Exposed brick accent walls are one of those home features that you either love or hate. Many older homes often come with the wall, however, for some, adding a brick accent wall is a home improvement project that many hope to accomplish. Exposed brick walls started gaining popularity in the South, however, the design trend has been working its way further North year after year and is now one of the most popular design trends. Whether you have exposed brick in your home already or are planning on adding it to your home during your next home improvement, there are a few things to know when it comes to caring for, cleaning, and maintaining your exposed brick walls.
Contrary to common belief, brick is quite susceptible to absorbing moisture as well as dirt due to its porous nature, both of which can lead to deterioration of the brick as well as molding problems that in severe cases, lead to demolition. The easiest way to help prevent your brick from deteriorating pre-maturely or molding is to simply apply either a sealant or an acrylic-based paint as these will help seal the porous bricks extending their life and making the care and maintenance moving forward much easier.
Dusting
As with all surfaces in your home, your brick accent walls will have to be dusted. The easiest way to do this is to use a micro-fiber towel or one of the attachments on your vacuum to help clean the wall/brick.
Cleaning
While the sealant and paint will indeed help your bricks stay clean, they will still need a good cleaning semi-annually. While you may spot clean a few areas, the actual cleaning solution that is most used and recommended for exposed brick is quite easy to make, apply, and clean. Simply mix water with equal parts salt and dish soap (non-scented or dyed soap is recommended) to create a paste. Then apply the paste to the exposed bricks using a stiff brush, after it’s sat for 5-10 minutes you can easily wipe the paste away with a wet sponge and water until the brick is left free of any paste remnants.
If your walls need a little clean up but you don’t feel as if they need a full scrub down with the paste solution, a little soapy water with a soft brush or sponge can also work wonders for more frequent or spot cleaning.
If you’re wanting to add a statement piece to your home such as an exposed brick accent wall, or if you have plans for a home improvement project or renovation, please feel free to contact our office at any time and one of our design experts would be more than happy to assist you.