Have you moved into a property with painted exterior walls but you want the original brick surface restored? Is old paint flaking away from your walls, making them look tired and unappealing?
Painted brickwork is a common problem in the UK, particularly on older properties. For example, it's rare to see an Edwardian house that wasn't painted in the fashionable colours of the time. However, countless homes have been painted since then, and not always with masonry paint, unfortunately.
At Uniwash Team, we see these problems all the time, and our experienced team has a range of specialist tools to tackle them successfully.
Paint removal from brick walls has become extremely popular over the past few decades, for several reasons. Some people simply want to enjoy the original appearance of the beautiful brickwork, but there's another more serious side...
The quick answer is that painting bricks will almost definitely shorten their life.
The fact is that most bricks were never designed to be painted: they are made of porous material, allowing water vapour to pass through and evaporate which helps to balance moisture levels within the walls.
Applying paint to your external brickwork effectively seals in moisture. When this moisture is trapped inside it builds up, eventually causing problems with mould, rot, and penetrating dampness.
Water also stays inside the brick, and this can continually freeze and thaw during winter, causing the surface to crack. This leads to spalling, as pieces of the brick surface break away exposing the internal matrix to the elements.
This leads to further damage and will also affect the mortar, eventually resulting in the structure becoming compromised.
Some people think that painting over cracked or crumbling bricks will protect them. But, as we've learned, it will increase the likelihood of problems with damp and rot. It's always better to repair any damaged masonry and brickwork immediately rather than wait for it to get worse.
Sealing moisture within damaged brick will lead to increased maintenance costs in the long term.
While it might be fashionable at the time and will make your property stand out from the rest, exterior paint needs freshening up on a regular basis if it's to stay looking vibrant and appealing. It will get dirty, especially during the colder, wetter months, and will need cleaning frequently.
Without this, your painted brick will soon look scruffy and unpleasant.
Remember, once you've painted brick, it's not easy to go back. Paint removal isn't easy, as many homeowners have discovered to their frustration.
No matter what methods you use, removing paint residue completely is often impossible. The only way to get your brick walls back to their original appearance is to contact a professional brick paint removal service, like Uniwash Team.
As brick paint removal experts, Uniwash Team has a range of tools and equipment that can be used to shift old paint, although the following examples are more widely used:
DOFF was designed by Stonehealth Ltd as a means of cleaning masonry and old stonework without causing any damage to delicate surfaces.
This machine sprays superheated water (at about 150º c) onto the surface at a low pressure where it breaks down and dissolves all manner of contaminants, including paint. Due to the high temperature, the wall dries out within minutes and is never saturated.
DOFF steam cleaning is safe, effective, and environmentally friendly as it doesn't require any harsh chemicals and doesn't use much water compared with pressure washing.
TORC was also designed by Stonehealth Ltd and is a development of their highly popular JOS system. Again, it was developed for cleaning stone but works as effectively on painted brick.
Instead of using steam, this system combines fine granules (bicarbonate of soda, usually) with water and a cleaning solution that gently scours the brick. This rinses away, leaving the bricks perfectly clean.
The TORC system is eco-friendly as it has a low carbon footprint, uses little energy, and even less water than DOFF machines.
Sometimes still referred to as sandblasting, soda blasting is a gentler, more efficient, and safer option. Sandblasting was banned in the UK back in the 1950s - that is, the use of actual silica sand was discontinued because of the high risk of silicosis, a potentially fatal respiratory disease.
There are various alternatives, including soda blasting, which uses bicarbonate of soda (basically, baking powder). These fine particles are sprayed onto the bricks using compressed air at low pressure, scouring surfaces gently, much like the TORC system.
Soda blasting is gentle enough for paint removal from brick and is safe, non-toxic, eco-friendly, and non-abrasive. The particles disintegrate on impact, removing paint and other contaminants.
It is then washed away using a pressure washer on a low setting.
This method is very effective on water-based paints.
You can, but it's not advisable unless you are experienced or skilled in using a pressure washer. It's very easy to damage your brick walls by selecting a high pressure, using a narrow jet, and holding the nozzle too close to the surface.
The Uniwash Team team is fully trained to use all equipment correctly and effectively, without causing any damage. For more information check out our post “Will pressure washing remove paint from brick".
It obviously depends on the size of the walls in question, but there are other factors to consider when brick cleaning.
For example, we need to know how many layers of paint there are and what state they're in. Also, there are different bricks that may need specialist treatment. Some old bricks are soft and might sustain damage if we use the incorrect methods. We will need to use the right approach and take our time to avoid damaging the bricks or mortar.
We also may need to erect scaffolding to provide a safe working area for our staff, which adds to the timescale.
As a general guide, allow at least a full day for an average-sized residential house. While the actual paint removal process might only take a few hours, we need to allow time for setting up equipment and clearing the site afterward.
As a professional cleaning company, we handle dozens of different scenarios and our paint removal service is only one among many that we offer.
Each project is different, although we follow a general pattern when removing paint from brick.
The process begins with a site inspection to determine the extent of the project, the state of the paint, and the condition, type, and age of the bricks beneath. Remedial repairs may be necessary before any cleaning takes place.
