Removing paint from a brick wall is not an easy ride, especially if you want to keep the wall underneath the paint intact and in good condition.
To make matters worse, using the wrong method to remove paint from brick can make it more difficult to remove and can cause damage to the wall itself.
Luckily for you, I have a guide that tells you exactly how to remove paint from brick in no time at all… well, it will take a little bit of your time, but it will be well worth it!
Factors to Consider When Removing Paint from Brick
Type of Paint
Before we go ahead and give you a detailed guide telling you exactly how to remove all that paint, there are some important points to note. You must establish what type of paint you are working with before attempting to remove it.
The two most common types of paint used for brick walls are latex-based and oil-based paints. As such, this guide will explain how to remove both of those paints.
External Factors
In addition to the paint type, some external factors need to be considered when removing paint from bricks.
These include the materials needed to strip away the paint, the suitability of any products you may want to use, the climate and temperature you will be working in, and the clean-up you will need to do afterward.
Let’s explore these in more detail…
Materials and Products
While metal wool and aggressive scrapers may seem like a foolproof way to get paint off brick, you can actually do more harm than good.
It is unlikely that it will remove all the paint, and it may even cause damage to the wall itself. Sometimes the most seemingly obvious solutions can turn out to be the wrong thing to do.
The correct material for taking paint off brick is not technically a material. I recommend using a caustic paint stripper.
The product is usually in the form of a liquid or pastes paint stripper formulated to get deep into the crevices of the brick, as well as any cracks in which paint could have seeped over time.
If the wall has had paint on it for a very long time, it will likely be embedded deeply into the structure. Paste strippers are our favorite as they are easier to work into the wall. However, thinner liquids work well too.
Suitability
Now that you know that the paint stripper needs to be used, I wanted to take the time to inform you that you cannot just use any paint stripper.
Your brickwork was likely painted with masonry paint, and unless you buy a paint stripper designed for removing masonry paint, you will have some trouble removing it.
As well as needing a masonry paint stripper, you should also ensure that it is drip-free liquid, methylene chloride-free, and avoid getting a spray remover. This will ensure you can use the stripper safely and far more easily.
Clean-up
Provided you follow my guidance in the previous section and buy a non-drip stripper, preferably one that doesn’t spray, then clean-up should be kept at a minimum.
That being said, you must put the necessary cleaning methods in place, such as ensuring there is a cloth or sheet on the floor to catch drips.
This is especially important if you are restoring a brick wall in your home or perhaps a brick fireplace and want to keep it clean and presentable.
Temperature
Of course, I know you cannot control the temperature, but it is worth bearing in mind that exposed brick is susceptible to cracking in extreme weather conditions.
If you plan to remove the paint at a time when temperatures are freezing, then be aware that the longer the brick is exposed without the paint, the more damage it can sustain.
I recommend waiting until you have some warmer days to restore your brick wall so you know you can leave it for ample time between stripping and restoring it.
How to Remove Paint from a Brick Wall: A Guide
What you need to remove paint from the bricks:
- Masonry paint stripper of choice
- Wire brush
- Drywall knife
- Protective gear (goggles, painting overalls, long sleeves, and a face covering if needed)
- Plastic sheets
- Old cloths
Easy guide to removing paint from brickwork and brick walls
Test
Before you do anything, you must test an area first. Do this in a relatively out-of-view area, testing at least 2 or 3 bricks. Follow the instructions on your particular masonry paint stripper.
Take out a small amount of the stripper and apply it to the test area. After applying it thickly (as thick as the amount of jelly or PB you would spread on a sandwich), you can cover it with a plastic sheet.
Wait around one hour and then go back and peel off the sheet. You are looking to see whether the paint is starting to come away from the brickwork. If you are happy that your stripper will do the job, you can move on to the next step and start preparing to do the whole brickwork.
Preparation
Hopefully, you have found a stripper that works for your needs and are ready to move on to the whole thing. First, you must prepare the area by cleaning it thoroughly. This is especially important if it is on an outside wall or a fireplace.
