New Build Brick Cleaning
Commercial Buildings
I think it would be safe to say that we don't particularly like doing new build brick cleaning! Unlike most of our works, it is done towards the end of main contractor's contract. This means two things... firstly that the whole site is in a fever of 'completion' with jobs being done everywhere - so access to the bricks can be complicated because the scaffolding has come down, block paving is being laid etc. Secondly there is a risk, as we found with a job in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in 2007, that the end customer doesn't actually want the building, and will go to great lengths to avoid paying for it - to the level of asking for 'just a bit more' cleaning of the bricks.. leaving the brick cleaner stuck between a rock and a hard place!
Typically, as in the picture above, a pressure washer and a bit of brick acid, will suffice.
Sand Jet
This was a job in Telford, Shropshire, where again the foreman just wanted 'a little more cleaning' to be satisfied - and the risk, that came to pass on this job, that it was pushed too far and pointing damage started to happen. Much mortar staining will go with a bit of time, we can accelerate the process with brick acids and the sand jet - but each and every pass is causing a small amount of excess weathering!
The Sand Jet in Action
The sand jet does provide a very effective way of removing stubborn mortar - but should be used once and once only on a building - we can see what we are achieving as we go! This property was near Lincoln.
The sand jet can safely and rapidly remove mortar stains from soft surfaces like Artstone - this one in Whitby, North Yorkshire.
Paint Spills
And where the sand jet particularly wins is the ability to remove surface stains, such as this one, from a new build property in York.
Key Benefits
- The low pressures mean that the system is gentle enough to clean delicate surfaces, yet powerful enough to strip multiple layers of dirt in one pass.
- It is not a chemical process so no noxious or harmful slurries or fumes are generated.
- Meeting the requirements of BS 8221-1&2 :2000 the British Standard Code of Practice for Cleaning Building Surfaces