Brick cleaning is one of those jobs where the wrong approach can cause permanent damage. High-pressure washing strips the face off old soft brick. Harsh chemicals bleach the colour or open up the surface. I’ve cleaned up a lot of brickwork that’s been attacked with a pressure washer by someone who didn’t know what they were dealing with.
Before I touch anything I assess the brick type, the mortar, and what’s causing the staining. Pollution blackening needs a different treatment to paint, which is different again to salt efflorescence or rust staining. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
I always do a test patch first and show you the result before proceeding. If I’m not happy with how it’s responding I’ll tell you honestly rather than push ahead.
- Method selected for your specific brick and staining type
- No high-pressure washing on period brickwork — it strips the brick face
- Specialist chemical treatments for paint, pollution and salt staining
- Test patch carried out and approved before full works proceed
- Experienced with listed buildings and conservation area properties
“Chris is a craftsman and master pointer. He recently repointed the whole side of a building for me. It was complicated by the fact he first had to rectify someone else’s mistakes. He made a really beautiful job of it. Chris is also a delight to deal with, I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
— Gill Brown, Islington