A Guide to Restoration of Old Brick Walls

 

A Guide to Restoration of Old Brick Walls

Brick walls are the perfect accent to add character to your décor, no matter what your style is. These walls have the benefit of not going out of style, but they can lose their beauty if they are not cared for properly. If in your house you have brick walls that have seen better days, you are still in time to save them, just follow these tips:

How to clean brick walls
Brick walls are not difficult to clean, but this task takes time. If you want to save work, use a pressure washer. These machines can be rented at stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s for a day or a few hours, and they leave the brick walls looking like new. Keep in mind that there will be a lot of water in the space, and you must protect other surfaces. Use boats to collect the falling water. If you have carpet or wood floors, or old or damaged brick walls, you won't be able to use this method.

More tips in Types of floors
The other option for cleaning brick walls is with a brush and water. You don't need any special cleaners, but you do need to take your time brushing and scrubbing gently in circles to remove all layers of dust and dirt. If the walls still look dark and lifeless, mix a few drops of dish soap in the water.

A common cleaner used for this surface is soap and salt. Mix one ounce of dish soap with one ounce of table salt. Create a paste and add water until the paste turns into a cream. Apply this cream to the brick wall with a cloth and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then use a brush to clean the surface and water to wash it.

Restoring the mortar and brick
If the mortar on the wall has holes or is damaged, your best bet is to cover it with a new coat. Mix the mortar according to the instructions and then carefully apply it where you need it.

If instead of the mortar the brick is damaged, you can only replace it. You will need to drill the mortar around each broken brick and remove it in one piece. In many cases, you can use the same brick, and just flip it over to show the undamaged side. If not, buy a brick of the same size and colour and put it in water before installing it on the wall. Add new mortar around it and position the brick.

Protect the surface
In order for the brick to look its best, you should protect it with a layer of special sealer for this surface. You can find this in renovation stores, and apply it with a paint sprayer or brush. Don't use a glitter sealer as it will make the wall look unnatural.

Painting brick
Brick walls can also be painted, although this often detracts from character. Remember that if you decide to paint them, it will be very fun to go back to the original brick, so I recommend you choose a neutral paint colour or simply leave them natural. An excellent Brick Restoration service located in London can be found brickcleanlondon.co.uk.