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Just like the blocks or slabs on a driveway or patio, bricks on a vertical structure such as brick walls also need to be cleaned to maintain the appearance. Brickwork which is not cleaned will begin to change in appearance for example the brickwork could begin to appear black or green from organic growth growing on the surface. Brickwork which is not cleaned can also lead to more established organic growths such as vegetation or even climbing ivy.

The best method for cleaning brickwork is using steam cleaning equipment. This is equipment that cleans using high temperature and low pressure water. That’s why you will often see the DOFF system recommended on tenders where brick, stone or building cleaning and restoration is required. The DOFF system is a piece of steam cleaning equipment.

LBC are Rosette approved and recommended DOFF steam cleaning contractors from Stonehealth the people who make the DOFF machine.

Brick cleaning can start from as little as £2+vat / Square metre for large commercial projects. This is when there are multiple plots to wash and there is a clear run of work.

Domestic projects, where the size of the job is much smaller prices from around £10+vat/ square metre.

There are several factors which influence the cost which include;

• The size of the job
• Access to water and power
• Whether any chemicals are required to achieve desired outcome (what stains need removing)
• Access – Is direct access from scaffolding available or is there need for telescopic equipment or a cherry picker to access the cleaning area?. We have our own company cherry picker and our team are IPAF trained and qualified.
• If a scaffolding tower is required we have our own and our team are PASMA trained and qualified.

When choosing a brick cleaning contractor it’s important that you choose a professional, experienced company.

You want to ensure they use the correct cleaning methods and do not just blast the brickwork with high pressured water which will damage the bricks and pointing.

Look for evidence of previous jobs and examine before and after pictures or ask for references from previous jobs.

Ensure the company has the correct liability insurances

If using acid or chemicals to remove staining such as carbon or cement staining ensure that the operators are COSHH trained and use chemicals or acids safely.

It is also vitally important that other areas of your property are protected when using any type of acid such as glass, window frames and any patio below as the acid used for brickwork cleaning is very strong and can stain or even etch these other items which can cause irreversible damage. This is why its super important to choose a well recommended, well established and well experienced company for brickwork cleaning so you can receive a professional service obtaining the results you desire without any costly damage.

A common brick cleaning chemical used in the cleaning process is muriatic acid. Whilst this can be very beneficial when thoroughly cleaning down bricks, it’s important to ensure that when used as part of a brick cleaning mixture, it only makes up 10 percent of the entire mix. 

As part of our brick cleaning service, we always ensure that we are using the correct equipment needed for the brickwork. All chemicals are measured correctly and are checked against the brick material. 

Our aim is to ensure that by taking advantage of our brick cleaning services, our customers in areas such as Hampstead, Wembley and Finchley will be able to enjoy their brickwork for many more years to come. 

A typical Victorian terrace front can be done in half a day. Larger commercial buildings, or properties with heavy carbon staining that needs chemical pre-treatment, may take two to five days. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe as part of the quote so you can plan access accordingly.

Not always and this is worth taking seriously. Victorian and Edwardian bricks are often softer than modern equivalents, and the wrong acid concentration, or leaving it on too long, can permanently damage the brick face. Acid that gets onto glass or window frames can etch them irreversibly.

This is exactly why we prefer the DOFF steam system: it achieves excellent results without the risk of acid damage. Where chemical treatments are necessary, our team is COSHH trained and takes proper precautions.

You can give it a go with a stiff brush and water for light surface dirt. But for carbon staining, cement splashes or biological growth, DIY cleaning usually makes things worse or damages the brickwork.

High-pressure washers are the most common cause of DIY damage: they erode pointing, force water into the wall and can fracture the brick face on older properties. Getting it done professionally from the start is almost always cheaper than fixing DIY damage afterwards.

Most London properties benefit from a brick clean every five to ten years, depending on the level of pollution, the type of brick and how exposed the building is. Properties near busy roads or in areas with high traffic pollution tend to need cleaning more frequently. Victorian and Edwardian properties in central London often show visible carbon build-up within ten years of their last clean.

In most cases, no. However, if your property is a listed building or sits within a conservation area, it’s worth checking with your local planning authority before work starts. Some conservation areas have restrictions on the cleaning methods that can be used. We have experience working on listed buildings and heritage sites and can advise you on what’s likely to be acceptable before you commit to anything.