Today’s Fix It Friday Segment is not exactly a fix in the sense of a repair, but more of a procedure that will produce great results! Today’s post is how to pressure wash your landscaping blocks and bricks. Because these surfaces are exposed to the exterior, they obviously are vulnerable to outside elements including, mold, mildew, algae, bird droppings, and dust. If these are left to sit on the surface over long periods of time they not only make surfaces look old and unsightly, but they can also cause the brick surfaces to begin to pit and erode. Additionally, the longer you delay cleaning these surfaces, the harder it becomes to remove the build-up.
Pressure washers are an inexpensive, quick, and, easy solution to this problem. They are fairly easy to use and will have your stones looking like new in no time! If you don’t own a pressure washer you can rent one for the day from a rental store, or home improvement store like Home Depot. It should only cost around $40.00-$60.00 to rent. And is a cost you may be able to split with a neighbor who is looking to clean their landscaping bricks as well…. Or you might have a nice neighbor who is willing to let you borrow one…like I did. 🙂 (Thanks Joe!)
There are various ways to clean the bricks. You can use a cleaner, such as a white vinegar/warm water solution or a commerical brick cleaner, first to loosen dirt and debris. Or, as I did, just the pressure from the washer to do the work to remove the debris. I choose the latter, mainly because while actually cleaning my bricks, the debris was being easily removed and I didn’t want to worry about collateral damage to my grass or plants that is sometimes associated with using cleaning chemicals.
The “fix” is showcased in the before and after pictures below. I used a lower pressure nozzle with about a 20 degree pattern. However, you should follow recommendations for your particular material and common sense to prevent damage to the surface of your landscaping bricks.
And, as always, follow all manufacturer’s operation and safety
recommendations associated with the pressure washer you choose for the job.
Above: Joe’s Pressure Washer. 🙂
Above: Landscaping Bricks Before
Above: Landscaping Bricks Face Before
Above: Finished Product…..Like New!!
