AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing staff specialize in the cleaning of brick, stone, concrete, and terra cotta. This includes the removal of surface debris such as dirt, carbon, mold, algae, paint, and graffiti. Our crews make a special effort to properly prepare the work site prior to cleaning by protecting windows, doors and landscaping as much as possible.
Primarily three cleaning methods are used:
Chemical Cleaning
There are many suitable cleaning agents available depending on the particular problem. Once the correct solution is selected, it is either rolled or sprayed upon the substrate, allowed to set up, and rinsed off. Chemical cleaning does not strip the exterior skin of the brick like sandblasting, so the appearance and integrity of the masonry is maintained.
Sandblasting
Sandblasting is a relatively inexpensive, effective method to remove surface contaminants. Unfortunately, it is very messy. Worse yet it blasts away the bricks' surface, which then no longer has sufficient protection for water. This often leads to premature deterioration and the need for expensive restoration.
However, there are circumstances when sandblasting is appropriate and preferred. For example, sandblasted interior walls give a space a very appealing industrial look. And certain stubborn stains can be removed more completely by sandblasting rather than power washing.
Power Washing
Power washing includes using high pressure water spray, sometimes mixed with small amounts of sand. Since the sand is sprayed wet, it is less "dirty" than sandblasting and since less abrasive is used, the damage to your masonry wall is less than sandblasting.
Let our staff evaluate your current masonry's condition and suggest the solution which meets your needs.