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mike1986

  • Posts: 432
How do you clean this off brick?
« on: January 17, 2014, 06:40:42 pm »
Came accross this white, algae type substance on brick today and could hardly shift it at all, even with hydrochloric acid. Does anyone I know what it is and what removes it?  ??? Thanks

Rob_Mac

Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2014, 07:01:52 pm »
It starts with E, ends in E, has three other E's in it and two FF's, one V, one R, one S, one C and an N

Rob ;D

Tony Edwards

  • Posts: 791
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2014, 07:14:47 pm »


effervescence ?


Do I win a prize  :P

Rob_Mac

Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2014, 07:25:49 pm »
Tony

Get a can of coke from the fridge, shake it hard and open the can, you're very own fizz. The same as if you put some remover onto the problem.

The problem being it will be back so the OP needs to let the client know that

Rob ;D

mike1986

  • Posts: 432
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2014, 07:45:02 pm »
Ok so it's called efflorescence and its the salt content seeping out off the brick...got that...but how do you get rid of it? Is it just a case off scrubbing with a wire brush over and over? Although I know it will come back again.

Rob_Mac

Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2014, 07:46:49 pm »
Get some Effervthingy remover or strong brick acid, 30% that should shift it.

Chris's mate may be able to knock something up

Rob ;D

Matt Gibson

  • Posts: 2482
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2014, 08:31:10 pm »
Wet sand blast it.

BDCS

  • Posts: 4777
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2014, 10:07:17 pm »
Tony

Get a can of coke from the fridge, shake it hard and open the can, you're very own fizz. The same as if you put some remover onto the problem.

The problem being it will be back so the OP needs to let the client know that

Rob ;D

The clue is in the ingredients list - its not caramel or water or CO2 - phosphoric

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2014, 07:03:38 pm »
Efflorescence needs 3 things to manifest itself. Water Source, Salts and a Route. Remove any one or more of the 3 and the Efflorescence is sorted. If it's fresh kill one of the 3 elements and then dry brush it off or ice blast it and it's sorted.  Pressure wash it or just wash it and your feeding it. It is that simple guys.

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics Ltd
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

Darranvps

Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2014, 07:38:26 pm »
Efflorescence needs 3 things to manifest itself. Water Source, Salts and a Route. Remove any one or more of the 3 and the Efflorescence is sorted. If it's fresh kill one of the 3 elements and then dry brush it off or ice blast it and it's sorted.  Pressure wash it or just wash it and your feeding it. It is that simple guys.

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics Ltd

Great way of putting it !

chris scott

  • Posts: 3414
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2014, 08:10:36 pm »
Walk away from that one....you wont get rid of it.
www.cleaning-service.uk.com
www.render-cleaning.co
https://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/bromoco-systems/
Exterior cleaning specialists covering Merseyside,Lancashire and Cheshire. TEL 08000 933267

B Bailey

  • Posts: 198
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2014, 09:44:50 pm »
Surely your mate can knock something up in his shed to sort this out.

chris scott

  • Posts: 3414
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #12 on: January 19, 2014, 10:12:24 pm »
Surely your mate can knock something up in his shed to sort this out.
No that needs a different approach to sort out that problem. No amount of chemicals,scrubbing or ice blasting( ;D) will fix that.
www.cleaning-service.uk.com
www.render-cleaning.co
https://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/bromoco-systems/
Exterior cleaning specialists covering Merseyside,Lancashire and Cheshire. TEL 08000 933267

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #13 on: January 20, 2014, 08:40:24 am »
Surely your mate can knock something up in his shed to sort this out.
No that needs a different approach to sort out that problem. No amount of chemicals,scrubbing or ice blasting( ;D) will fix that.

There will come a time in your life when you will get fed up with talking about stuff that you know nothing about. Do you ever get fed up with talking nonsense? Try and bear in mind people may be daft and naive enough to listen to your rambling
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

chris scott

  • Posts: 3414
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #14 on: January 20, 2014, 05:07:14 pm »
Surely your mate can knock something up in his shed to sort this out.
No that needs a different approach to sort out that problem. No amount of chemicals,scrubbing or ice blasting( ;D) will fix that.

There will come a time in your life when you will get fed up with talking about stuff that you know nothing about. Do you ever get fed up with talking nonsense? Try and bear in mind people may be daft and naive enough to listen to your rambling

Kelvin.....You obviously have not reached that time yet then...have you?



