was contacted to wash a brick building that just went under some renovations. In the photos you will see the old brick and white paint on the bricks as well... they must have painted in the wind. I don't think this is a soft wash job... I'm thinking it may really need power washing an an acid wash.... thoughts.

Some other photos

Art even when I rotate them they still post sideways as well. Hmmm

Pat, I use Enviro klean from PROSOCO once.

Borrowed from cousin but I know Sherwilliams carries their products so you can ask them to order it

Except for the paint splatter I would soft wash all the way. The results will be better and last longer.

Sorry, the system changed the order the pictures go in

Agreed, try softwash first but if it's more than Gloe than step it up with a stronger mix like sodium mescalate  (fake TSP since TSP is banned here) With smooth brick SW with garden hose pressure usually is fine but deep pitted, coarse type brick I've found still needs higher pressure to clean out the "nooks & crannies"

Do the booster pumps come " on demand " or still no?

Anytime you can softwash brick it is a plus. Brick and mortar done in the last 50 years will many times will handle the higher PSI without issue,.At face value that is,....But the problem comes after you leave,..when high PSI (2000-3000) is used on brick there is a possibility it will cause efflorescence down the road. A fan pattern and 1000 PSI is usually not an issue,..and is still enough to help remove some of the more embedded grunge.

But I've had people call and ask me what the "white" stuff is on their brick,..I tell them it's likely efflorescence and confirm when I get there,...and almost everytime it's because someone or they themselves power washed the brick with high PSI,..they just didn't realize that's how efflorescence can happen.

Most anything on brick can be removed chemically and a little patience and not have to use high PSI.

*In fact,..many pressure washer people  should feel lucky customers aren't aware of what caused the unsightly patchy white haze all over their house or building,..not sure what would happen but I could see lawsuits being brought to some pressure washer services.   Because efflorescence is a never ending cycle,..and can be removed,..and will come right back,..best thing to do is apply a wet look sealer to hide it. 

Jeff

Hey Maverick,..yea,.the matte would be better for sure. Will keep that in mind,..thanks!

Jeff

Great information Jeff and Maverick. I tried several test spots today on this building with a 50/50 mix with negative results. Don't get me wrong the green algae died but not this deep embedded black in the crevasses, even after rinsing nothing budged. I left a coat of mix on to dwell over night I will check it in the morning. I think I am going to pass on the job for several reasons # 1 It really is out of my ability, it needs experience that I just don't have at this time, as Clint Eastwood once said " A man has to know his limitations # 2 It is a large three story building, where the painters have gotten paint splattered all over the bricks. #3 It is right on the corner of a busy street with business, shopping, restaurants and constant pedestrian and vehicular traffic, today pedestrian traffic was an issue just for the test spot. It may be best to drape the building working behind a wall keeping it from getting airborne. I have a close up of the black on the bricks I will try to post below.

Hey Patrick,.unless that "blackening" is part of the bricks color,..which I doubt ,....what you're showing in the picture needs acid washed with a product like Diedrich 101,..I'm sure there are other products as well. Actually,..an aluminum brightener with HF will work. I have done probably 15 or so of these brick jobs over the years,..and to do them "right" takes a chemical designed for the job. 

If you would use the proper cleaner at a a strong mixture 1:3 or even 50/50 ,..you could use around 1000 PSI to remove the embedded darkening. You could actually use less PSI,.but using more PSI allows you to take a wider swath and be effective,..so in reality,..what would be hitting the surface would be more like 400-500 PSI I suppose,..that's just a guess,..but you know what I mean.

The next time I do one I am going to two-step with acid and then the Purple Power over that,..I think it will work the same as any other two-stepping.

Now,.with what you described as to what the job entails,..I'd either make a good plan,..and definitely charge enough. Worse you can do is not get the job. Is how I look at these,Or,.I'd walk. And do it in the rain if possible!!

I have acid washed numerous  vinyl houses in congested areas this way, vinyl houses get that same grunge on them ,..usually shows up under the soffit,..but I have done many houses where almost the whole houses needed acid washed,..in fact I have one starting up this next season. Regular house wash chemicals will not remove this grunge I'm talking about.  Many times it will only be under the soffit or on any siding that may be under roof and has collected this grunge over the years,..sometimes I'll just dip a brush and run it over the bad areas,..doesn't always need sprayed. But I have been two-stepping them mostly these days,..takes a lot of work out of it. 

Due to the HF use proper PPE.

*As mentioned above,..when I do these acid washes,..I always do them in the rain,..keeps everything wet,..keeps the acid misting knocked down,..and best of all,..there aren't as many people out walking around. May not always work out due to lack of rain,..but I try to do them in the rain.

**The first few brick jobs were in congested areas,..and we applied the acid with rollers,..Ha,Ha,..what a PITA.

***Two-stepping also  neutralizes the acid.  

Jeff