Can You Power Wash a Brick House?

Can you power wash a brick house? Yes, but there are several things to consider when power washing brick. Brick is perhaps the strongest material for a home’s exterior, but safely washing it is a delicate matter. Brick is porous, just like concrete, so there is a risk of the bricks retaining water. Luckily, the surface is vertical, so it is less exposed to the elements than a driveway or patio. This post aims to effectively relay the dos and don’ts for power washing a brick house.

What to Avoid

Simply put, avoid high pressure. Pressure washing a brick house could cause any distressed brick to chip or recede. This can be tricky because removing the surface layer from several bricks could create the illusion of cleanliness instead of damage.

Another thing to avoid when cleaning brick siding is to avoid acid washing or any acidic cleansers like ammonia. An acidic cleanser like muriatic acid, for example, can eat away at the outer surface and chip away at the mortar.

Soft Washing Brick Homes

Since high pressure is not safe for cleaning brick siding, the recommended route is using a soft wash method. Soft washing leans on biodegradable cleansers that cut through surface contaminants. This is followed by a low-pressure rinse that effectively removes those contaminants and is safe for the brick. Soft washing is a specialized process and is best left to a fully insured professional power washing company. 

Article Source: https://perfectpowerwash.com/can-you-power-wash-a-brick-house/