Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - stripping of plaster covered brick walls
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bobo1
11-11-03, 10:22 PM
Hey! I want to stip the plaster off some brick walls and then leave the bricks exposed.
Can anyone tell me exactly what products to use once I'll be done stripping the plaster? I heard you nead some kind of acid and then some varnish ...
Have you done it before? what do you recommend?
Can anyone tell me exactly what products to use once I'll be done stripping the plaster? I heard you nead some kind of acid and then some varnish ...
Have you done it before? what do you recommend?
daves_trip
11-15-03, 10:18 AM
I have just done th same after much contemplation. first off, removal methods...I aksed a friend with much experience what he does to remove the plaster and the reply was "I call so and so" well what does "so and so" do?
He brings five items. Hatchet, broom, shovel, mop, garden sprayer. the sprayr will keep the work wettish to keep the dust factor down. everything else is elf explanatory. I found and have een elsewhere that the interior brick is often quite poorly done from an aesthetic viewpoint, as it was never intended to be seen. of course some folks like this, so that is just mater of taste. but be prepared for lots of mortar falling off, sticking out in globs, uneven brick patterns etc. In my case the brick in question is the outside (inside of the house) two walls of an old chimney. there were three thimble holes that needed filling and lots of bricks needed to be replaed to keep the wall from falling over. as such, I repointed the entire surface using a lime mortar. well, I am halfway through it anway. the original lime mortar is very soft and will fall away everytime you even look at the wall. so you can repoint, scrub with water and maybe some baking soda, or if you don't want to repoint you can lighlty blast with walnut shells. there is a sealant that allows water vapor to penetrate and does not change the appearance. can't recall who makes it though) this might keep the dust down. the only reason for sealing the wall is to keep it from becoming a source of dust and dirt in the house. improper selaing may prevent the lime mortar from doing the job of allowing moisture to escape from inside the wall. a much bigger problem outdoors of course but one to beware of nonetheless.
I will see how my repointing goes, my mortar mix is 1:2:9 portland cement/hydraulic lime/play sand. it feels reasonably soft but a bit harder than the original stuff laid in 1914. hopefully it will not cause me any problems but I was wary of using a completley cement free mortar as that requiress more expertise than I have. everyone who see the wall says it looks great so at least I have that going for me. I will probably not seal the brick surfaces. the chimney willl still be used with a new liner and insulation, to serve my furnace and HWH.
best,
dave in dc
He brings five items. Hatchet, broom, shovel, mop, garden sprayer. the sprayr will keep the work wettish to keep the dust factor down. everything else is elf explanatory. I found and have een elsewhere that the interior brick is often quite poorly done from an aesthetic viewpoint, as it was never intended to be seen. of course some folks like this, so that is just mater of taste. but be prepared for lots of mortar falling off, sticking out in globs, uneven brick patterns etc. In my case the brick in question is the outside (inside of the house) two walls of an old chimney. there were three thimble holes that needed filling and lots of bricks needed to be replaed to keep the wall from falling over. as such, I repointed the entire surface using a lime mortar. well, I am halfway through it anway. the original lime mortar is very soft and will fall away everytime you even look at the wall. so you can repoint, scrub with water and maybe some baking soda, or if you don't want to repoint you can lighlty blast with walnut shells. there is a sealant that allows water vapor to penetrate and does not change the appearance. can't recall who makes it though) this might keep the dust down. the only reason for sealing the wall is to keep it from becoming a source of dust and dirt in the house. improper selaing may prevent the lime mortar from doing the job of allowing moisture to escape from inside the wall. a much bigger problem outdoors of course but one to beware of nonetheless.
I will see how my repointing goes, my mortar mix is 1:2:9 portland cement/hydraulic lime/play sand. it feels reasonably soft but a bit harder than the original stuff laid in 1914. hopefully it will not cause me any problems but I was wary of using a completley cement free mortar as that requiress more expertise than I have. everyone who see the wall says it looks great so at least I have that going for me. I will probably not seal the brick surfaces. the chimney willl still be used with a new liner and insulation, to serve my furnace and HWH.
best,
dave in dc