Bricks are a classic choice for home exteriors. They have a rustic appeal to them, and when they are clean, they have a striking red color that brings out the best in your property. However, over time, it’s very likely that your bricks will become dirty. Efflorescence might be the culprit, too. This chalky white substance steals away your home’s beauty and leaves it looking less than appealing to your guests. The question is, how can you solve this problem? In this blog, you’ll learn how to remove efflorescence from brick on your own—no professionals required.
Of course, if you do want professional help, we are here to serve you. We are Pristine Clean Exteriors, a locally owned pressure washing business, and it’s always our pleasure to make the Rogers, AR community a cleaner, more beautiful place.
What Is Efflorescence Anyway?
Before you can learn how to remove efflorescence from brick, you have to understand what you’re up against. As famously stated by G.I. Joe, “knowing is half the battle”. Efflorescence is a white, powdery film that appears on brick. It’s caused by moisture in the bricks dissolving the salts inside. The water then comes to the bricks’ surfaces and creates deposits of this unwanted debris. At first, you might not notice efflorescence on your bricks, but as time goes on, it becomes more and more obvious, eventually reducing your home’s curb appeal.
Removing efflorescence from brick can be challenging, but it certainly isn’t impossible. In fact, with pressure washing and a few other techniques, you’ll be able to restore even the chalkiest bricks to their former glory. Keep reading to learn more.
Start With a Dry Brush Test
Depending on how much efflorescence is on your bricks, pressure washing might not even be necessary. We recommend starting off with a dry brush test. Using a stiff nylon brush, scrub the brick in circular motions. This should remove some of the efflorescence, which you can sweep or vacuum up. If this is enough to solve the problem, that’s great! You’ve just restored your brick in a matter of minutes.
However, dry brushing won’t always be enough to resolve the situation. If brushing didn’t improve the appearance of the bricks, it’s time to go the extra mile. Chemical treatment and pressure washing will be the correct path forward.
Chemically Treating Bricks
So, dry brushing wasn’t enough to solve the problem. Don’t worry, though, because it’s time to learn how to remove efflorescence from brick via alternative methods. The first thing you’ll need to do is weaken efflorescence chemically. Begin by wetting the bricks with a hose. Then, apply a masonry-safe chemical to the bricks. We recommend citric acid, though you can also use a vinegar-and-water solution. Simply mix the two in a 1:1 ratio.
After applying the chemical to the bricks, wait ten to fifteen minutes for it to weaken efflorescence. Then, you can use your nylon brush to further break down this unwanted debris. With all these steps complete, the stage has been set for successful pressure washing.
Pressure Washing Bricks
When learning how to remove efflorescence from brick via pressure washing, it’s important that you never use more water pressure than necessary. This is because mortar is actually much more fragile than you might have first thought. If you damage mortar, you’ll increase the likelihood of bricks losing their grip on each other, too. Never use more than 500 PSI when rinsing brick—this ensures safe results.
When pressure washing brick walls, we recommend working in a row-by-row pattern. This makes it easy to keep track of what you’ve already cleaned and what still needs your attention. Of course, you’ll also be able to tell based on the appearance of your bricks. If they have been pressure washed, they will be brighter and more beautiful than ever before.
Preventing Efflorescence From Returning
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so how can you stop efflorescence from appearing on your bricks again? While you can’t completely prevent this problem, you can mitigate the risks. We’ve included a few tips for your consideration below.
- Fix water leaks and drainage issues. Efflorescence is the result of moisture inside your bricks, and by mitigating this moisture, you’ll prevent its consequences. Plus, repairing water leaks will save you money on utility bills.
- Keep sprinklers away from walls. If your sprinklers are spraying your bricks, consider adjusting the angle of their spray. That way, you can hydrate your plants instead of damaging your bricks.
- Consider a masonry sealer. You can prevent future moisture damage and efflorescence with masonry sealer. This substance is evenly applied to brick and hardens into a protective barrier that shields the surface from harm.
Other Benefits of Pressure Washing Bricks
During your project, you may notice that pressure washing bricks has many other helpful benefits. Of course, this process doesn’t just remove efflorescence. It also gets rid of many other unwanted substances, such as moss, mold, and algae. This drastically improves the appearance of your home and even prevents surface damage!
For a better-looking, longer-lasting home exterior, cleaning your bricks is the way to go. In fact, we recommend that you do this work once per year. So, if it’s been more than a year since your house was washed, what are you waiting for? Get started today and reap the benefits!
Consider Professional Pressure Washing
If you don’t know how to remove efflorescence from brick and don’t want to do the work on your own, consider professional pressure washing. That way, instead of going through this difficult process on your own, you can sit back and relax! The professionals at Pristine Clean Exteriors would be happy to help you. We have plenty of experience in house washing, and it would be our pleasure to serve you next. Contact us online to request a free cost estimate. Then, choose a time and date for your appointment, and we will be there in the near future to make your bricks spotless.
