How To Clean Moss Off Brick

CONTENTS

• What causes moss to grow on bricks?
• The effects of moss growing on brickwork
• How to remove moss from brick
• How to prevent moss growing on brick
• Get in touch

Moss is a common type of biological growth that can be found on your brickwork alongside algae, lichens, and liverworts. You must have it removed as soon as you spot it as it can grow and spread very fast, and have serious effects on the brickwork.

At ICE Cleaning, our brick cleaning services can remove all traces of biological growth from your property, as well as dirt, graffiti, and paint. Our technicians have many years of experience cleaning brick and stone, and are trained in how to adhere to all relevant health and safety requirements.

Read on to find out the best way to clean moss off bricks.

What causes moss to grow on bricks?

Moss spores are constantly floating in the air and grow in conditions that provide it with sufficient light, moisture, and nutrition. You can find out more about moss here.

It can grow on a wide range of surfaces including the lawn, deck, and roof, but it is most often found on brickwork. This is because brick is porous and retains moisture, providing moss with the optimal conditions for growth.

Bricks are also naturally textured, and any small holes and cracks in aged bricks trap moss spores. They can get trapped in the joints between pavers, too. Brickwork that is in a shady area or is consistently damp is particularly vulnerable to mould growth as well.

The effects of moss growing on brickwork

Large, green clumps of moss on your brickwork affect how your property looks and hamper its curb appeal. It can also leave behind permanent stains on the brickwork. Moss can even make walkways, patios, and driveways slippery, putting people at risk of falling and get injured.

Moss can cause lasting damage to the bricks its growing on, as well. Its roots can grow underneath the bricks, causing the mortar to crack. As moss holds in water, it might cause the surface underneath to deteriorate as well. You can learn more about the effects of moss on bricks here.

How to remove moss from brick

There are lots of cleaning products and DIY hacks that claim to clean moss off brick, namely cleaning the area with vinegar or bleach. But the wrong method used in the wrong way can cause more damage to the bricks.

Vinegar, for example, can kill moss but, as it is acidic, it can weaken the seal on brick pavers. Bleach is also an effective cleaning solution that can kill bacteria, moss, mould, but it is recommended that you never use it outside as run-off may pollute the environment, and put children and pets in danger.

You can learn more about how bleach harms the environment when it’s used in the garden in this article.

Cleaning moss off brick with bleach is dangerous and requires you to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent the corrosive chemical getting onto your skin or into your eyes, too.

Too harsh a cleaning tool can damage the surface, as well, for example, a hard bristle brush or metallic scraper could scratch the bricks. Pressure washing on a high a pressure can damage them, as well.

Professional cleaners will have the specialist cleaning equipment and PPE required for a safe, gentle but effective brick clean. ICE Cleaning’s technicians, for instance, will likely use the TORIK Brick Cleaning System on your brickwork.

It releases a flow of super-heated water that removes a range of stubborn stains including guano, oil, gum, graffiti, and biological growth without penetrating the brick. This non-abrasive, non-toxic cleaning solution protects the environment against damage, too.

How to prevent moss growing on brick

• Keep your patio exposed to sunlight: moss prefers dark, damp conditions, and will not grow in well-lit areas.
• Make sure you are not over-watering your plants: too much moisture in the soil can make the surrounding bricks damp.
• Repair leaky faucets: if your bricks are getting wet, find and fix the cause.
• Keep your brickwork in good condition: any damage, like cracks, allow moss spores to settle and start to grow.
• Consider a paving sealer: this will create a barrier which moss cannot penetrate.
• Remove plant growth and debris: wash down the brick to remove grass and other debris after mowing the lawn, and get rid of any plants between bricks.

Get in touch

Our brick cleaning services are available nationwide, 365 days a year, including bank holidays. If it’s an emergency, our technicians can be on site within several hours. We also offer a wide range of brick and stone cleaning services including paint removal, stone floor cleaning, and algae removal.

Contact our friendly team today on 0208 066 0360 or via enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to book your free site survey and get a no-obligation quote.