How to Clean Exterior Brick (and Painted Brick)
Brick homes are everywhere in Franklin and Brentwood, from historic downtown houses to newer estate homes. Brick lasts for generations, but it's porous and the mortar between it is softer than it looks.
Mortar is the weak point
High pressure can wash out mortar joints, especially on older homes built with soft lime mortar. The Brick Industry Association recommends starting with the gentlest method that works: water, a mild detergent and a soft brush.
Know your stain
Green or black growth is algae or mildew and needs a biocidal cleaner. White haze is efflorescence and needs a masonry cleaner. Orange is iron or red clay. The wrong product won't touch it.
Painted and limewashed brick
Painted white brick, popular on newer Williamson County homes, shows mildew fast and can peel under pressure. It needs a soft wash, never a surface cleaner or a close tip.
What you can try yourself
- Pre-wet the brick so cleaner doesn't soak in too deep.
- Use a masonry or mildew cleaner as directed.
- Scrub with a nylon brush and rinse at low pressure.
What to avoid
- Wire brushes, which leave metal that rusts.
- Undiluted muriatic acid.
- Zero-degree or turbo nozzles on mortar.
When to call a professional
Historic brick, painted brick and multi-story walls are best soft washed by pros who can match the chemistry to the stain. See our house washing service.
What customers say
"I completed a quote sheet online for an estimate to pressure wash my house. First- Clean Pressure Washing responded quickly. Chris called me to discussed what service I need. He looked at my house on the Internet so he was able to see clearly the size of the house. I also added my driveway to the cleaning process. I was given a quote, verbally and written, which I signed on a DocuSign. They communicated with me via text and were right on time based on the schedule provided. They had a truck that had the solution in it for cleaning my house, which I was really happy about because they didn’t use my water. My driveway was really messy and they did a very good job on my house and driveway. I felt the quote was fair and competitive. They got all of the mildew off the house. It looks great so I shouldn’t have any problem with my HOA for a couple years. Thanks so much, Chris. I really appreciate the service you provided!!!"
Karla J. · Google Review
"After I was blindsided by an HOA violation I quickly called 1st Class Pressure Washing. They were there the next day and cleaned the exterior of my house to perfection. I’m glad to know I’ll always have them on call for any needs going forward!"
David C. · Google Review
"1st Class did a great job cleaning the windows and vinyl on my home. The windows were in rough shape and they helped me remove the old screens and get all of the dirt and cobwebs that had built up. Would definitely recommend and use them again!"
Cassanora L. · Google Review
96 Google reviews from homeowners and businesses across Middle Tennessee. Read them all on Google.
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Related guides
- How to Clean Painted Brick Without Peeling the Paint
- Questions to Ask Before Cleaning Older Painted Exteriors and Masonry in Franklin
- How to Clean Vinyl Siding Without Damaging It
- How to Clean James Hardie and Fiber-Cement Siding
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