Replies

1. 
   hasbeen | Jun 12, 2006 01:24am | #1

   You could start with pressure washing, but pressure washing and sand blasting may also strip out substantial mortar which would then require tuckpointing...

   What kinda brick? (smooth or rough surface? hard or soft brick?)

   What's the mortar condition? ( good or crumbly? )

   If you post more detail it will help others who may come along who know much more than me on this topic.

   +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." Voltaireq

1. 
   user-63449 | Jun 12, 2006 01:54am | #2

   The brick is smooth and soft and has half decent mortar, but I am prepared for some pointing. I was warned about what could happen with pressure washing, but if the mortar is good then maybe this is the way to go?

1. 
   hasbeen | Jun 12, 2006 02:33am | #6

   Paint it brick red and then go back and paint the mortar gray!; )+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." Voltaire

1. 
   user-63449 | Jun 12, 2006 04:10am | #8

    I like your humour, but then I would look like the home 2 doors down!

   Edited 6/11/2006 9:15 pm ET by Hyde Out

2. 
   zachariah | Jun 12, 2006 01:54am | #3

   maybe far too time consuming, but a heat gun and steel brush or two or twenty would do it.

3. 
   ponytl | Jun 12, 2006 02:15am | #4

   I've done alot of this .... and to get 100% back to brick ie  no paint... ain't fun...

   last one i did i used 60 tons of sand with a 600lb hopper on the blaser a 750cfm compressor and i had to refill the hopper every 15 min... took longer to come out of the protective suit w/freshairsys and refill the hopper than it did to empty it...

   not fun... but with a rig this size i could be 6-10ft away from the wall...

   i won't go into all the nasty details of what might happen or what you could run into...  but if it was my house (where i painted the brick) i'd leave it or find a new house

   p

4. 
   Mooney | Jun 12, 2006 02:32am | #5

   Im with Pony.

   I tried it .

   Tim

5. 
   BillHartmann | Jun 12, 2006 02:55am | #7

   The name escapes me, but the company that makes paint stripper that you then cover with paper -- AH! just remembered it, Peal Away -- makes one for this purpose.

   I have no idea of how effective it is or the cost.

6. 
   MarkH | Jun 12, 2006 04:29am | #9

   I would probably leave it alone if the brick is soft.  Exposed soft brick will erode and spall, as well as pass dampness.

   Sandblasting is not recommended at all for soft brick!

   I find old brick that is painted to be attractive, whereas machine made modern brick looks better unpainted.  Why? I guess I know that a lot of old brick is better off painted.

1. 
   user-63449 | Jun 13, 2006 03:25am | #10

    I agree with your statement but I am having trouble with the fact that I have always wanted a home with that old brick look.........Maybe I should move......

1. 
   mykola | Jun 13, 2006 03:55am | #11

   Mark is right. Depending on the brick you will/might remove the patina which will eliminate the protective surface of the brick. this will lead to excessive water penetration and possibly spalling of the brick. Applying silicone to the brick after you blast off the paint only causes more problems (do not go that route!) there may be other products on the market that would protect the brick once you have removed the paint and patina, I'm not aware of them.

   Do you live in cold climate? The freeze thaw cycle will destroy the brick even quicker once the patina has been removed. 

   mykola

7. 
   handy | Jun 17, 2006 08:57am | #12

   Shotblasting forget that' do more damage in two days than a hundred years of wear and tear. What type of paint hard or soft brick will determine the method of paint removal. A paint stripper is the preferred removal technic but what stripper to use for what type of paint and why were the bricks painted in the first place you may uncover an eyesore which needs pointing or brick replacement or a brick gem. 

   Read the links then get back.

   http://www.bricksandbrass.co.uk/diyelem/extwalls/wallpaint/wptremvl.htm

   http://www.stripperspaintremovers.com/I_want_to_remove.htm