Clean It Up

UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Billy Russell on March 15, 2006, 10:32:06 pm

Title: Brick Cleaning
Post by: Billy Russell on March 15, 2006, 10:32:06 pm

Please can somebody out there help me i,ve been doing builders cleans for awhile but i've now been asked to do some brick cleaning and i'm unsure how to go about it!!!! :-[

Title: Re: Brick Cleaning
Post by: therapist on March 15, 2006, 10:44:37 pm

there are chemicals specifically for the job but it's years since I used them.

suggest you try PLATFORM or other builders merchants.

There is a huge market for this work which could be worth exploring, it's not for me, as I already have too many irons in the fire.

rob m

Title: Re: Brick Cleaning
Post by: Billy Russell on March 15, 2006, 10:47:39 pm

i'm just unsure of the procedure and i'm worried about cocking up!!! i dont want to lose this contract as theres a few more phases to go

Title: Re: Brick Cleaning
Post by: preston powerblast on March 15, 2006, 11:30:34 pm

Is it new brick or old brick?

Title: Re: Brick Cleaning
Post by: martin19842 on March 16, 2006, 09:08:56 pm

hi there

most of the brick cleaning on sites, is done with a pressure washer and brick acid,  purely to get the snots of mortar off the bricks. 

the weird thing is, that years ago they never did this, they built the houses properly.

you will see guys on sites with pressure washers and extended lances.

we would never touch it, acid cleaning the brick work is a pain in the ----

regards

martin

Title: Re: Brick Cleaning
Post by: preston powerblast on March 16, 2006, 09:47:39 pm

In the old days, especially in victorian times they never used cement they just used lime and sand to set bricks. So rainwater or a brush just cleaned them.
I love new build cleans, I never use an extended lance because you cant get the desired results.
You need a good powered machine with a pencil jet or a turbo nozzle if you know what you are doing.
A backpack pump sprayer 25 litres of brick acid and away you go.
But when cleaning new houses its best not to be over zealous as you pull out the mortar or even worse damage the brick.
Its always best to wash down new houses before applying any sort of brick acid as this prevents any staining.
But public liability and method insurance is a must, because the last thing you want to do is to cause damage to £500,000 house.
I wont say its easy because its not, but the results are instant and you get a great sense of achievement. (maybe I am sad)
Its cleaning of old brick thats the pain, I usually recommend a sandblaster.

Title: Re: Brick Cleaning
Post by: Billy Russell on March 17, 2006, 09:44:33 am

just got back online so i just wanted to thank you all the info has been fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D