Learn how to get rid of onetime , chipped , or faded paint on brick airfoil .
John Stoffer
Brick fireplaces , floors , and menage exteriors may be painted to hide damage , provide additional sealing , or simply change up the aesthetic of a home . However , paint brickis much easier than stress to remove paint , so before grabbing a paintbrush to get across up brick with a overbold colour , consider the potential trouble it could produce in the future .
Credit:John Stoffer
If the home or hearth is already paint , but you want to restore the original brick purpose , you will need to take away the layer of paint without damaging the brick . For this ground , toilsome - duty solutions , like press lavation or sandblasting are n’t recommended . This will likely damage the brick and mortar in the summons . rather , employ this guide to learn how to slay paint from brick without damage the bulwark , fireplace , or façade .
Before Getting Started
There are several products to consider for removing paint from brick . While you want to avoidpressure washingand sandblasting , which can damage the brick , paint ecdysiast and gel striptease artist are good options that can remove paint without leaving the brick pitted , crack , or crumbling . However , it ’s important to note that a non - mordant paint stripper will get less of a threat to your personal health and to the brick open .
Gel - base rouge striptease function best for vertical aerofoil , like a brick hearth surround , because they stand by in force than fluid paint striptease artist . Additionally , some paint strippers contain harmful chemical ingredient , which should be avoided . Before buy paint stripper , check the constituent leaning and avoid any with methylene chloride or N - methyl pyrrolidone .
likewise , pure acetone is a powerful selection for off paint from brick , but it give off extremely flammable vapors . If you choose to apply this solution , be prepared with appropriate personal protective equipment to stay dependable while you operate .
Safety Considerations
Paint peeler are designed to conk out down the chemical composition of paint , but to do that they are often made with powerful chemical compounds that can damage your eyes , skin , and lungs . Before using a paint sprigger , endow in personal protective equipment .
Put on closed - toe skid , long bloomers , a longsighted - sleeve shirt , gloves , safety goggles , and a mask or gasmask . If you ’re puzzle out indoors or in an enclosed locating , make trusted to open windows and doors , as well as set up one or more fans to better ventilation and air flow . It ’s also a in force idea to contain the manufacturer ’s directions before using the paint striptease to determine if there are any best practices to stick to or likely risks to avoid . Even with non - caustic paint strippers , it ’s important to take personal safety seriously .
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
Materials
Instructions
How to Remove Paint from Brick
Test the Paint
begin the process by lease a modest sample distribution of the paint with the putty tongue and extend blusher tryout outfit . Send the sample to the lab , concord to the instruction cater with the test outfit . As long as the sample is negative , you may proceed without issue , but if lead is detected in the paint , you will need to hire a lead hiatus contractor to manage this job .
Prepare the Area
Once you sleep together the paint is Pb - free , you’re able to start cook the area to insure that paint and pigment stripper well wo n’t get on any nearby object or surfaces . practice catamount tapeand plastic sheeting to wrap up the ground and any piece of furniture or item that can not be transfer from the domain .
Clean the Painted Surface
If the brick is coated in grease or carbon black , thenit will need to be cleanedbefore applying the paint striptease . This will facilitate ensure that the stripper well can get down to the pigment without stain , soot , or other debris acting as a roadblock .
desegregate a suitable cleaning solvent with tender water supply in a bucket , then apply a telegram brush and sponge to clean house the paint control surface . If the brick is relatively clean , you may vamoose this step .
Apply Paint Stripper
apply a fluid pigment stripper for horizontal surface , like a brick floor , and a colloidal gel paint exotic dancer for vertical airfoil , like a brick hearth environs . put on the paint stripteaser with a paintbrush . Work in small sections and apply the key stripper well in chummy pelage so that it does n’t dry too quickly .
scan and stick to the way provide by the manufacturer to find out how long to leave the paint stripteaser on the paint surface before proceeding to the next step . Typically this will take about 20 minutes , though it may take as long as two hours if you are removing multiple stratum of paint .
Paint strippers take powerful chemical , so before using , put on appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure right external respiration .
Remove the Top Layer of Paint
After waiting long enough , quiz the pigment with a putty knife to determine its solidity . If the paint is soft and easy to scrape off , use a putty tongue to scrape away the bulk of the paint in the target area . ensure todispose of the paintappropriately according to local regulations .
Reapply Paint Stripper
tot up a second level of paint stripteaser , ensuring that it get into all the fissure and groove , then waitress the hint amount of clip . This 2d coat of key stripper will aid to loosen any persist paint that is still cleave to the brick surface .
Remove Remaining Paint
Use a putty knife to scrape away any wanton layer of key , then switch to blade wool or a sword - bristle brushwood to remove the continue pigment . If you used a caustic paint stripper , you will need to neutralize the stripping solution , then rinse the brick surface to get rid of any leftover paint , paint stripper , or neutralizing root .
