[JamesRichardson]

I would like to remove the paint from my brick home. You can get a rough sense from the picture of about how big it is. About half is brick.

My questions are:

1) About how much does this cost ballpark?

2) Is there a chance the brick underneath will be crumbling? If so, how much would it cost to re-brick it ballpark? I'm not looking for any real precise number.

 

[mark sr]

It can be difficult if not impossible to return painted brick back to it's natural state. The paint can be either sandblasted off or a chemical stripper used followed by pressure washing. Both methods come with the risk of damage to the brick. How old is the brick?

 

[Gymschu]

Need more details and a picture. No picture is showing up. As Mark stated, it's almost impossible as paint goes into every nook and cranny of the brick. The other issue, and it's a big one, is that, depending on the mortar (type and color) you can do a tremendous amount of damage to the mortar. I've seen brick homes that were sandblasted and/or power washed and the process washes out the color of the mortar destroying the look of the brick. This is something you really need to research and then, if you decided to have it done, well, you need a GREAT contractor to do the work. It won't come cheap.

 

[ClarenceBauer]

It can be done with a Chemical Stripper like ' Back to Nature Tough to Strip "
This product is a very high $$$$ cost but will work may take two applications.
As for cost " GYMSCHU " is correct on his statement, most home owners don't have the funds for this process.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

For a cost estimate check with a local sand blasting company and be done with it. It's not uncommon for those folks to blast paint off of 1890"s buildings that were painted white in the 1960's to reveal the beautiful brick work. The only for sure thing I can tell you is it's not normally a DIY job.

 

[huesmann]

It would also help to know why you want to remove the paint.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

It would also help to know why you want to remove the paint.

They may have personal preferences just as you have.

 

[mark sr]

It's not uncommon for those folks to blast paint off of 1890"s buildings that were painted white in the 1960's to reveal the beautiful brick work.

I don't know a lot about the different types of bricks but I've been told that the more modern brick isn't as good of a candidate for sandblasting as some of the older brick is. Not sure I've ever seen paint sandblasted off of brick that was less than 75 yrs old.


If you go the sandblasting route you should question them about what to expect with the brick once the blasting is done. If they don't know, find someone that will.

 

[huesmann]

They may have personal preferences just as you have.

There is a difference in removing paint because it is failing/flaking, and removing it because you dislike the color. And the difference can direct the method of dealing with the problem. Capisce?

 

[That Guy]

So you have some options. None of them you will like.

Sandblasting, thanks to the EPA and OSHA, is EXTREMELY expensive - for a 1500' sqft ranch with no dormers, your starting price is north of $15,000.

You can use nuts in the blaster but your contractor will need to have the equipment to run it ($$$) but again, OSHA and the EPA, as well as your local municipality will be involved due to 'dust'

Theres soda blasting... thats wet... little to no dust, but you must reclaim the muck...

Chemical strippers and a professional pressure washer (3K PSI + 5+ GPM) will probably be your best bet as a DIY. You can rent commercial/industrial pressure washers from United Rental. Forget lowes/home depot when it comes to their mickey mouse pressure washers.

Try a spin tip on the washer, before introducing chemicals. a high psi, high gpm washer with a spin tip might work..

 

[mark sr]

spin tip on the washer

Around here they are called a turbo nozzle. They are very effective but you need to pay attention so you don't damage the brick or mortar. This is true no matter what type of tip you use when pressure washing.

 

[woodco]

If the brick was painted properly, with a block fill and multiple top doats, presuure washing isnt gonna touch it.

Unless you're rich, I would forget about it.