Clean bricks or dirty bricks?

[EllenTheEgret]

House is victorian terrace made of yellow London brick with some red brick over the windows. We're getting the front done: painting woodwork, re-pointing and considering cleaning the bricks.

The bricks are currently really stained and the yellow is more like grey with black patches.. looking at the other houses in the street, however, I'm not sure that I prefer the clean ones.. the yellow brick is actually kind of ugly and makes the houses look weirdly like new build replicas. We've asked about just getting a light wash but apparently that would just leave it streaky.

Would any mumsnetters if good taste care to share their views?

I prefer dirty brick. When i see clean yellow brick I always wonder how long it will take for them to get dirty enough and look decent again. So yeah i vote don't bother!

I love red brick, my house is sort of grey but i have been wondering if that meant dirty yellow

Dirty, clean looks awful imo.

I'd vote dirty as well.

Excellent. Unanimity and also the cheapest option