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Q. What areas do you cover outside of London?
A. A good percentage of our work is in London but we cover London and the surrounding counties, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. It is difficult for us to reach the further regions of the larger counties. e.g. Dover in Kent. As we grow and our clientele grows, we do try to cover most areas we have enquiries. Please call us to check we cover your area.
Q. Do you work on commercial properties and well as residential?
A. We offer all our services to residential and commercial clients. We have close relationships with a number of builders, surveyors and architects that provide us with a mixture of commercial and residential clients. Commercial clients should give us a call to discuss the scope of the project. As reputable brickwork specialists we are proud of our interaction with members of the trade and our growing list of independent residential clients.
Q. What kind of maintenance does a brick home require?
A. A brick home is practically maintenance free. Brick is one of the oldest masonry materials in the world, evident in the many houses built hundreds of years ago and still standing strong. Brick is robust and will never rot. Maintenance is minimal but occasionally required from general wear and tear. Maintenance usually consists of repointing, brick repair and brick replacement and brick cleaning, not all required at the same time.
Q. Do you charge for quotations?
A. No we certainly do not! We will visit your property and provide a written, no-obligation quotation. Some clients may want a very quick rough estimate to see if costs viable and within their budget. We can sometimes provide a rough estimate on property fronts from Google street view photos, but these are just estimates. Street view photos may be over a year or two old, may only show property frontage and is not always easy to see all defects. Please note, this is only a guideline estimate and may change considerably on viewing.
BRICK CLEANING
Q. How long does it take to brick clean a house?
A. Timings can vary depending on the size of the property and the extent of the environmental grime and staining. Example: An average 3-bedroom end of terrace property in London (3 sides of house) may take between 3-4 days.
Q. Do you protect the rest of the property when brick cleaning?
A. Yes, we always use plastic sheeting to protect windows, doors, architectural features and neighbouring properties. Plastic sheeting is also used on our scaffolding to contain dirty water splashing.
At TW Brick Cleaning London we advise our clients to either removal their curtains and/or blinds from windows to prevent water splash staining that might seep through open windows or window frame cracks. Alternatively they could use masking tape internally to avoid dirty water seeping through.
Q. Will your cleaning solution damage my plants?
A. TW Brick Cleaning London uses a specialist formula, which is
biodegradable and safe for the environment. We will endeavor to protect your garden to the best of our ability.
BRICK RESTORATION
Q. What is the white ‘salt-like’ substance on my walls?
A. This chalky white substance is most likely efflorescence. Efflorescence is the movement of salt to the surface of a porous material, particularly brick that forms a coating. When water moves through a wall, or water is driven out through heat or hydration, this process brings salts outwards to the surface. These bricks can be cleaned or dependent on damage, removed and replaced.
Q. What is Re-Pointing?
A. Repointing is a way to repair the deteriorating mortar from the joints of the masonry and comes under our Brick Restoration services. Mortar is a mixture of sand and cements that is applied around the bricks to bind them together. Repointing is required when the mortar between the bricks is breaking down, crumbling or decaying.
Q. How do I know when my property needs repointing?
A. Crumbling mortar, loose bricks, internal damp areas are all signs that your brickwork may be damaged requiring repointing. Mortar over time can weaken and soften, which leads to bricks slackening exposing your brickwork to leakages. The key is to spot the signs early to prevent further damage. If unsure your masonry is deteriorating and causing further damage, call TW Brick Cleaning London for solid, honest advice.
Q. How long does repointing last?
A. It is difficult to provide exact times as it depends on the elements, which differ from year to year, but repointing if done professionally, will last approx. 20-50 years. It is possible but rare to complete repointing twice on the same property in one lifetime.
Q. Will I need to repoint my whole house?
A. Not necessarily. We will take a look at your property and assess which walls will require repointing. Occasionally the front of the house or the wall most exposed to the elements will only need repointing. But each property is different and this will need to be gauged and discussed on viewing.
Q. How long does repointing take to complete?
A. This will vary from job to job, dependent on size and level of damage. Once we view the job, TW Brick Cleaning London can provide realistic estimates.
Q. Can I do the repointing myself?
A. A professional brickwork specialist with expertise, who appreciates the original method of pointing, should always carry out your pointing or repointing work. We understand which type of mortar was used originally, we will colour match and apply the replacement mortar with the same technique. Unsatisfactory repointing can cause exterior and interior damage.Call TW Brick Cleaning London for your repointing concerns and receive honest advise.
PAINT REMOVAL FROM BRICK/MASONRY
Q. Will paint removal ruin my brickwork?
A. Paint removal from brick will not cause further damage to your brickwork, if done by a specialist Brickwork Company like TW Brick Cleaning London.
Q. How do you protect my property when brick cleaning?
A. We always use plastic sheeting to protect windows, doors, architectural features and neighbouring properties. Plastic sheeting is also used on our scaffolding to contain the paint polluted water splashes from reaching areas they should not.
At TW Brick Cleaning London we advise our clients to either removal their curtains and/or blinds from windows to prevent water splash staining that might seep through open windows or window frame cracks. Alternatively they could use masking tape internally to avoid dirty water seeping through.
Q. Will there be paint remnants in grooves of the brickwork?
A. TW Brick Cleaning London will remove all traces of paint from your brickwork. We have a technique that will remove all remnants of paint from the indentations of your brickwork. So do not fret, you would never know the property was painted.
Q. Can you do a paint removal test patch to show final results?
A. Yes, if requested we are happy to complete a test patch from a discrete wall, generally at the back of the house. Paint removal from brick is conducted in a number of steps, so it may require a couple of visits over two days to show final results.
PEBBLEDASH REMOVAL
Q. Will pebbledash removal ruin my brickwork?
A. Pebbledash removal itself will not ruin your brickwork, but the brickwork underneath could be damaged and may have been damaged when the pebbledash coating was applied. Again, this type of work needs to be completed by a professional brick restoration company or brickwork specialists who know how NOT to cause further damage.
Q. Can you do a pebbledash removal test patch to show final results?
A. Yes, if requested we are happy to complete a test patch from a discrete wall, generally at the back of the house.
Q. Will brick repair be needed after pebbledash removal?
A. At TW Brick Cleaning London we always allow for a number of brick repairs or replacements with every pebbledash removal quotation. We cannot estimate the level of brick restoration required to underlying brickwork, but will inform our clients of any additional work required. The work will be agreed before it is undertaken.