to be done very delicately so you don't cause any damage to the mortar in particular.

Pressure Washers and Soaps

One of the most popular tools for cleaning bricks is the pressure washer. However, the pressure washer might be too powerful for your crumbling surface. You don't want to spray your bricks with so much pressure that you end up knocking the mortar out. But, if you use some basic soaps and cleaners, you can help break down the dirt and stains so you don't need to use quite as much pressure. You can also use bristled scrub brushes to help loosen the dirt before you spray it out. The best thing to do is to simply test it in a discreet area. You want to see what cleaning supplies work best and how much pressure to apply before you can start to spray the wall with a pressure washer.

TSP

Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is one of the most-trusted heavy-duty surface cleaners. It can be used to break down stubborn dirt and liquid stains. It is very strong and it doesn't stain surfaces.

Sealing Brick and Mortar

After you have finished cleaning your brick wall as well as possible, you might want to seal it to help keep it cleaner in the long run. That is, a brick sealant can create a thin layer that shields the brick and mortar to prevent it from absorbing dirt. Importantly, this sealant doesn't alter the texture or glossiness of the brick. It is completely clear and invisible. The sealant will basically make it so your wall stays cleaner so you won't have to spend so much time in the future on intense cleaning methods.

As you can see, brick-and-mortar services are extremely long-lasting and durable, but they can be a little fragile if they are not cleaned and maintained properly. A little bit of DIY maintenance importantly going to prevent the formation of structural issues that can be very costly and difficult to have repaired. Even the simple DIY cleaning and sealing of your wall could be a money-saving investment.

Get in touch with a company such as Mercer County Chimney Services for more information.