Started By
Message

Pressure washing brick walls/patio questions

Posted on 3/20/26 at 3:16 pm
Posted by fr33manator
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2010
134307 posts
Posted on 3/20/26 at 3:16 pm
So, got a new house with probably 2ksf of outdoor paved/concrete area, plus plenty of brick walls.

Got quotes for pressure washing cleaning everything ranging from 600 to $1000.

Figured, if I'm going to have this house, I'm not going to want to pay that much once much less multiple times over.

So I got these

2100 psi pressure washer plus the 12" washer attachment

Plus this to tackle debris and overgrowth



So any pointers on pressure washing brick without damaging it?

This is what I'm looking at





Figured it's better to spend $500 once than over and over. Plus I've got teens and people to help.

Recommendations? Do I need to use soap/simple green or anything?

Anything I'm overlooking or need to make sure not to do?
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
48202 posts
Posted on 3/20/26 at 4:48 pm to
like anything else, pick an inconspicuous spot first and see how it looks. Brick is porous and you might have some soft areas depending on age etc. go easy with the pressure and use the fan tip not the narrow tip.

simple green is fine don’t use anything acidic (like vinegar). I would put those teens to work with scrub brushes and a bucket first, any mild soap will do. And obviously, sweep first
Posted by UptownJoeBrown
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2024
8878 posts
Posted on 3/20/26 at 5:12 pm to
The lowest pressure and the widest fan and don’t get too close to the bricks/mortar. Don’t let a kid do it.

It won’t take much pressure to clean it. Just use a non-acidic cleaner. Heck, even just plain water is ok.

Mortar is weaker than brick and can be damaged much easier. Just FYI
This post was edited on 3/20/26 at 5:13 pm
Posted by ellunchboxo
G-Town
Member since Feb 2009
19453 posts
Posted on 3/20/26 at 7:32 pm to
It’s gonna take you forever with that pressure washer and attachment. It’s not powerful enough.

You’re gonna have to over every brick 4 or five times.
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
42465 posts
Posted on 3/20/26 at 7:33 pm to
Enjoy
Posted by mtcheral
BR
Member since Oct 2008
2101 posts
Posted on 3/20/26 at 8:23 pm to
I have a lot of Ryobi stuff and have have had good luck with most of it - but not the pressure washer round attachment. I’m on my second one because the first only lasted one use and then quit spinning properly. Brought it back for the second and it didn’t make it much longer. It just doesn’t hold up to the abuse and it’s going to take forever over those bricks. You would do better to just rent a good pressure washer and a heavier duty attachment like that once per year to hit all of that. Keep just the pressure washer you bought for touch ups during the year and smaller stuff.
Posted by fr33manator
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2010
134307 posts
Posted on 3/20/26 at 9:45 pm to
Got a quote from someone to do all the brick for 350. Probably gonna take him up on it. Then I've got the pressure washer to do upkeep so I won't need any heavy duty work again
Posted by mtcheral
BR
Member since Oct 2008
2101 posts
Posted on 3/20/26 at 11:01 pm to
Take that deal for sure.
Posted by MarshMan
Ponchatoula
Member since May 2015
669 posts
Posted on 3/21/26 at 6:33 am to
Do yourself a favor and get a gas pressure washer. That's a lot of patio area, and you'll want to clean it more than once a year. Just adjust the pressure so as not to damage the mortar.
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
42465 posts
Posted on 3/21/26 at 6:53 am to
A lot of round surface cleaners can be tricky. Most of the time it's improper use. They need to be maintained and cleaned.
Harbor Freight has a very nice option for around $50 that fits most any pressure washer.
LINK
Posted by redfish99
B.R.
Member since Aug 2007
19115 posts
Posted on 3/21/26 at 10:56 pm to
Holy brick backyard!!!!!!
Posted by windmill
Prairieville, La
Member since Dec 2005
7759 posts
Posted on 3/22/26 at 2:17 am to
That's a lot of brick surface!! The attachment you got(round shaped 12-15" cleaner) is gonna work you to death on an area that size. I agree you should take the fella up that quoted you for cleaning all of the brick.
That's an awesome space with huge potential! Congrats!
Posted by fr33manator
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2010
134307 posts
Posted on 3/22/26 at 9:09 am to
Yeah it's crazy how much functional space there is. Way better than a big patch of grass.

This house was built for entertaining. There's 3 kitchens. (The main original kitchen, which will be my wife's kitchen. A second indoor kitchen (used to be a porch, now has a stove, restaurant hood, butcher block, handmade cabinetry, bathroom, pantry etc,)

Then there's that outdoor kitchen.

All brick pavers.

Posted by andouille
A table near a waiter.
Member since Dec 2004
11497 posts
Posted on 3/23/26 at 4:11 am to
I have a Dewalt electric washer with about the same specs, it doesn't have the arse to do large areas like a driveway, I have a bell sprayer the resembles that also, it cuts the output of the sprayer in half.

If I may make a suggestion, keep the electric for small jobs, cleaning lawn chairs, grills, flower pots, etc.. The get a gasoline powered, I like Westinghouse or Simpson $300-$500, for big jobs, decks, driveways, sidewalks.

Caution: Never let a pressure washer near double pane windows.
Posted by Tigers4Lyfe
Member since Nov 2010
6741 posts
Posted on 3/23/26 at 8:56 am to
quote:

I would put those teens to work with scrub brushes and a bucket first
You can't be serious. With a capable pressure washer that won't be necessary.

But he should have got a more powerful pressure washer for that much space.
This post was edited on 3/23/26 at 9:02 am
Posted by Tigers4Lyfe
Member since Nov 2010
6741 posts
Posted on 3/23/26 at 8:59 am to
quote:

but not the pressure washer round attachment. I’m on my second one because the first only lasted one use and then quit spinning properly. Brought it back for the second and it didn’t make it much longer. It just doesn’t hold up to the abuse
I believe you but I've had mine for years and it still works fine.
Posted by fr33manator
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2010
134307 posts
Posted on 3/23/26 at 10:22 am to
If the one I bought doesn't cut the mustard, I may eventually get a more powerful one.


But for now I figure I that one can try to tackle what the pro guys aren't covering
Posted by jasonbr1975
Lafayette, LA
Member since Sep 2024
1786 posts
Posted on 3/23/26 at 12:31 pm to
Use the 30 second outdoor cleaner from lowes/walmart. I use the one that attaches to the hose to apply, then I actually let it sit for 5-10 minutes. You can buy the 1 or 2.5 gallon size to refill the hose sprayer bottle to save money. I do my whole house every year (hardie plank and brick) and that works pretty good. Be sure to rinse windows good not leaving any soap or cleaner residue because if it dries with that stuff on it, it will be tough to remove. As someone else mentioned, use a fan tip to avoid removing paint or damaging brick.
Posted by bayouvette
Raceland
Member since Oct 2005
5849 posts
Posted on 3/23/26 at 3:21 pm to
Not enough juice.
Posted by fr33manator
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2010
134307 posts
Posted on 3/27/26 at 7:48 pm to
Now yall have me second guessing.

I'm eyeing a Westinghouse gas 3400 psi on sale for 299.

Would just return the ryobi electric and go with gas...but I'm also seeing some on Amazon that purport to be up to 5000psi for cheap.

Too good to be true? Is there an electric that will suit my needs without breaking the bank?
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram