Brick Cleaning · Richmond
Brick Cleaning in Richmond
Richmond soiling is mostly traffic film and carbon along the A316, Kew Road and Sheen Road corridors, and organic growth - algae and lichen - on the shaded riverside streets below the Hill where walls barely see direct sun. They are two different problems: carbon needs superheated steam to soften and lift it, biological growth needs a biocidal treatment first or it simply grows back within a season.
Local property types
Brick Cleaning for Richmond homes
Mostly soft yellow London stock and red facing brick on Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Kew Road and the streets off Richmond Hill, plus red-brick mansion blocks and the occasional Georgian frontage near the Green. Soft stock is easily damaged, so pressure and abrasives are off the table.
We survey the wall first and pick the gentlest method that will actually work - DOFF superheated low-pressure steam for carbon and paint residue, a poultice where staining has gone deep into the brick, hand cleaning around gauged arches and ornate detail. We test a sample panel in an inconspicuous spot and you see it before we clean the elevation.
Common signs
When brick cleaning is needed
- Decades of London soot and pollution
- Painted-over Victorian brick
- Algae, moss and biological growth
- Lime bloom and efflorescence
- Graffiti
The benefits
What you'll gain
- Original brick character restored
- No damage to brick faces or arises
- Suitable for listed and conservation properties
- Often transforms a property without any other work
Our process
How we approach brick cleaning in Richmond
Test patch
We trial the chosen system on a discreet area to confirm results before the main clean.
Protect surroundings
Windows, joinery, planting and paths fully sheeted and protected.
Clean
Low-pressure superheated water (DOFF/ThermaTech) or appropriate chemistry applied carefully.
Rinse & inspect
Surface fully rinsed and inspected - touch-up cleaning to any stubborn areas.
FAQ
Brick Cleaning in Richmond - your questions
Not with steam. DOFF works at low pressure and lifts the dirt thermally rather than abrading it. What does damage stock brick is jet washing and acid, both of which open the pores and leave the wall dirtier again within a couple of years.
Recent work
Brick Cleaning projects near Richmond
We recently cleaned and lime pointed the brickwork on a bay-fronted period home in Teddington, lifting years of grime off the original yellow stocks. It's the same approach we take on brick cleaning in Richmond.
See all projects
Same service, nearby areas
Brick Cleaning across South West London
Ready to begin?
Need brick cleaning in Richmond?
Free survey, fixed written quote, no pressure. Usually back to you within 48 hours.