Removing Paint from Brick
Sarah
I have a question that I'm hoping somebody could help me with (and
please forgive me if it's a common question, I've just found this group). I
recently bought a fixer-upper house. It is brick on the outside, but it has
previously been painted over. When we got the house, some of the paint was
already starting to peel. We decided to remove the paint rather than redo
it. So, we got a pressure washer and used it on the front of the house. Some
paint came off, along with a lot of mortar. However, there was a lot of
paint that didn't wash off. Next, we got some paint stripper and tried it.
On some areas, everything comes off fine. On other areas though, it just
goops up and refuses to budge. Is this because the brick it to porous? Is
there something better to use on brick? I have been by Home Depot that a
sand blaster would get it off, but I have no experience with something like
that and wouldn't know where to start (wouldn't that turn my yard into a
sandbox???). I would appreciate any advice you all can offer. Thank you,
Sarah
Joseph Meehan
Getting paint off brick is a real challenge.
I had a large two story home that I removed paint from. It took several
weeks. First I got most of it off using a lye cornstarch mix and hosing it
off. Next I removed the remainder with a sand blast outfit. I used a small
Sears sand blaster, but found I needed to rent a commercial trailer mounted
gasoline compressor. It went fairly fast. You need special sand and need
to work on dry days to help control moisture in the air and sand.
It is messy hazardous work.
It also can/will damage the brick. You should expect to do some repair.
Anyone caught painting brick should be shot.
--
Joseph E. Meehan
26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math
Nehmo Sergheyev
> Anyone caught painting brick should be shot.
Nehmo
But when did it become fashionable to paint bricks? Specifically, did they
paint bricks in the early 1900s?
--
*******************
* Nehmo Sergheyev *
*******************
http://home.kc.rr.com/missouri/Susan_Talks.htm
Sarah
"Joseph Meehan" <sligoj...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:r1Jq9.58865$kF.92...@twister.columbus.rr.com...
Can we talk in a little more detail about the sand blasting? How much sand
ended up scattered around? Did you put a tarp down for clean up or did you
just shovel it up (not really sure at all here *grin*)?? Also, I have
several large windows. Do I need to do anything special to protect them? I
am not really concerned about damage to the brick. While the brick itself is
in good shape, I'm pretty sure that we will need to tuckpoint the whole
building when we are done. Thanks a bunch for the info!! Sarah
P.S. - Where did you get the lye cornstarch mix? Is it something you can buy
or do you mix it yourself?
Joseph Meehan
> Joseph Meehan
>> Anyone caught painting brick should be shot.
>
> Nehmo
> But when did it become fashionable to paint bricks? Specifically, did
> they paint bricks in the early 1900s?
People still do it. I believe mine was painted about 1920.
Joseph Meehan
Using the low power and slow Sears system I did not need any special
protection for the windows. Most of the same landed within about 4 or 5
feet from the walls, but some when quite a bit further. Some found it's way
into the house. I had good neighbors so that was not a problem, but you
should consider them if you chose this project.
Don't be sure you will not have problems with your brick. This kind of
abrasive treatment can tear up even good looking brick and can damage the
hard fired exterior surface of the brick allowing water to enter and damage
it.
>
> P.S. - Where did you get the lye cornstarch mix? Is it something you
> can buy or do you mix it yourself?
It was a do it yourself mix. I mixed a couple of gallons at a time.
This stuff is really really nasty. I wore protective clothing and eye
protection. I had people standing guard when I was working to keep
neighborhood children away. I am glad I had no serious problems, but it
would have been easy to have had a problem. My suggestion is to give
serious thought to this one before doing it.
As you can see, I did it and it worked for me, but I am not really
suggesting it as a DIY project.
Bruce
blasted off the bricks? Personally, I would recommend applying a new
coat of paint over the old one.
Bruce
A&B Construction
Houston, TX
bverhaaren
Like Joseph mentioned, sandblasting brick does ruin it. We have the same
issue at our house, and researching it, I found this from the Utah
Historical Society:
a.. Never sandblast to clean or remove paint from brick walls; use
appropriate chemical cleaners and low pressure (400 psi maximum) wash
instead. Sandblasting and high pressure washes permanently damage the
protective outer layer of the brick. Always clean small test patches first
in order to determine the gentlest effective method.
a.. Repoint deteriorated mortar joints with a softer, high-lime content
mortar rather than modern mortar which is made up mostly of portland cement.
Modern mortar is stronger than the old brick, so as the building expands and
contracts through the seasons the brick will be the first to crack. A basic
historic mortar mix contains one part lime to three parts sand. Contact our
office for more details on a mortar mix appropriate for your building.
Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation:
http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/tax/rhb/ Has good info about this (and tons of
other stuff).
I've seen a lot of places around here that didn't follow this advice, and
over time, the brick crumbles. I do wonder if the age of the brick
matters -- as in, is newer brick made differently, so that this is only an
issue for old brick (turn of the century).
Here's a trick I've found that works for both brick (if it's has a
realtively smooth surface) and concrete (if you're only dealing with a
couple layers of paint at most): if it gets decent amounts of sun, spray
with water (even if just a hose) let sit, then the water gets under the
paint and as it expands from the heat, it will peel up edges that you can
scrape up. It's still a pain, and you have to be patient, but it works (a
little :) ).
I'm with Joseph completely -- anyone who paints brick should be shot. Hell,
if you don't like the brick, why buy the house?
ra...@westnet.poe.com
<snip>
> I've seen a lot of places around here that didn't follow this advice, and
> over time, the brick crumbles. I do wonder if the age of the brick
> matters -- as in, is newer brick made differently, so that this is only an
> issue for old brick (turn of the century).
Newer bricks are harder, that's why they can deal with a hrader mortar and
why they can probably stand up to (gentle) sand blasting, sometimes... If
you're very carefull.
<snip>
> I'm with Joseph completely -- anyone who paints brick should be shot.
Here, here. Abosolutely.
> Hell, if you don't like the brick, why buy the house?
I rather suspect a lot of painting is done when re-pointing is called for,
or when the wife decides she doesn't like the color of the brick.
I have seen some building where the paint was pressure washed off, and the
resulting partial paint/partial brick exposure was left as is and was not
too displeasing in a distressed antique sort of way.
But by far, the easiest way to remove paint from brick is to never let
anoyone paint it in the first place.
John
--
Remove the dead poet to e-mail, tho CC'd posts are unwelcome.
Ask me about joining the NRA.
Sarah
about using a grinder to remove the paint? Or would that damage the brick in
the same way? The house it 100 years old this year, so the brick is probably
the softer kind. Thanks again all, Sarah
L. M. Rappaport
wrote (with possible editing):
Another vote for not sandblasting:
1. sandblasted bricks look really ugly, no matter how
carefully their sandblasted.
2. they are more porous so flake easier when subjected to
freeze/thas cycles.
3. did I mention how ugly they look?
I'd look further into chemical treatment and pressure washing. Also,
pay careful attention to the post recommending using old-fashioned
mortar for repointing - very good advice.
--
Larry
ra...@lmr.com