Old Soft Stained Brick -
This restored historic home's exterior was old common clay brick, which is softer and more porous than today's high-fired bricks. In addition, the mortar between the bricks was soft and beginning to spall (flake off).
The owners wanted to remove exterior staining and mottling, but without further damaging the surface. Tests were done to find the best match of cleaning solutions and surface.
In addition to being careful about solution strength, we adjusted our steam cleaning method, working with a relatively low pressure and temperature
After cleaning, we sealed the entire exterior with the best available brick sealer, which has an alcohol carrier that penetrates brick and mortar, making them stronger and the brick water repellant. The spalling (flaking) of the mortar was visibly improved as a result of this treatment.
Notice the brighter overall appearance and the improvement in mottling, especially on the right side of the facade.
Stains caused by long-term water leaks under the eaves were removed (see especially under the right side of the gable), with special attention paid to making the resulting surface looking as uniform as possible.
