Brickwork Pressure Washing

Brick is one of the most forgiving exterior surfaces, but even good brickwork can look tired after a few decades of weather, traffic dirt and atmospheric pollution. Salt blooming (efflorescence), water staining, mould, lichen, old paint splashes and graffiti all dull what should be a strong, characterful surface. The good news is that brick takes a properly executed clean better than almost any other material — and the difference is often dramatic.

We pressure wash brickwork on houses, shops, offices and industrial units across the North East. Modern brick, Victorian stock brick, reclaimed brick and engineering brick — we match the technique to the substrate.

What we remove from brickwork

• Efflorescence (salt staining) — the white, chalky bloom that appears on new and damp brick. Removed with specialist chemical cleaners followed by a careful rinse.
• Lichen and moss — biocide-treated then washed off.
• Mould and mildew — usually on shaded north-facing walls. Treated and rinsed.
• Atmospheric pollution and traffic dirt — particularly on roadside facades.
• Old paint and emulsion splashes — chemically softened and pressure-rinsed.
• Graffiti — see our dedicated graffiti removal page.
• Tar and bitumen splashes.
• Smoke and soot stains — typically after a fire or from chimneys.

Brick types and our approach

Modern wire-cut and pressed bricks are very tough and tolerate higher pressure. Older Victorian and Edwardian stock bricks vary enormously — some are fired hard, others are softer and need a much gentler hand. Reclaimed bricks tend to be the softest and most porous of all. Engineering bricks and blue bricks are virtually bombproof.

We test pressure and detergent on a hidden area of every job before we commit. The aim is to lift surface contamination without etching or pitting the brick face. The mortar joints are usually the weakest part, so we work parallel to them rather than into them.

Salt staining (efflorescence)

Efflorescence is the white powdery deposit that appears on the face of brickwork, particularly on new builds in their first year or two. It happens when soluble salts in the brick or mortar dissolve in water and migrate to the surface, where the water evaporates and leaves the salt behind. It's harmless, but it looks awful.

Light efflorescence often brushes off, but heavier deposits need a chemical clean — a controlled application of an acidic cleaner that dissolves the salts, followed by a thorough water rinse to neutralise. We always pre-wet the brickwork before applying any chemical, which prevents the cleaner soaking in and causing burn marks.

Paint and graffiti on brick

Removing paint or graffiti from brick is one of the trickier jobs in our trade because brick is so porous — paint sinks into the surface and isn't easy to lift cleanly. We use a graduated approach: a soft solvent first, more aggressive chemicals only if the soft approach doesn't work, and pressure washing as the final step. On listed or sensitive brickwork we use a poultice system that draws the paint out without abrasion.

We can almost always achieve a significant improvement, but on very old or absorbent brick a faint shadow may remain. We're upfront about this at the quote stage so you know what to expect.

Pointing and mortar joints

Mortar pointing is the weakest part of any brick wall. If your pointing is sound, pressure washing won't touch it. If the pointing is already failing — crumbling, soft or missing in places — washing can accelerate the damage. Our team always inspects pointing at the assessment stage. If we spot widespread failure, we'll recommend repointing before cleaning rather than washing first and finding holes afterwards.

We don't carry out repointing ourselves but we can recommend reliable local masons we've worked with for years.

Why brick comes up so well

Brick is a fired-clay product — it's hard, dimensionally stable and chemically inert. That means it tolerates a proper clean far better than render or painted surfaces. As long as the pressure is matched to the brick's hardness and the cleaner is appropriate, brick comes up looking practically new. The colour deepens, the texture sharpens, and even old, sooty buildings can look freshly built. It's one of the most rewarding before-and-after jobs we do.