Exposed brick walls are gorgeous. They can really look amazing when they’re maintained well, but when you’ve had render removal done, the brick wall that is left is often less than desirable. Render prevents the bricks underneath from being able to breathe, and prevents any maintenance from being done to them. As a result, after render removal, plenty of people find that they need to clean the bricks and fix the masonry surfaces.

Are your bricks suffering after render removal? Do you need to do something to make your brick wall look more Victorian and less dilapidated? Here’s what to do.

Ensure you’ve removed any organic growth from the brick wall

Render is supposed to protect the property, but sometimes some organic growth slips through and you end up with algae or moss on your wall. It is essential that you remove these growths before continuing. You should be able to remove them by using a biocide and either pulling them off with gloves or using a stiff brush.

Repair damaged mortar

Mortar is the substance that sits between the bricks, and it has a large part to play in the structure and stability of the wall. It will typically either be lime mortar or masonry mortar. Over time, the mortar can be worn down, and this can lead to less stability and may also lead to damp problems.

To prevent this, and to improve the appearance of the brick wall, you will need to repair the damaged mortar.

Step one: chisel away any damaged or loose mortar

Carefully use a hammer and flat chisel to chip away old mortar from between the bricks. You want to go about half an inch deep. Once done, clean out the cavity with a wire brush.

Step two: determine whether the wall is a masonry wall

Take a good look at the mortar. Its colour will help you to determine whether it is being held together with lime mortar or cement mortar (sometimes called masonry mortar). If it is a masonry wall, you will need masonry mortar. If it is a wall that uses lime mortar, you will need lime mortar to fill the gaps.

Walls built with lime mortar rely on the breathability of the lime, and this can cause issues with things like penetrating damp.

Step three: mix new mortar (lime mortar or masonry mortar)

Once you have determined which mortar to use, mix up the mortar ready for use.

Step four: apply the mortar

Carefully apply the new mortar to the gaps using a brick trowel. This will help to improve the appearance of the brick face.

Step five: wipe away excess mortar

Once done, wipe away any excess mortar pushing out further than the surface of the bricks. You can do so using the brick trowel and a moist rag.

Step six: seal the brick wall

You can now leave the surface to dry. If you’re not intending to clean the wall, you can apply a brick sealant at this point for a glossy finish. Otherwise, let the brick wall dry and then gently clean the wall.

Cleaning the brick wall

When cleaning a brick wall, there are a few steps that you need to follow in order to get the bricks back to their beautiful state after having external render removal. They are:

Surface clean

Advice from the Uniwash Team is that you need to remove dirt, dust and debris from the brick wall. You can do this using a stiff brush and hot soapy water, or you can pressure wash the brick. However, be aware that pressure washing can damage brick. The goal at this stage is to remove all visible dirt from the wall.

Brush off efflorescence

Then, if the wall is showing signs of efflorescence you should brush it off before you begin to continue to clean the brick wall. If you add water to the efflorescence you will find that the salts will simply dissolve.

Wet the brick wall

Once the efflorescence is gone, you need to wet the wall. If you begin to use cleaning solutions on the brick before wetting it, you will run the risk of discolouring the material.

Choose and create your cleaning solution and cleaning method

There are a few different cleaning solutions that you can use on a wall. They are:

Soap

For a light clean, soap (dish soap with water) will clean brick. It will remove basic stains from bricks without the use of harsh chemicals.

Vinegar

Just like with soap, using vinegar to clean an exterior brick wall will work well too. You just need to mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle and use it with a stiff brush or sponge to clean the wall.

Bleach

For organic growth and tougher stains, bleach can work really well to clean exterior brick walls. Simply combine a tablespoon of bleach with a gallon of warm water and then use a sponge to clean the brick.

Gently pressure wash with a pressure washer (optional)

You can then rinse whatever you’ve used to clean the solution away with either a pressure washer or water and a stiff brush.

Apply a fungicidal cleaner

Once clean, apply a residual fungicidal wash to the wall in order to prevent any biological matter returning to the bricks.

Protecting your brick wall after you remove render

Once the render is gone, and you’ve cleaned the bricks underneath, there are a few things that you can do to protect the bricks going forward.

Brick sealers and waterproofing treatment

You can purchase and apply brick sealants for exterior walls that will give them a glossy look and protect them from the weather and biological matter.

Why do bricks underneath render need cleaning after render removal?

Protect the interior wall against damp

Through capillary movement water can pass through the exterior wall and cause penetrating damp. This can lead to damp problems within the home.

Prevent heat loss

Moisture in the bricks can actually cause heat to leave the home, which can be costly and can make your home much less comfortable to live in!