If it is possible, use a garden hose to do this. If not, simply use a large bowl, bucket, or pail of water and a rag and manually clean it down.
While this step makes the paint removal method much easier, it is not essential, and if your brickwork is in clean, good condition, you can skip the cleaning process if you wish.
Let the wall dry fully before applying any paint-stripping product. This may take 12 hours or more, especially in a cold climate.
When satisfied that the wall is adequately cleaned and dried, you can prepare the area around it by setting down old clothes and sheets to catch old flaked-off paint, any drips of the paste or liquid, and any debris.
If you are outside and it is windy, then it may be worth taping the sheets down or placing heavy garden rocks in the corner.
Protect Yourself
Now that you have prepared your workspace, you must ensure you are safe. This means that you need to take all necessary steps to protect yourself from harsh paint strippers, dust, debris, and old, flaked paint. All of these can be a possible irritant to the skin, lungs, and eyes.
For this reason, I highly recommend wearing eye goggles, protective clothing such as painter’s overalls and long sleeves, and perhaps even a pair of work gloves.
It is also important that you keep the area as well-ventilated as possible, wearing a face-covering if you feel it is needed to prevent you from inhaling any possible irritants.
Apply the Stripper
You are all geared up, your wall is prepped, and the area is protected – now for the fun part!
Grab your masonry paint stripper and crank it open. Whether you have chosen a paste formula or a liquid one, you should grab your drywall knife (or a putty knife if preferred), take the product, and apply it to the wall or brickwork.
Apply the stripper thickly (this is why I think paste is the best formula), doing so with a wire brush (with hard, stiff bristles) if you want to make it easier on yourself or have a bigger space that needs covering.
You may even find an old, clean paintbrush does a good job of applying the stripper. Work quickly to do this, as you will want to ensure you apply the plastic sheet before any of the strippers has dried.
If your brickwork is on a large area, you can split it into sections, applying stripper and then the sheet at a section at a time. When applying the plastic sheeting, you should apply it neatly, smoothing out any air bubbles so it is completely flat. This will ensure it gets all the paint off when the time comes to peel it.
When all the stripper and plastic sheets have been applied, leave them on the brickwork for the specified time. This can vary from product to product, so check your particular stripper.
Remove the Paint
When the stripper and sheets have been left on the brickwork for the specified amount of time, you can go ahead and remove them. To do this, you should grab a corner of the plastic sheet and firmly pull it off, trying hard to remove all the sheets so as not to break it.
Under the sheet, you should see that the paint has also peeled away, either coming off with the sheet or loosely hanging onto the wall.
Do not stress if some of the paint remains on there. This paint will be loose and flakey and will be able to be scraped away with ease. Use a rough bristles brush or paint scraper to remove any residue, ensuring that you use the paint scraper carefully to avoid damaging the exposed brick.
When you have worked away all of the residue paint, you may still find some stubborn patches left on there.
To deal with this, you could repeat the process (I recommend doing this if a large area is stubborn). You should also apply white vinegar to any small stubborn areas to get the paint to budge.
Finish up your brickwork restoration by cleaning up all the paint and debris and washing the wall down with a hose or pail of water. You could also use a power washer at this point if you wanted to. You can then go ahead and restore it in any way you wish.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is unlikely that vinegar alone will remove masonry paint from brick.
Whilst it is good to remove stubborn patches after a paint stripper has been applied, it will not be abrasive enough to remove touch masonry paint from large areas.
Masonry paint stripper works best in paste form as it can be easily applied in thick layers.
I recommend Sunnyside’s Multi-Strip Advanced Paint and Varnish Remover which is methylene chloride free and masonry paint assured.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a detailed guide on how to remove paint from brick. I am sure you agree that it is easier than you thought.
Remember, use the wrong method, and you can do more harm than good, so use my tried and tested method, grab some of my favorite masonry paint strippers, and get scrapping!
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