Brick and stone cleaning
Dirt, grime, soot and smoke on brick and stonework can build up over time. Such deposits are generally the result of long-term airborne deposits.
While acids arrive through rains, and can cause staining.
Aesthetic restoration
You may spend hours and hours repointing your walls, but lovely new lime pointing surrounding stained brick or blockwork can still make your efforts look a mess.
Restoring the visual appeal of your brick and/or stone work, removing unsightly stains and grime to reveals more of the originality and beauty, it also prolongs the lifespan of brick and stone, for the future.
Rainwater will run way faster from cleaner substrates than dirty ones, the freeze/thaw risks are reduced and therefore the risk of damage to the stonework, and spalling tobrickwok is also reduced by winter morning frosts.
Sandstone cleaning
Due to the natural porosity of sandstone, high pressuse water cleaning is not wise. Dry sweeping the sandstone surfaces, then wiping them with a damp cloth can help, but Don't use commercial cleaning agents, instead use a bit of dish soap, or a baking soda paste to clean tough stains, the baking soda will also absorb aswell as clean. Then hose down (not high pressure rinse) exterior surfaces, and finally use a plastic-bristle brush to scrub the surface clean.
Brick cleaning
Historic bricks were with different materials, and fired at lower temperatures. They often have softer, more porous surfaces that are vulnerable to damage from harsh cleaning methods. Inappropriate cleaning can strip away the brick’s protective outer layer, leading to moisture retention, crumbling, and long-term deterioration.
Preserving, and not damaging, historic bricks is time consuming so slow down. The goal is to clean the surface without harming the brick or mortar ensuring your building retains its historical integrity for years to come. So mechanical wheels and/or wire brushes are not recommended for newcomers because of the potential for damage.
Addressing your concerns
While beautiful lime repointing enhances your properties aesthetics, and helps to manage moisture movement, ensuring no freeze/thaw damage, stained bricks and stonework can detract from the overall aesthetic and attaract static moisturre which is open to freeze/thaw and associated spalling. Understanding these concerns and ensures your entire building looks exceptional: repointing is not just about the pointing, it's about the whole job.
Professional restoration
By using a hydrochloric acid based cleaning solution, not pure hydrochloric acid, in a controlled manner to safely and effectively dissolve the cement (cement means binder / adhesive, so can be either lime or OPC, as OPC starts out as lime (hence we dont fully agree with the vinegar test) you clean brick and stone, removing stubborn stains and accumulated grime. This method can be carefully applied to ensure optimal results without damaging the historic fabric of your building.
Achieving perfect aesthetics
Make the entire project look right.
By cleaning your brick and stonework, you not only improve its appearance but you also help the substrate to perform better against the elements in the long term, protecting your investment.