What do you see walking down the streets of New York City? Fascinating tall skyscrapers clustering the cityscape with a spectacular view, right? Unfortunately, the global impact of climate change has brought about a drastic effect on brick structures. Especially when you live in cities like the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Long Island, Brooklyn, and Richmond Hill, you encounter extreme climates which affect not only living beings but masonry as well.
NYC experiences harsh weather almost throughout the year, with excessive heat, rain, and snow. Also, don’t forget the occasional thunderstorms that can go from mild to wild! In such a scenario, brickwork undergoes considerable stress, leading to numerous superficial and structural damages. Thankfully, brick power washing NYC can restore brickwork by removing potentially harmful buildups from the surface.
Power washing is an efficient and cost-effective solution to safeguard the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of brickworks. In this blog, we will learn how extreme climate affects brickwork adversely and ways power washing can reinstate its condition. So, let’s begin.
What Happens to Brick in Extreme Climates?
Typically, NYC has long, humid, and uncomfortable summers with frequent thunderstorms. And the winters are freezing as the temperature goes below zero, followed by heavy snowfall. Thus, mortar and brick encounter severe damage. These include:
- In hot summer days, brick and mortar rapidly loses moisture, which results in shrinkage. As a result, cracks and gaps occur. When it happens repeatedly, mortar loses its strength and disintegrates. Brick pressure washing can restrict further damage. How? We will discuss it in the following section.
- When mortar joints crumble, they become susceptible to moisture infiltration. Excessive moisture leads to efflorescence, molds, and mildew, which compromises the aesthetic appeal of the construction.
- Trapped moisture also results in stains, discoloration, and peeling paint, which are unsightly and imposes potential risks.
- During freezing winters, snowfall settles as a thick layer on brick surfaces. As the sun comes up, the snow melts and seeps through the pores and holes.
- When moisture within the brick freezes, it expands, causing wide, open cracks. With persistent freeze-thaw cycles, mortar joints become weak and crumble. Thus, the brickwork encounters critical structural failure. Brick washing NYC is an effective way to strengthen brickwork and restore integrity and aesthetics.
The Role of Brick Power Washing
Power washing is one of the most economical and convenient ways to remove dirt, grime, stains, and other unwanted buildups on brick surfaces. It is a safe brick cleaning procedure when conducted by professionals because they know the appropriate tools and techniques which can clean masonry surfaces without damage. So, how is brick cleaning NYC beneficial to your property?
- Remove Debris– Over time, molds, mildew, algae, efflorescence, and other unwanted debris accumulate on brick surfaces. Since brick is porous, these materials can easily affect the inner layers, deteriorating the strength and stability of the structure. Nonetheless, power washing can help you get rid of organic growths and other deposits, protecting functionality and sturdiness.
- Prevent Further Damage– As you know, mortar joints crumble due to freeze-thaw cycles and moisture intrusion. Additionally, the roots of unwanted vegetation, like fungi, algae, vines, etc., aggravate the problem, causing large-scale damage. But, when you power wash brick home, you can safely remove these growths and restrict further structural deterioration.
- Prolong Lifespan– Brickwork can last for years with adequate maintenance. Pressure washing is a brick maintenance methodology where you can preserve your brickwork’s integrity by keeping it unharmed from undesirable deposits.
- Promote Aesthetics– Undoubtedly, eliminating stains, dirt, and grime from the surfaces restores the timeless appeal of stunning brickwork. Your property looks as good as new!
To conclude, power washing considerably aids in limiting brick damage caused by the harsh NYC climate. So, you must consider it in your maintenance program.