Painted brick surfaces can look wonderful. But eventually, after a few years, it chips and wears, leaving a few flakes of leftover paint ruining the look of the otherwise stunning brickwork.
If your property has painted brick that either just isn't your taste anymore or that has started to fade and chip away, you'll have found yourself looking into the best ways to remove paint from brick. When looking, you might find that one of the most commonly suggested methods is pressure washing the paint off of the brick surfaces - but is that really a good idea?
At NW Wash we're experts in all things pressure washers and cleaning. Here's what you need to know about removing paint from brick.
In theory, you can remove paint from brick with a pressure washer. The pure force behind the stream of water from the power washer blasts the paint from the brick pretty effortlessly. This is why it's often quoted as one of the most effective methods of paint removal out there.
However, what many people don't consider, is that when you pressure wash a brick wall, you're likely to cause damage. Brick surfaces are resilient, they can hold a lot of weight and certain types of brick are resistant to heat and the weather, but ultimately, brick is a porous substance.
When you blast a porous substance with a high-pressure stream of water like that from a pressure washer, you're likely to create issues in one of two ways. You may find that the brick gets smashed up and broken by the pressurised water, leaving damaged and unattractive brick that may not be structurally sound. Alternatively, you may create cracks and holes on a smaller level. These may then allow water into the wall, causing rising dampness and moisture problems for the property.
Discover: Does Pressure Washing Damage Roof Tiles
Brick can be cleaned with a pressure washer, but it is advised that you call experts like NW Wash to come and do the job for you. Not only will professional painters and paint removers have the necessary tools and skill, but they will also be able to check a small area of your wall to see how it will hold up against the pressure washer before they start trying to remove stubborn paint.
Trying to remove paint from brick on your own using a pressure washer is dangerous. Not only could you harm your wall, but you could injure yourself. Pressure washers are not toys, and can cause serious injuries if used incorrectly.
There are a few other techniques that professionals like the team at NW Wash may use to remove paint from brick. Which technique we employ will often depend on the brick, the condition of the wall, and the condition of the remaining paint.
Find out more: Brick Cleaning
Paint stripper is an absolutely brilliant invention. Designed specifically for jobs like this, there are a number of different types of paint strippers out there that will work wonders to remove paint from brick.
It is important to make sure you have the right kind of paint stripper for your brick surface and to check that your bricks are in the right condition to have the remaining paint removed before you begin. Remember that paint strippers are often packed full of caustic chemicals (harsh chemicals that are able to corrode), so you should always be careful not to do more harm than good with the products.
When working on a vertical area, a gel paint stripper will always make the job a little bit easier.
When working with NW Wash, we have all of the skills and knowledge to ensure that only top-tier, safe products will be used on your wall. That way, we can be sure that you'll get the best finish possible.
To remove paint from brick using paint strippers, you will need:
Once all of your equipment has been gathered, you should:
Place drop cloths to cover the ground beneath the brick and remove any nearby furniture or plant pots to ensure that cleaning up after removing paint doesn't take you too long.
As with any cleaning, always do a patch test to ensure that the paint stripper does not discolor or damage the brick and to check it works. This should be done in a small, inconspicuous area.
These can often reveal what the paint was used to hide (i.e., damaged brick) and can put a halt to the process.
Loose paint that is flaking off the brick needs to be removed. You can scrape this away easily before you get your paint strippers out.
Following the manufacturer's instructions, apply the paint stripper to the target area. Usually, a tool will be provided to help you with this, but if not, a trowel will work well. Cover every single brick and push the substance into every hole and crevice. You may need multiple layers - check the instructions to find out how many layers they suggest.
You should place peeling strips over the paint stripper. These should overlap one another in order to make sure that you have covered every single brick. Push the strips firmly into the stripper chemicals.
The waiting period usually depends on the product. You should always check the bottle of paint stripper for instructions. In some cases, you may have to wait 24 hours.
You should remove the peeling strips after the necessary wait period. This needs to be done slowly to avoid tearing them. After the strips are removed, you may need to use a trowel to remove any leftover paint-stripping residue.
If the trowel doesn't work, you may need to try warm water and a stiff brush to remove any remaining paint or residue.
Sandblasting is another technique that can be used to remove paint from brick work. However, much like pressure washing, it can be a risk when it comes to maintaining the structural integrity of the brick work.
You should also check any brick work for asbestos and the paint for lead before you sandblast paint off brick, as both are toxic materials and can end up in the air when the paint is sandblasted off.
Dig deeper: Brick Paint Removal
White vinegar and water can remove paint from brick, however, it is a very labour-intensive process. It requires a lot of scrubbing with a thick or stiff brush and can take a long time, especially for larger walls.
Whilst not designed for this purpose, the sticky nature of WD-40 may well remove paint from the wall, especially if a large quantity is allowed to sit on the surface for an extended period of time.
Removing paint from brick needs to be done at moderate temperatures. You should be able to confidently know that frost is unlikely for at least a month, otherwise you may experience brick deterioration.
If you have an extensive paint removal job, or you're unsure about the quality of brickwork beneath your paint, it is always worth hiring professionals like the team at NW Wash.
Our professional team of experts will do the work quickly and efficiently, and we will be able to determine the safest way to remove the paint from your wall without causing damage to the brick's surface.
This often depends on the type of paint and the type of paint stripper. Different paint strippers will remove different amounts of paint from the wall. You might also find that how long you leave it and how many layers of paint stripper may impact how much paint is removed.
If you're looking to remove paint from your brickwork, contact NW Wash today for a free obligation quote. Trust professionals to effortlessly remove the pesky paint from your brick fireplace or walls and limit the effort and stress on your part.
Our team of experienced experts is always happy to help take a brick wall from shabby to chic!
