bricks - how clean do they have to be?

[Duct Tape Man]

Recently I've been saving up bricks I have bought off CL, whether I got them for free or 20-30 cents each, as cheap as I can get them. My plan is to use them to build my own hot rod shop, was going to do it here, but now the plan is to move to a bigger house, so it's a good thing I've been palletizing and shrink-wrapping them together as I get them, so when it comes time for the move I can just use my brother's tractor with the fork attachment to load em up, and move to the new digs.

Anyways, most of these have been never used, just overstock from other peoples' building projects. Some are older, vintage bricks but not many. Some of them, however, have been used as walkways and pavers in their previous lifetimes, and they are soiled with dirt. I've scraped off the excess but they look like they need a powerwashing to get rid of the rest of the dirt. Not sure if that's really necessary, however - I don't want to waste my time if I don't need to, if the masons who build my shop don't need perfectly clean bricks. I just want the bricks to adhere well to the mortar, you know.

So, bottom line is, how clean do these things have to be? Like new and powerwashed? A little dirt but not enough to fill the dimples in the brick faces? Caked with mud for character? Interested in your opinions, from a guy who doesn't know a brick from a paver.

 

[rburke65]

If it were me I would be power washing the bricks. The mortar has to have something to adhere to. Do it once and do it right.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

You do realize that there are different types of bricks for different applications.
Pavers wouldn't need to be real clean for reuse as pavers.
I wouldn't want any noticeable dirt on and bricks being held together with mortar.

 

[dynahoe]

i built my chimney with field stone off my land.i pressure washed every edge of every rock.i would have a mason inspect them to see if they can be used safely

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

My dad was a brick mason for almost forty years and once I got about 14 I did some of the cleaning of used brick. Real used bricks in those days, not manufactured like now.

We'd spread them out and use muriatic acid on them. A short spray with a Hudson sprayer then rinse them well and sun dry them. I don't remember the ratios cause my dad did that. Hope this helps a little.

 

[Daves69]

They need to be washed and dried to get the duct tape to stick.

 

[txvwnut]

Power wash any dirt off of them and if there is any used mortar on them chip that off to give a decent area for the new mortar to adhere too. I've used reclaimed bricks for projects many times and have always cleaned them like I described and its just like working with new bricks.

 

[404]

Mortar sticks great to dirt. Dirt does not stick so well to brick.

Power wash them.

 

[Duct Tape Man]

Okay, when the move is complete, and when I'm ready to build the shop, looks like I'll be washing me some bricks.

 

[Milton Shaw]

There was a dam in California that broke because the mud was not washed off the rock they used in the mix, so I would recommend pressure washing them to get them clean.

 

[Signal10]

There's an actual "brick wash" you can use. Spray it on with a garden type sprayer the scrub lightly with a brush then rinse off with a normal garden hose. However some brick manufactures don't recommend it but I used it on my new house. My brick supplier provides it to me and it made a huge difference.

 

[Hmrhead]

You do realize that there are different types of bricks for different applications.
Pavers wouldn't need to be real clean for reuse as pavers.
I wouldn't want any noticeable dirt on and bricks being held together with mortar.

This, pavers are usually concrete and wall bricks are fired clay. They are dimensionally different and will not course out. Also modern brick are 7 5/8" long and 2 1/4" tall, older brick are standard brick 8" long and 2 1/4-2 1/2" tall. Again coursing issues. You should have a mason check what you have to make sure they will all work together.

The brick should be clean or you will have bonding issues.
I'm guessing that you are thinking oF painting the finished project? Brick are not designed to be painted they need to breathe. You live far enough South where painting should be ok. You don't have harsh freeze/thaw cycles. I would go to a local brick distributor and ask about getting some brick stain to make your brick the same after they are laid up.

 

[Lippyp]

I have a bunch of antique bricks that need to be cleaned. I find it quite therapeutic sat chipping mortar off although its hard on the back these days.

I would though echo what the others have said, there are different types of bricks for different jobs, old antique bricks tend to be very soft compared to modern bricks and can be different sizes. Block pavers are concrete and so not something I'd want in a wall, then you have specialist stuff like engineering brick. The floor in my garage is made of these, they are blue and very hard.

Clean off the pavers and use them on the path to your garage.

 

[Playwme]

My advice would be to ask the guy who is laying them. The strength of the wall will be his liability.