Comments on: How We Removed Paint from the Brick on The Merc https://vintagerevivals.com/how-to-get-paint-off-brick/ Fearless DIY Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:43:53 +0000 hourly 1 By: Marie https://vintagerevivals.com/how-to-get-paint-off-brick/#comment-1586182 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 20:06:41 +0000 https://vintagerevivals.com/?p=6504802#comment-1586182 Hi Mandi –
Love your blog. I work in historic preservation in Texas and I love seeing how people reuse their old buildings.
I have to admit, when I started reading this post, the grinder scared me. Old brick is soft to begin with and grinding or sandblasting can destroy it quickly. Seems like the sanding pads were a good solution though.

My two recommendations would be for moving forward would be (and I realize you might have moved on already):
1. Talk to the brick professionals at Prosoco. They have many products for old brick that can protect it without completely sealing it, which can damage it further. Old brick is meant to breath, which means it can absorb water and then expel it again. Old wall don’t have weep holes and vapor barriers like new frame construction, so this breathing process is important. Prosoco’s products help to keep this natural process while protecting it.
https://www.prosoco.com/

2. Make sure when you repoint the mortar joints that you don’t 100% Portland. This will also damage the brick as Portland cement is way stronger than old brick. This guide from the National Park Service elaborates https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/2-repoint-mortar-joints.htm and this guide has a good mortar ratio for historic brick – https://www.gsa.gov/real-estate/historic-preservation/historic-preservation-policy-tools/preservation-tools-resources/technical-documents?Form_Load=88337

]]> By: Mandi https://vintagerevivals.com/how-to-get-paint-off-brick/#comment-1585604 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 16:51:27 +0000 https://vintagerevivals.com/?p=6504802#comment-1585604 In reply to Lori.

Oh wow I just spent the last few hours over there!! Such an amazing thing they’re doing!!

xo
m

]]> By: Lori https://vintagerevivals.com/how-to-get-paint-off-brick/#comment-1585599 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 02:49:17 +0000 https://vintagerevivals.com/?p=6504802#comment-1585599 Speaking of repointing, have you ever read the The Danville Experience restoration blog? Everything I know about old bricks and mortar, I know from them. If you scroll down past the bit about the carpet moths, there’s a great primer on old kinds of brick & mortar and the challenges of repointing: https://danvilleexperience.blogspot.com/2016/06/masonwork.html

Loving all your updates, even though I rarely comment!

]]> By: Mindy https://vintagerevivals.com/how-to-get-paint-off-brick/#comment-1585517 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:31:24 +0000 https://vintagerevivals.com/?p=6504802#comment-1585517 Cool. Looks great.

]]> By: Briana https://vintagerevivals.com/how-to-get-paint-off-brick/#comment-1585501 Sat, 02 Sep 2017 16:17:49 +0000 https://vintagerevivals.com/?p=6504802#comment-1585501 Make sure you use the right grout for that old brick! I see so many old brick houses destroyed by re pointing with mortar that is too hard, and it makes me sad.

]]> By: Gemma https://vintagerevivals.com/how-to-get-paint-off-brick/#comment-1585491 Fri, 01 Sep 2017 06:32:41 +0000 https://vintagerevivals.com/?p=6504802#comment-1585491 Can’t believe how well that worked!!! It looks INCREDIBLE!

]]> By: Mandi https://vintagerevivals.com/how-to-get-paint-off-brick/#comment-1585488 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:37:03 +0000 https://vintagerevivals.com/?p=6504802#comment-1585488 In reply to Alli.

Yes! It came back negative but we were careful just to be safe!

]]> By: Alli https://vintagerevivals.com/how-to-get-paint-off-brick/#comment-1585484 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 17:59:11 +0000 https://vintagerevivals.com/?p=6504802#comment-1585484 Did you test the paint for lead?!

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