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That brick cleaner almost ruined my whole job yesterday
I was cleaning up a wall I did last week and grabbed some muriatic acid mix without testing it on a scrap piece first. Big mistake, the acid etched the face of the bricks and left white streaks that won't come out no matter what I try. The homeowner saw it this morning and now I gotta repoint half the wall and replace about 20 bricks out of my own pocket. Anyone else run into problems with acid washing going wrong like this?
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wren_mitchell1mo ago
Yeah muriatic acid is nasty stuff if you're not careful. Next time try a weak vinegar and water mix first, it's way safer for cleaning brick and won't etch the face like that. If the white streaks are just surface level, you might be able to knock them down with a wire brush and some patience before you start pulling bricks.
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emery101mo ago
Wait, did you already try the wire brush route yourself or are you just guessing? I've seen folks mess up brick real bad with muriatic acid thinking it's the only way. That etching leaves permanent damage sometimes. How deep are those streaks anyway? Like can you feel a texture difference when you run your hand over them, or is it just a color thing?
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