Sandblasters, anyone used one for brickwork?

[bebee]

I need to clean up the brickwork of a house that's been neglected by the previous owners, I want to do it before I replace the windows, sofits and face boards, should I use a sandblaster, or are there other methods I could use? Anyone used a sandblaster with good results, or have you regretted using one?

I have an industrial hot power washer that I could use, perhaps I could use it with a brick cleaning chemical?

[R.P.M]

I Would try water jetting it first. Much less aggressive and far less mess to use.

[F1SERB]

Hey I definetly would not use a sand blaster on bricke especially as yours look like clay
use a good quality jet wash or a steam cleaner

[vdp1]

Are you just replacing the windows or adding a couple as well.

[bebee]

vdp1 said:

Are you just replacing the windows or adding a couple as well.

adding some, why do you ask?

[Robb F]

If you sand blast that you're gonna have to do the entire wall so it looks even. As suggested I would try a jetwash and stiff brush.

[bebee]

F1SERB said:

Hey I definetly would not use a sand blaster on bricke especially as yours look like clay
use a good quality jet wash or a steam cleaner

Cheers that.

[Simpo Two]

And maybe a water proofer afterwards to stop the algae coming back so fast?

[Muncher]

A steam cleaner will do it, I would never sand blast that! Even a mildly hot wash will get that off a treat, I've done my entire house!

[vdp1]

bebee said:

vdp1 said:

Are you just replacing the windows or adding a couple as well.

adding some, why do you ask?

Too many bricks, not enough windows.

[bebee]

Muncher said:

A steam cleaner will do it, I would never sand blast that! Even a mildly hot wash will get that off a treat, I've done my entire house!

Cheers Muncher, big diffrence there.

[Jonnas]

I live in an old Dairy and the brickwork on it was cleaned up by the developer by sandblastng. It did give really nice results but it has lime mortar which is very soft and it took quite a bit of that away in places which required extensive repointing.

[pmanson]

Any recommendations on how to remove paint from brickwork?

Our house has painted brickwork up to about 4ft, the above that the house is rendered and painted. The rear of the house has an extension and the rendering has been continued but the painting has not.

We are planning to extend at the front of the house and again won't be painting the brickwork so I'd like to look into cleaning the originally brickwork to match the extensions.

[shtu]

If you want to get rid of the green slime, and clean the brickwork up a touch, a gerenic pressure washer will be fine.

You might consider a sprayer filled with a solution of bleach before and after to help kill off the green stuff. Spray on, leave for a while, rinse off. Useful on paving too.

[Muncher]

shtu said:

If you want to get rid of the green slime, and clean the brickwork up a touch, a gerenic pressure washer will be fine.

You might consider a sprayer filled with a solution of bleach before and after to help kill off the green stuff. Spray on, leave for a while, rinse off. Useful on paving too.

A conventional pressure washer is too harsh on a lot of brickwork, the steam cleaner/hot washer is the safest method.

[rb5er]

I would just jet that lot off. Sandblasting can be very aggressive and end up pitting the bricks badly.

The joint lines on the brickwork are atrocious btw.

[bebee]

rb5er said:

I would just jet that lot off. Sandblasting can be very aggressive and end up pitting the bricks badly.

The joint lines on the brickwork are atrocious btw.

I can explain........... I took pic with iphone's panoramic camera, then cropped the pic in half for a close up.

[rb5er]

Ah fair enough, either that of the bricky was on the sauce at work