[paul mcdermott]

Hello chaps,
Am new to this site.......so please be gentle .If the above topic has been covered apologies but unable to find it on search.
We are a landscaping company but have recently been asked to take on power washing block paving/flags on car parks and paths for a local housing authority.
Have bought new jet washer lance etc after checking this site from Ben Marriot (Ben thanks for all the advice)
All been going well but have now been asked to include several hundred metres of old brick walls.Would be grateful for any advice on which nozzles,pressures,cleaning agents etc.Have allowed for 50% re-pointing but need a rough price per metre.
Thanks in advance for any replies 

[samson]

Just work out how long it will take you, and multiply that by your hourly rate 

[Smudger]

What are the brick walls, part of a property, alleyways? Are they soft brick ?
Is all very well repointing but if you've damaged the faces of the brick then that might be unacceptable or not matter at  all.

Pressure washing  may not be the right method, chemical strip, wet blasting are other options

Darran

[Smurf]

As mentioned already the main issue with using a pressure washer on brick walling etc is the face of the bricks can be damage easily. Frost damage is also an issue as even using low pressure as will take the blown face of the bricks off in places leaving it looking a right mess.

Also if you are really unlucky pressure washing brick walls can cause/trigger efflorescence too.

This is a good example of someone pressure washing walls of a house that went badly wrong.

 

[Smurf]

Forgot to mention there are superheated systems available  like the doff system and others that don't damage the substrate unlike pressure washing

[paul mcdermott]

Samson,Smudger ,Smurf thanks for your replies,the brickwork's involved include alleyways,parts of buildings etc and the actual bricks are a nightmare mix ,some old some soft so will approach with caution testing small areas first.Will look into chemical strip,wet blasting and the doff system but as with everything it comes down to cost.
Just curious do all user names have to begin with S to be in the gang !!

[Smudger]

were the ciu version of s club seven   

Young and happy go lucky - except for papa smurf, he's old, but sometimes helpful 

Darran

[samson]

were the ciu version of s club seven   

Young and happy go lucky - except for papa smurf, he's old, but sometimes helpful 

Darran

How old is the old fella ?

[Smudger]

Rumour has it 80+   

Won't know till tomorrow as he's most likely in bed 

That's where I'm going now.....

Darran

[Smurf]

It seems I'm up half the night peeing for england too 

[samson]

It seems I'm up half the night peeing for england too 

How old are you Smurf ?

[Smurf]

Age is just a number you're as young as you feel.
I find it helps to sit on ones hand first until it goes numb 

[samson]

I thought it was only women  who were cagey about their age 

[Kev Martin]

Don't talk about Smurf like that she doesn't like it

[samson]

Don't talk about Smurf like that she doesn't like it

Not a trans-gender ? 

[Smurf]

Don't talk about Smurf like that she doesn't like it

That's only at weekends 
Don't tell me no one as a kid tried on their mums dress and high heels 

[Kev Martin]

Don't talk about Smurf like that she doesn't like it

That's only at weekends 
Don't tell me no one as a kid tried on their mums dress and high heels 

Yes but we all stopped at age 5 when we realised it probably wasn't the best look for boys

[Smurf]

Don't talk about Smurf like that she doesn't like it

That's only at weekends 
Don't tell me no one as a kid tried on their mums dress and high heels 

Yes but we all stopped at age 5 when we realised it probably wasn't the best look for boys