18 Jan Three Ways to Get Paint Off Brick

Maybe you’ve mistakenly splashed paint on your brick wall while painting an adjacent wall. Or you’ve come to regret painting your bricks in a not-so-delightful shade of rusty red.

Whatever the reason, if you need to get paint off brick efficiently, without causing damage to the porous surface, we’ve got the answers you need.

Paint stripper is the best choice

Paint stripper is great for removing paint from flooring, walls and wood, but it’s especially helpful when extracting paint from a brick wall’s deep crevices. It does, however, involve a fair amount of physical labour. One way of easing the task is to use a gel paint stripper, leave it to soak and then get at it with a stiff-bristled brush.

If you’re working on a large surface area, ask the paint shop to point you to a stronger chemical product which comes in larger quantities. Ensure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and wear gloves to keep your skin safe.

Work (carefully) with a pressure washer

Using a pressure washer makes life easier, but it can also ruin your brick surface. The key here is to be gentle. Start by cleaning with paint stripper and then select the lowest pressure possible on your pressure washer.

It’s best to use this method only for spillages or the stubborn remnants of leftover paint and not for an entire wall, as this will definitely compromise the integrity of the surface.

Call in the sandblasters

Sandblasting is not a DIY project and will require that you call in the professionals – like Pelham Painters – who specialise in cleaning brick surfaces. Sandblasting is highly effective with the added benefit of being chemical-free, but must be done with care to avoid damage.

Other methods

You may have heard about some other methods for removing paint off brick, such as good old WD-40. Well, this does work, if administered in sufficient quantities and allowed to stay on the surface for a few hours. To be honest though, WD-40 is only good for dealing with small paint splotches.

Vinegar is another, more natural method that does, however, only work in conjunction with a lot of stiff brushing. If the patch is small enough and your arm strong enough, it can be mildly effective.

Call in Pelham Painters

Whether you need a sandblast, or any kind of assistance removing paint from brick, just give us a call.