Specs
Cleaning Instructions for Architectural Handmade Bricks & Pavers
Bricklayers must:
- Keep brick face as clean as possible while laying and tooling,
- Clean any dags and mortar smears before they set hard,and FOR BEST RESULTS use clean damp sponge as the brick laying progress daily after the mortar has firmed or gone off. .
Please contact us for a list of brick cleaners that we recommend these contacts for cleaning.They will be able to judge the best cleaning technique and chemicals (if any at all)to use now the bricklayer has finished.
Their cleaning process will depend on the state the bricklayer has left the brick.The cleaner the brickwork the better the finished result.
Pressure cleaning method is not a substitute for good building practice and hand cleaning methods. It should only be used after these procedures have been carried out if further cleaning is required.
Essential Preliminaries:
Thoroughly remove mortar smears and dags back to a flat surface with hand tools. Allow the mortar to harden for a minimum of seven days prior to pressure cleaning. Carry out a pressure cleaning trial on a typical but inconspicuous area and allow it to dry to determine the effectiveness of this cleaning method.
NOTE: If there is no inconspicuous area, a small wall could be constructed for this purpose. Pressure cleaning may be carried out with pressure not exceeding 7MPa (1000 psi) and volume not exceeding 20 litres/minute and fan jet of a minimum 40 degree width, held no closer than 500mm from the wall. Cleaning should be continuous and even.
NOTE: If this method is not totally successful, further hand cleaning and scraping should be carried out prior to further pressure cleaning.
Caution
High pressure water blasting can cause personal injury and damage masonry. Mortar joints can be blown out and face brickwork marked.
Zero degree or needle jets, narrow fan jets and turbo jets should not be used on brickwork because all concentrate the water pressure on too small an area which can cause damage.
Minimal pressure should be used to avoid mortar blowouts.
Experienced operators should carry out pressure cleaning in accordance with the above recommendations after appropriate trials have taken place.