Paint removal - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

painterman · 05-07-2008, 07:05 AM

I need to remove some painted areas on the exterior of an 1860 brick home.
It looks like maybe only two layers of paint. Some places are peeling now. What would be the best way to remove this paint. I'm thinking high pressure wash or corn blasting. Any thoughts? I can post pics if necessary. Thanks

Jason W · 05-24-2008, 04:25 PM

A new technique I've seen for removing paint from old surfaces is blasting with walnut shells.

I've seen first hand how well it works with wood siding and brick where old, loose mortar could come apart with high pressure washing.

tom connelly · 07-30-2008, 04:00 PM

I don't think that any form of abrasive blasting is the best method, including high pressure, especially seeing as this is a historic job, where some of the materials may have lost their consolidation and bonding characteristics. You are far more appt to cause unnecessary damage.

I would use a chemical stripper, most likely a cream. EaCo Chem makes some excellent strippers. They even have a new one that it is neutral in PH called InStrip. It can eat through multiple paint layers, I know I have removed up to seven and eight layers of paint with it, using only one application. They have another product called Stripper Cream that is very high powered, but it is highly caustic. I have used it before too, with excellent results. With strippers and creams you can power wash using much lower pressure, which means less possible damage. There procucts have been used on historic jobs with hand floated brick and soft mortar with excellent results and no damage.

www.eacochem.com

Another alternative to remove it may be by ice blasting, with ice blasting the the temperature removes the seals or paint, not the abrasion. Steam might be possible as well.

Gutter Clean & Power Wash
Hickory NC

WarnerConstInc. · 08-11-2008, 05:35 PM

I want some stripper cream!!!!

Jamison · 09-06-2008, 08:19 AM

You can do serious damage with blasting & pressure washing, both of which can shorten the life of wood or brick. You could loosen the mortar which would allow moisture to penetrate into the structure. If the outer surface of the brick is burnished and the soft interior is exposed, it will eventually spall or turn to dust. Since this is restoration work you're supposed to be using the gentlest means possible.
If it is painted brick it will be difficult to remove paint, esp. if the brick is highly porous or textured. For small areas I have used a methyl chloride based remover from ProSoCo (fast acting stripper). They also carry some safer less toxic strippers that I haven't tried. I have tested Peel Away 7 (dumond chemical) on brick and it worked, it definitely works well on wood.
I've also used soy-based strippers successfully on wood (SoyGreen 5000), but I doubt it would work on brick. There are many options out there and no two work the same. I always test each surface with several methods to determine the best one. You'll need to use a stiff nylon brush to remove the paint. A block of wood makes a decent scraper. Be careful about using metal brushes or tools as you may affect the color of the brick or damage it. You may be able to use them, but gently.
I've had great success with infrared heat (Silent Paint Remover), but have not testes it on brick. It tends to be quicker and less messy that strippers.

Good Luck!

Mellison · 09-06-2008, 09:24 AM

Peel Away works every time.

JonM · 09-06-2008, 11:43 AM

I hope you had it tested for lead in the old paint...this could be a whole new can of worms for you.

Snow Man · 09-06-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painterman

I need to remove some painted areas on the exterior of an 1860 brick home.
It looks like maybe only two layers of paint. Some places are peeling now. What would be the best way to remove this paint. I'm thinking high pressure wash or corn blasting. Any thoughts? I can post pics if necessary. Thanks

Good start !

tom connelly · 09-10-2008, 12:01 PM

We are familiar with the ProSoCo line up. I have done a number of head to head tests using their products as well as their competitors products. I have used fast acting stripper, and it does an excellent job. However, I prefer most of EaCo Chems products over ProSoCo. Like ProSoCo, they have a full line of strippers including solvents similar to Fast Acting Stripper, such as their product Stripsol.

EaCo Chem:
www.eacochem.com
1-800-313-8505

ProSoCo:
www.prosoco.com

Jason W · 09-10-2008, 04:14 PM

Do Not Pressure Wash Brick Done In The 1800's With High Pressure!!!!

Most of the mortar used in that time period was VERY soft. It gets even softer with age. You stand a good chance of blowing out the mortar with high pressure and causing a major problem.

tom connelly · 09-11-2008, 09:09 PM

With EaCo Chems paint strippers you can scrape the paint off or use a garden hose. They have been used on historic jobs with hand floated bricks with no damage to the brick or the mortar. As long as you are careful you shouldn't have a problem. I would suggest contacting them and getting any tech advise from the chemical company.

carpetman · 10-01-2008, 07:59 PM

Sodablasting works well but very slow, 25 to 30 sq.ft. per hour. Walnut shells.........very quick but blows out the mortar. Will try strippercream and instrip tomorrow. Job is 1900's brick building with three layers of paint. Will post results soon.

Jason W · 10-02-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetman

Sodablasting works well but very slow, 25 to 30 sq.ft. per hour. Walnut shells.........very quick but blows out the mortar. Will try strippercream and instrip tomorrow. Job is 1900's brick building with three layers of paint. Will post results soon.

That suprises me but, good to know.

