I don’t do alot of brick laying but my neigbor has decided to do his own. The brick is red and especially where he interlaced it with the original the mortar has stained the brick. Is this something that can be cleaned up easily. On the little jobs I did I used muriatic acid and a lot of protective gear. Will a pressure washer do it or is he is for a lot of hand scrubbing with something? I also wondered if he shouldn’t be soaking the brick before laying? This is nice dry Denver and a wet brick wouldn’t suck the moisture out of the mortar as fast.
Then he came over and asked about a way to support the brick (3-4 courses) over his window. Help yourself to this angle I salvaged says I but he thinks 3/16″ thick legs are too much. Go to FineHomebuilding and ask–but he’s shy. Not me.
Just want to walk to his barbie and not get hit with flying brick
Thanks, Tyr
Replies
Use muriatic acid 10%, scrub, then wash.
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He said the instuctions that came with the brick said not to use muriatic acid. Been drying for about 2 weeks now and looks like hell. I just happened to have some so I offerred it to him but..... Maybe the brick maker just wants to cut out some potential liability. Now maybe my sidegrinder with a heavy brush.......... Thanks,
Tyr
the brick companies sell an acid that is safe for bricks, so ask the brick supplier
hydrochloric then
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Pine Hall Brick recomends some other acid ,or a brick cleaner. It was not Hydocloric and they said not to use miriatic. I 'll have to check tomarrow.
Makes little difference. The mortar isa base, so acid neutralizes the bond to the brick face. Too strong a solution will eat it's way in to the joint, while weaker - watered down - solutions will just foam and clean the surface. Especially on a wall where it won't sit around long enopugh to damage things. Even White vinegar will help clean it. The secret to preventing damage is to scrub right away, and then rinse it all off.Sure - using a proprietarty product is best, but it should be cleaned.
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Remember most brick cleaners etch glass and attack insulated glass seals.
I have a customer with an 8 year old house and 20 seal failures because of a bad brick wash job.
You can't be too careful using the stuff.
Muriatic acid is just a different & older name for hydrochloric acid HCL.