10 Things You Didn’t Know About Power Washing Brick Patio

Brick patios are highly popular because they are so beautiful and can last for many, many years. But with age comes dirt, stains, and other grime that need to be removed before the bricks get damaged. Power washing your brick patio is a great way to remove all of these nasty things while leaving the beautiful brick surface unharmed! Here are 10 things you didn’t know about power washing brick patio.

1. You need to hire a professional power washer if you have an extensive patio or if you want it done right the first time. Brick is porous material, which means water will seep into the surface and damage it over time!
2. A lot of homeowners choose to power wash their brick patios themselves in order to save money. If you don’t have much experience power washing or if you are worried about damaging your brick, it is probably safer to hire a professional!
3. Wear safety gear when power washing your patio. Always wear rubber gloves. You should also wear light clothes that cover the majority of your skin, especially when pressure washing areas close to your home. If you are power washing higher up than the second floor of your home, please wear safety goggles.
4. You should never use bleach when cleaning bricks. Bleach is very harmful to brick and will actually damage it more than regular dirt!
5. Don’t use excessive amounts of soap or anything abrasive when cleaning your brick patio. These things can scratch and damage the bricks over time!
6. If you find that you have a lot of oil stains, don’t use pressure washers on these areas. You should try to remove as much oil as possible with a solvent like Goo Gone first, then power wash the rest of the patio.
7. Before you begin pressure washing, wet the brick patio with soapy water using a garden hose first. This will allow any loose dirt to fall down and make your job easier!
8. If you have a large stone or concrete area that is part of your brick patio, it is usually safe to power wash. Just be sure not to get the stone wet when you begin! Don’t worry, the water won’t hurt it and if any soapy residue is left behind, it will dry just fine.
9. There are different kinds of pressure washers: cold and hot. Hot water pressure washing machines use heated water to help remove grime and dirt at a deeper level. Cold water pressure washers can be used if you are worried about hot water damaging your brick patio. Either way, make sure the power washer is set on the “soap” setting so it sprays soap before turning it onto the “pressure” setting.
10. Keep your power washer nozzle on the furthest setting away from your brick. This will prevent any damage to the bricks and help you clean faster!

Brick patios are beautiful and can last for many years, but they need to be cleaned in order to keep the surface looking nice. Power washing your brick patio is a great way to remove all of the dirt that gets caught in between the bricks over time. To learn more about this process or if you want help setting up your own power washer at home be sure to check our blog post!