Masonry and chemical cleaning are cornerstones of any building restoration. They help keep your building clean and prevent future biological growth and staining. Once build up on the masonry has occurred, it continues to grow faster and faster.
Once the brick, stone, and mortar have been cleaning, it is also a good time to apply a masonry sealer to further protect your building’s exterior.
Cleaning isn’t always expensive. It’s a great way to brighten up and refresh the exterior of your building. Chemical cleaning and washing will restore your building to it’s original elegance and character.
It’s always best to have an evaluation done before any cleaning is performed. Attempting to pressure wash or chemical clean your building could permanently stain and damage the facade.
Types of masonry cleaning
Hot pressure wash
Pressure washing is one of the most popular ways to clean a building. A standard pressure or power washer doesn’t always get the job done. A more specialized way to clean would be using a hot pressure washer. These machines heat up the water before spraying and can help remove stubborn stains and discoloration.
Chemical cleaning
Chemical cleaning can remove stubborn stains and help bring back the vibrant colors your building once had. Special care is needed for a chemical cleaning. Windows and door will need to be protected to ensure none of the mixture will get onto and damage the windows.
Improper application and mixtures of the solution can lead to permanent damage to your building’s facade. For the best results, it’s essential you have experts like us perform a chemical cleaning.
Acid wash
Sometimes stains are so stubborn that an acid wash is necessary. This is the most extreme form of cleaning and should only be left to professionals. Removing old mortar smears and masonry stains are the most popular uses for an acid wash.
Poorly executed masonry repair can lead to mortar smears and discoloration, making the mortar look sloppy. It’s essential you have experts like us perform your tuckpointing and masonry repairs.
Masonry cleaning
It can be difficult to determine when masonry and chemical cleaning is right for you. Here are some instances when a pressure wash, chemical clean, or acid wash is right for you.
- Biological growth
- Water stains
- Graffiti
- Mortar smears
- Efflorescence residue
- Before any sealer is applied
- After any tuckpointing
Before any cleaning
Pressure washing can potentially make stain worse and removal more difficult. The pressurized water can actually drive the stains further into the building. This makes the stain much more difficult to remove and can cause it to be permanent. Contact us to receive a free evaluation before you risk making your stains and discoloration permanent.