That side lot with the brick wall finally clicked for me

I used to think old brick walls with moss and stains on them looked bad, like neglect. But last month I saw this one lot in Richmond where the owner left the wall untouched for 8 years. The moss filled in cracks and the staining was even and dark in a way that looked natural. It made the wall feel like part of the ground instead of something stuck on top. That changed my mind about cleaning every single wall. Has anyone else seen old brick that looked better left alone?

2 comments

2 Comments

piper7791mo ago

Has anybody looked at how the moss and stains actually help the brick last longer instead of just looking cool? That organic layer seals the surface from rain and frost way better than any store bought sealer, and I've seen walls that were left natural outlast cleaned ones by decades in the same weather. Your mileage may vary depending on your local climate and what kind of brick you're dealing with, but sometimes the best maintenance is just stepping back and letting nature do its thing.

wren6381mo ago

Hold up, that moss is basically a sponge holding moisture against the brick which is exactly how you get freeze-thaw damage and spalling. Let that stuff grow unchecked and you're just asking for the face of your brick to start flaking off in a few winters.