I received a call last Spring from a homeowner in Carrollwood. The front of her brick home had developed a dark green stain on the shady side of the home. She mentioned that she thought the brick must have stained. No, the staining on a brick home such as this is actually algae and mildew. The dark mildew growth on a brick home is extremely prevalent in Tampa due to the porous nature of brick. As moisture seeps into the pores of the brick it serves as a perfect food source for growth. In Tampa, we receive approximately 46 inches of rain per year. Our rainy season typically occurs between the months of June and September. Due to the above-mentioned conditions, the walls of homes in Tampa can remain damp for extended periods of time. At Pink Flamingo Power Wash, owned by Cliff, we Power Wash brick throughout Tampa in order to provide homeowners with beautifully cleaned surfaces.
We take a different approach to cleaning brick than we do to cleaning a driveway. The soft mortar joints between brick blocks can be easily damaged by high-pressure cleaning. In fact, hard pressure can chip the face of the brick and dislodge the mortar between the bricks completely. Our approach to cleaning brick is to soft wash it with a safe and effective cleaner that kills the algae, mold and mildew at the root. The grime is then rinsed away, leaving your home to look years younger. Done properly, cleaning brick does not have to cause any damage.
Home Pressure Washing
While many homes here in Tampa are made of brick, stucco, vinyl and trim, the exterior surfaces of your home need to be washed. While cleaning the brick of your home requires a soft wash approach, stucco and vinyl require special treatment. We have found that the biggest culprit of black streaks, green spots, cobwebs, and grime on homes in Tampa is Gloeocapsa magma, tough algae that thrives in our warm, humid environment. Our soft wash approach treats the root cause of the algae and prevents it from growing back quickly.
Soft Wash Roof Cleaning
The algae that makes your brick look black also lives on your roof. The black streaks on your shingles are actually algae eating away at the granules on your roof. We use a soft wash method to clean shingle and tile roofs. This way, the streaks go away without any damage to your roof. High pressure can penetrate through tiles and strip shingles. We avoid using high pressure at all costs. We clean your roof at the same time we clean your brick to keep your house looking uniform.
Concrete Pressure Washing
Sidewalks, driveways and walkways made of concrete are right next to the brick walls of your home and get just as dirty. They too grow algae and soak up oil and rust. We can clean concrete surfaces with a high-pressure wash to a smooth surface, to match the clean brickwork. Many customers book the cleaning of their driveways and walkways along with the brick cleaning, so the whole front of your home is left looking fresh and clean after one visit.
Rust Stain Removal
Orange rust stains are often caused by sprinkler water or metal furniture on brick or concrete surfaces. Standard washing will not remove rust stains. We use a special treatment to remove rust stains from brick surfaces without damaging them. We can also remove any stubborn stains from your brick when we come to wash it and inform you of any additional treatment required to remove them.
Gutter Cleaning
Leaves, pine needles and debris from live oaks clog gutters and allow water to spill down the walls of your brick home. This creates unsightly wet spots that grow into ugly patches of algae. We clean gutters to allow water to flow properly to protect your home’s brick and the foundation. We can also make your gutters look great while we are up there cleaning them.
Residential Pressure Washing
We power wash the entire property for the residential customer. The roof, driveway and fence are all part of the property and we can power wash all of them for the customer. Our customers are from Northdale, Lake Magdalene, Greater Northdale, Westchase, Citrus Park and Lutz. We know the live oaks and the Spanish moss that drop debris. We know how the Tampa weather will treat brick and other surfaces.
Why Tampa Homeowners Trust Pink Flamingo Power Wash
Pink Flamingo Power Wash was built on careful work. Each surface requires a different setting. Bricks are washed with a soft wash while concrete gets more power. Roofs are also gently washed while being cleaned. All work is done to safely clean your home. For brick cleaning in Tampa by a brick cleaning expert, Cliff at Pink Flamingo Power Wash is here to serve you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pressure washing damage my brick?
High-pressure cleaning can damage brickwork, potentially chipping the brick or dislodging the mortar between the blocks of a brick wall. We use soft wash methods to clean brickwork, using low pressure and safe and suitable cleaning agents.
How often should I clean my brick?
In Tampa, most homes need to be cleaned every one to two years. The only exception would be a home with brick that is in heavy shade or under live oaks. Algae grows much faster in shade-covered brick that is also damp.
Will the green and black stains come back?
Soft wash cleaning kills the root cause of the algae, resulting in clean brick that lasts much longer than a simple rinse. We recommend an annual clean to prevent regrowth of the algae.
Get a Free Quote Today
Let us bring your brick back to life! Call Pink Flamingo Power Wash for a FREE Quote at (813) 458-0864. We specialize in Brick Cleaning, Soft Wash Roof Cleaning and Full Home Exterior Cleaning. We serve the Carrollwood, Northdale, Lake Magdalene, Greater Northdale, Westchase, Citrus Park and Lutz areas.