Red Brick Patio

[Tim Smith]

Red Brick Patio - Dirt, grime, black spots, mold, mildew.

Would a percarbonate base cleaner work?

What cleaner would you suggest?

Should I neutralize with an oxalic acid?

Thanks

 

[Mike Smith]

Tim, I have cleaned brick for years and Ive never had much luck with the precarbonate cleaners on the brick without alot of mechanical work such as brushing with a stiff bristled brush. I use a bleach mix. One gallon bleach to 2 gallons water then downstream it on and let dwell for 5 mins but keep it wet with solution. Then I follow it with a good alkaline soap like you would use to clean houses or trucks. Allow that to dwell 5 mins then begin pressure washing with either surface cleaner or wand and you should have pretty good results. If the mold doesn't die apply a stronger mix up to 100% bleach downstreamed onto the suface but remember to rinse very very well.

 

[garland]

Brick

Tim:

Looks like only the Smith Boys are on this one

Might want to give Steve a call and try his House Helper, which is a sodium hypochlorite which did a fine job for me on a brick patio.

http://www.rowlettpressure.com/cleaners/index.html

Some Things I like about sodium hypochlorite are:
No worry about killing the plants
Don't have to worry about the Aluminum and Paint issues.

Good Luck....

Let us know how it turns out and what you used...

 

[Tim Smith]

Thanks

I'm doing the job this afternoon - I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm going to us the following mixture:

5gal bucket- two gal of bleach, 1/2 gal of house soap, 2 1/2 gal of water.

Spray on with surflo pump - let set for 10 minutes - Wash