Keep your Brick Beautiful
Good old fashioned brick remains one of the most modular and popular materials for driveways and facades all around the world. It's no wonder, either: bricks have a lasting appeal and a rustic charm that never goes out of style. There's a caveat to all of this -- just because it feels rustic doesn't mean it should age like something rustic. Sure, a lot of brick's charm comes from the way that it ages, but if you don't take care of it now, that "old-world charm" is going to look more like a ruins.
The Science behind Bricks
Brick is very, very porous, and that means that it's going to soak up a ton of rain-water and gather mold and mildew pretty quickly (if the weather permits). If you've noticed chalky white residue growing around your bricks, that's natural. Any water that evaporates from the bricks will extract the natural salts from inside. That white substance is called "efflorescence," and it's essentially just hyper-concentrated salt. The second thing you'll probably notice is the mild green splotches on brick-faces or in the grout. That's mildew and mold, and the longer you let that go without cleaning, the more time it has to grow and ruin the look of your investment.
How to Clean and Revitalize your Brick
No, no... you don't need a pressure washer to clean brick. In fact, you run the risk of damaging the masonry joints by "etching" or high pressure. You can, of course, pressure wash if you'd like, but we're going to teach you a different way that will help you get the mold and mildew out while you clean off dirt and debris.
Disclaimer: Chlorine and other cleaning solutions can cause severe allergic reactions. Before working with harsh chemicals, be sure to wear the necessary protective gear like gloves and goggles, and make sure that you are not sensetive to these materials. Also be sure to spot-check your brick with bleach to ensure that your particular brick is not weak or sensitive to harsh chemicals.
Grab a bucket, some bleach, and water.
For mold and mildew, bleach is going to be your strongest weapon. Mix one cup of bleach with one gallon of water. This ratio assures you've got enough power, but also that it's mild enough to not damage any surfaces.
Use a pump or sprayer to coat the brick surface.
First, wet the wall so that the water can soak in. This opens up the pores for the interaction with the bleach. It's important that the whole working area is thoroughly soaked before you continue.
Spray your mixture on the soaked wall. Let it sit for a small amount of time. The bleach needs to get into the pores to interact with the mold and mildew. Make sure that you've given the brick a good soaking. Warning: do not let the bleach dry at this point. Letting the bleach dry can lead to damage.
Scrub with a stiff-bristled Brush (NOT STEEL)
Some of the stains and mildew will be weakened by the bleach completely and come off without any resistance. Other set-in mold and mildew might require some elbow grease.
Rinse!
This is the most important part of the process! Make sure that every bit of surface you've worked on is rinsed thuroughly. Any bleached areas should be rinsed carefully to assure that no bleach has dried on. Bleach can damage and weaken surfaces, so make sure that you rinse thoroughly.
Post-cleaning Considerations
The above is strictly maintenance, and taking care of your brick will stretch its lifespan for years and years. The next big step in the process is prevention. If you'd like to keep your brick cleaner and protected for longer, consider a sealant.
Sealant helps protect the brick from common elements and prevents the pores from being filled with water, thus reducing the chances of mold and mildew growing.
Time for new material?
If you think that your current pavers or brick need a facelift, it might be time to invest in new materials. Sometimes, driveways and walls are beyond saving and it's a wiser choice to get an all-new installation.
At Pan American Marble and Stone, we've got the widest selection of bricks and pavers in one place. Our Medley, Florida showroom hs been revamped to include a wide variety of new samples, and we're proud to say we've got the biggest variety of natrual stone, pavers, marble, and brick all in one place!
If you think it's time to kick your home improvement into overdrive, let's talk! You can contact us here via email or phone, or you can come right over to our Medley, Florida showroom.
