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Red Brick Patio
- Thread starter Tim Smith
- Start date
Mike Hughes
New Member
I've cleaned some pretty nasty brick patios with no chemicals at all.
On a few occasions I sprayed down some dilluted bleach (50/50)...........
There is one patio I clean every April for the last four years, this last time, I sprayed down some percarbonate deck cleaner and some detergent........and it cleaned up pretty good.
Did one last week that was really bad, but I used a surface cleaner and hot water on that one (not an option for you). That worked great..........but most of the time I don't bother with heat.
Keep in mind you dont have to get a brick patio to be totally flawless............anything you do is going to be a drastic improvement.
Just make sure you lower your pressure down a bit if you can..........you dont really need 3000psi to wash brick. Use a larger tip to cut the pressure down, or a dual lance wand.
On a few occasions I sprayed down some dilluted bleach (50/50)...........
There is one patio I clean every April for the last four years, this last time, I sprayed down some percarbonate deck cleaner and some detergent........and it cleaned up pretty good.
Did one last week that was really bad, but I used a surface cleaner and hot water on that one (not an option for you). That worked great..........but most of the time I don't bother with heat.
Keep in mind you dont have to get a brick patio to be totally flawless............anything you do is going to be a drastic improvement.
Just make sure you lower your pressure down a bit if you can..........you dont really need 3000psi to wash brick. Use a larger tip to cut the pressure down, or a dual lance wand.
Mike
I am going to use my house wash mix.
5 gal bucket -- 2 gal bleach, half gal of surface cleaner.
I think it will work. Thanks so much for your input. You always seem to reply to my questions no matter how stupid they may appear. I really appreciate it. I have learned so much from reading your comments and others. Thanks.
I let you know how it works.
ps I'm going to use a 25 degree tip to start.
Will the bleach whiten the mortar?
I am going to use my house wash mix.
5 gal bucket -- 2 gal bleach, half gal of surface cleaner.
I think it will work. Thanks so much for your input. You always seem to reply to my questions no matter how stupid they may appear. I really appreciate it. I have learned so much from reading your comments and others. Thanks.
I let you know how it works.
ps I'm going to use a 25 degree tip to start.
Will the bleach whiten the mortar?
Mike Hughes
New Member
The bleach might whiten the mortar.........we'll see.
Try a 40° if you have one.
Try a 40° if you have one.
The patio looked so much better. Did not get as clean as I would like, but customer was very happy.
Lesson learned - Crack mortar will blow out. I mention in the contract that crack mortar was noted, but should have mention that mortar may become loose and blow out.
Customer was so happy that she did not mind - It may have helped that I washed her front steps & porch and knock off a small patch of mold off her vinyl as an extra. I always try to do a little extra touch - Customers seem to love it. Customer for life is my goal.
Lesson learned - Crack mortar will blow out. I mention in the contract that crack mortar was noted, but should have mention that mortar may become loose and blow out.
Customer was so happy that she did not mind - It may have helped that I washed her front steps & porch and knock off a small patch of mold off her vinyl as an extra. I always try to do a little extra touch - Customers seem to love it. Customer for life is my goal.