Look at the picture I don't see a traditional damp coarse.
I do see "new" hardcore that might have breached the damp coarse.
The area is green with algae ...this tells me it is continuously wet ...possibly from the lack of damp coarse or other?
Is the area north facing..in the shade of trees/building ,are there dripping gutters,leaking overflows?
You need to address the problem that is causing the efflorescence before cleaning the area up.The clean up is easy.
Do the job properly the customer will remember you for that.
Ice blasting will remove the soiling ...very expensive. B&Q for some brick acid will get the same results for a tenner.
That or my mate (in his shed) makes a very good salt neutraliser  ;D
www.cleaning-service.uk.com
www.render-cleaning.co
https://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/bromoco-systems/
Exterior cleaning specialists covering Merseyside,Lancashire and Cheshire. TEL 08000 933267

Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #15 on: January 20, 2014, 05:51:59 pm »
Surely your mate can knock something up in his shed to sort this out.
No that needs a different approach to sort out that problem. No amount of chemicals,scrubbing or ice blasting( ;D) will fix that.

There will come a time in your life when you will get fed up with talking about stuff that you know nothing about. Do you ever get fed up with talking nonsense? Try and bear in mind people may be daft and naive enough to listen to your rambling

Kelvin.....You obviously have not reached that time yet then...have you?

Look at the picture I don't see a traditional damp coarse.
I do see "new" hardcore that might have breached the damp coarse.
The area is green with algae ...this tells me it is continuously wet ...possibly from the lack of damp coarse or other?
Is the area north facing..in the shade of trees/building ,are there dripping gutters,leaking overflows?
You need to address the problem that is causing the efflorescence before cleaning the area up.The clean up is easy.
Do the job properly the customer will remember you for that.
Ice blasting will remove the soiling ...very expensive. B&Q for some brick acid will get the same results for a tenner.
That or my mate (in his shed) makes a very good salt neutraliser  ;D

Christine

Now READ THIS AGAIN!!!  NOT SELECTIVELY!! WORD BY WORD FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND TOP TO BOTTOM!

You will then possibly realise that you have just repeated what I said ::)roll ::)roll ::)roll

1.  "Efflorescence needs 3 things to manifest itself"
2.   "Water Source, Salts and a Route"
3.   " Remove any one or more of the 3 and the Efflorescence is sorted"
4.   " If it's fresh kill one of the 3 elements"
5.   " And then dry brush it off or ice blast it and it's sorted"
6.   "  Pressure wash it or just wash it and your feeding it. It is that simple guys."

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics Ltd
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics

chris scott

  • Posts: 3414
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #16 on: January 20, 2014, 06:07:00 pm »
Kelvin ...please don't shout it upsets me.  :'(
www.cleaning-service.uk.com
www.render-cleaning.co
https://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/bromoco-systems/
Exterior cleaning specialists covering Merseyside,Lancashire and Cheshire. TEL 08000 933267

SmartSeal

  • Posts: 8
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #17 on: January 23, 2014, 01:45:21 pm »
Almost certainly it is Efflorescense (salts in the brick) can be very difficult to remove as often, literally as fast as you get rid of it, more leeches out through the brickwork, particuarly if there is damp in the wall. Repeated treatment with efflorescence remover and then sealing it will definitely help, if not cure the problem
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Kev Martin

  • Posts: 6954
Re: How do you clean this off brick?
« Reply #18 on: January 23, 2014, 06:04:28 pm »
Almost certainly it is Efflorescense (salts in the brick) can be very difficult to remove as often, literally as fast as you get rid of it, more leeches out through the brickwork, particuarly if there is damp in the wall. Repeated treatment with efflorescence remover and then sealing it will definitely help, if not cure the problem

It is not salts in the brick it is in the mortar.  Any repeated treatment with anything wet will feed it including so called efflorescence remover (Acid Based or Abrasive Cleaner)!  No amount of sealer will stop Efflorescence period.   All it does is slows the route down but believe me if you don't stop the source you will never stop Efflorescence.

I have seen efflorescence push its way up through quarry tiles , then spall the face off and then push through 5 coats of Ronseal Yacht Varnish.  Nothing stops nature taking it's course.

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics Ltd
"Natural Stone Restoration Specialists" Tel: 0121 773 9129
www.tilinglogistics.co.uk | www.marblelife.co.uk  http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tiling-Logistics