Sloppy contractor messes up brick

Q: Contractor used a wet saw to cut concrete slab to install PVC water pipe. When doing so they got concrete powder all over the brown brick on the side of the house from the slab. They should have covered the brick with plastic. Highpressure water from a regular water hose will not clean the brick of the concrete particles.

Is there a chemical I can put on the brown brick then blast it clean of the concrete powder with high-pressure water? Will pool cleaning acid work?

A: Unfortunately, anything I suggest is going to come a little too late. This should have been cleaned up immediately, while it was still wet.

At this point, probably your best bet is going to be to try a diluted mixture of muriatic acid and water. This is a common brick cleaning chemical, available at home centers and other retailers where brick and masonry products are sold. Instructions for mixing will be on the bottle.

Follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, including protective clothing, gloves and eye and respiratory protection. I suggest starting with a nylon scrub brush so you don’t damage the bricks. If that’s not strong enough, try a brassbristle brush. Rinse with plenty of clean water.

Another possible option might be soda blasting. This is a process similar to sand blasting, except it uses sodium bicarbonate (basically baking soda) in place of the sand. It’s gentle and won’t damage the bricks. You can do a web search for “soda blasters” in your area and talk with one of them about how effective it might be in your situation.

Incidentally, I’m assuming the concrete cutter was a licensed contractor (a license is required in most states). He should be responsible for the cost of the cleanup, and if he’s not willing to pay for it, you should be able to file a claim with your state contractor’s board.

Q: I was about to go out and replace a severalyears-old deck that surrounds our pool with a synthetic one. The basic framework is fine, rather the walking surface is in rather poor shape. Is synthetic decking a good idea with a pool? I’m looking at one at (a local home center).

A: I’m not aware of any problems associated with using composite decking around a swimming pool. However, there are a couple things I would clarify with the dealer before making your purchase:

chlorine or other common pool chemicals damage this decking?

using it adjacent to a pool alter or void the warranty in any way?

Which texture pattern is the most slip-resistant when wet?

If the dealer is unable to answer these questions to your satisfaction, then either call the manufacturer directly or check out its website.