Deadhead Derek · 12-06-2008, 02:39 PM

Sec of the Int . Standards for rehabilitation state that it is not recommended to use anything stronger than a garden hose for the pressurized cleaning of masonry historic materials. go to the National Park Service and look up the Historic Preservation Brief for removing paint from historic brick. That way you won't end up afoul of the Local Landmarks Commission. In my area, the willful destruction of historic assets, ( usually entire demolition, but vague enough to bite a contractor) is a fine based on 20% of the real market value of the structure. Check out the NPS.

johnisimpson · 12-09-2008, 09:39 AM

wet soda blasting can also take out the mortar on something that old but I second the use of chemicals like Peel-Away. I haven't used some of the others mentioned so I can't make a comparison.

Soda Buster · 12-29-2008, 06:19 AM

Check out photos posted, as long as whom ever soda, cob, walnut, sponge, dry ice blast has experience using their equipment you should not have a worry in the world. The close up of brick picture we did I had blasted the first time on building. It was built in the early 1900's I knew what I was doing. I at first tried a sample in a inconspicuous area to see the the results before going forward.

You may want to redo the mortar joints anyway (TUCK POINTING) old cement needs to be replaced for a better seal ask around. What else are you going to do? Your options are slim to none, its either blast or acid and pressure wash. Scrape till your arms fall off...? I don't think so.

I don't really understand, sure its going to take away the old look, changing how it looked when erected. IT'S BRICK FOR GODS SAKE... Not a house made out of straw. I'm going to huff and puff and blow your house down.

All these guys telling you not to media blast must be all brick layers, keep up with the times. Do you think the Engineers of NY city where not intelligent enough coming up with using soda to clean the Statue of Liberty in the early 1980's. Depending in the face of the brick you may not be able to use soda alone you may need to add something more aggressive to the mix, like DuPont star blast. Yes lead paint can be an issue, but they can do a containment wall with breathable canvas tarps, it will cost allot more.

at least you'll have a red brick look again, not what ever color the JAKE before decided on painting. Best of luck

Deadhead Derek · 12-29-2008, 04:21 PM

I agree that soda is a way to go for the wholesale removal of paint on brick. My only point is that within the codes for historic properties, and the methods approved for the same, Getting approval from the local or state historic preservation office prior to commencing work, is the best way to avoid fines later. SHPO's have approved soda blasting, and it really isn't that much of a hurdle. Getting shut down for not getting approval can take months to straighten out.

Soda Buster · 12-29-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deadhead Derek

I agree that soda is a way to go for the wholesale removal of paint on brick. My only point is that within the codes for historic properties, and the methods approved for the same, Getting approval from the local or state historic preservation office prior to commencing work, is the best way to avoid fines later. SHPO's have approved soda blasting, and it really isn't that much of a hurdle. Getting shut down for not getting approval can take months to straighten out.

I miss read his quote, I thought it may have been his own home?

In which case he can do what ever he or she wishes, unless the house is located in some old local town? Either way its really up to whom ever owns the house, not the historical society. They're there for guidance not to run or say whats best method for removal of paint on a brick home.

Its all politics and the people whom want to throw around their weight sort of speak.

Yes its not a good idea to go full BLOWN blasting, like I said do some samples showing whom ever is in charge proving it may or not be the right application.

We're just trying to make a living like any other trade, we don't or can't focus solely on paint removal in one area of blasting. We @ HERE COMES KOVACH LLC media blaster clean what ever we can get our mitts on cleaning carpet, upholstery, drapes, water, fire, and mold damage restoration and structural drying.

Best of luck whom ever? Stay positive keep moving forward. Us at hck@mail.com 18 years the words "can't or can not" are not in our dictionary. Only YES WE CAN DO THAT...!

Deadhead Derek · 12-29-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soda Buster

I miss read his quote, I thought it may have been his own home?

In which case he can do what ever he or she wishes, unless the house is located in some old local town? Either way its really up to whom ever owns the house, not the historical society. They're there for guidance not to run or say whats best method for removal of paint on a brick home.

Not trying to be a D!ck here, but the fact is, if it is an historic masonry structure, the State Historic Preservation Office, through the local Landmarks Commission do have the authority to levy fines against methods of removal not previously approved for historic properties. You can put the whole "it's his house, he can do what he wants" to it, but by buying, or allowing a property he owns to be listed on an historic inventory, he has agreed to conditions being placed on the appropriateness of the permission sought. Additions, remodels, window replacement, and in some jurisdictions, even paint color. this is not arbitrary, but defined by code and with it, fined when in violation by code, just as building in the setbacks, exceeding height or building without a permit would be.

patriots1 · 07-26-2009, 07:14 AM

I am currently serving in Iraq, I have plans to start my own business next year in south carolina. I am going to do multi media blasting, My plan is to go with a 285 or 300cfm 150psi compressor and a M-21 blast pot. I have always wanted to start my own business and now I'm going to take that leap. I am open to suggestions on everything. My goal is to do mold,rust,paint removal, fire,smoke damage,auto paint surfaces,brick basically anything I can do.
Thank you for any advice!