We will also perform a lead test for safety reasons, depending on the age of the property.
Any potential health and safety issues will be flagged at this stage and appropriate measures put into action.
We will then decide on the best methods for removing paint from your brickwork effectively and efficiently, without damaging the substrate.
The brick cleaning process then begins, and the team will endeavour to restore your walls to their original condition. They may need to go over stubborn areas several times, but it is always our aim to remove all the paint.
Depending on the state of the brickwork beneath the paint, we may recommend that all brick surfaces are cleaned thoroughly to remove dirt, mould, or sooty stains that might otherwise spoil its appearance and present a problem in the future.
When the team has finished, we will conduct a final check and clear away the equipment before leaving the site.
Most paint removal services charge by the square metre, and costs vary by region, although there are other factors to bear in mind.
We would need to know the size of the area that needs treating, along with other details such as the state of the paint and the type of brick. This helps us to have an idea about which paint removal methods we will need to use.
Your best option is to give us a call to discuss the details, and we'll provide a free quote.
If you need a guide as to a fair price, feel free to visit trusted sites like Checkatrade for further information.
It is possible, although you need to be prepared for hard work and the fact that you may not remove all the paint.
When you Google the topic, you'll find all sorts of remedies, many suggested by alleged experts in the paint removal process. This is worrying, as some suggestions are the very opposite of what you should be doing!
For example, some sites casually recommend taking a wire brush to your bricks. Please don't do this, especially if your house is very old. Doing so could seriously damage the surface.
Bleach, trisodium phosphate, and ammonia are not good idea either, no matter what some people say. You can dilute it, but if it's not washed off completely, it will leave a film on the surface. While they might remove paint, the acidic qualities of these liquids can damage the bricks if you are not careful.
There's also the risk of splashing these solutions on yourself, or the runoff from rinsing your walls may present a hazard to plants, people, pets, and wildlife.
Other sites suggest using white vinegar (or even hot vinegar!). Again, this is acidic and could harm the bricks if used in sufficient quantities and not washed off.
Finally, there are websites that recommend scrubbing your brick walls with a wire brush. Again, this is not the best idea as it could destroy the protective outer layer, exposing your bricks to damage from the elements.
If you only have a small area to deal with, we would recommend that you invest in a good quality brand gel-based paint stripper. Brush the whole section down with a stiff-bristle brush (nylon or natural fibre, not wire!) to remove all loose debris and any dirt or organic growth.
Apply the gel and leave for the required time, then peel it away. Beware, though, it is possible to leave it on for too long, in which case it becomes very difficult to remove and almost impossible to clean up afterward!
Alternatively, if the paint is loose and flaky, you could use a mixture of water and mild detergent. Never put undiluted detergents or soap of any kind directly onto a dry brick surface. Any exposed brick will absorb the liquid like a sponge, and this will eventually cause them to crumble and become discoloured.
Spray the bricks with water before applying the soapy mix, then scrub gently with the soft-bristle brush. Rinse it well to remove all the soap and leave it to dry.
It's worth noting that whichever method you use, it's likely that traces of paint will still remain.
For complete paint removal, you need a professional cleaning company like Uniwash Team.
If your property was constructed prior to 1992 and, more specifically, before 1980, it's highly likely that there is lead compound in the paint.
Lead compounds were widely used in paint and coatings of all kinds to prevent corrosion and add waterproof qualities. However, lead is extremely toxic to humans and animals, especially when it breaks down and the particles enter the air. Chipped, flaking, or deteriorating lead paint is a serious health risk and must be dealt with carefully.
There is some good news in that if it's in good condition, it shouldn't present a hazard. Also, it's more likely that you'll find lead on the internal woodwork (or metalwork, indoors and outdoors) than the exterior paint on your brick walls.
However, if there are several layers of old paint, there's a fairly high chance that the deeper layers contain lead. Lead-based paint can't be identified by sight, and you'll need a test kit to do this. Once it's been identified, it has to be removed using a method that will seal it and not release dust particles.
The best way to do this is with a gel-based paint stripper that binds the lead within the paint and doesn't cause dust. Never use an abrasive method, like sandblasting, or corrosive chemicals.
In general, it's best to leave them uncovered for all the reasons listed above.
However, there are a few cases when it's okay to paint brickwork, including the following examples:
Other than this, painting exterior brickwork is very likely to cause you a lot of problems later on, and that's when you'll need to call on Uniwash Team to come to the rescue.
While masonry paint can look amazing when done correctly and maintained properly, old paint is a headache for countless home and business owners.
Problems with penetrating damp, black mould, mildew, and dry/wet rot are no joke, increasing repair and maintenance costs significantly for thousands of people. When you paint over brick, the risk of these problems becomes dramatically higher.
Removing paint from brick is clearly the best course of action: it will increase the lifespan of your brickwork and dramatically cut the risk of issues with dampness or mould.
When you need a paint removal service you can trust, contact the Uniwash Team and we'll restore your walls to their original condition with minimal disruption. Our methods, skills, and experience enable us to tackle any type of property, big or small, and to deal with all kinds of brickwork, no matter its condition.
Call today for your free quote and we'll form a plan of action together.
Removing paint from brick isn't the easiest of tasks - unless you have the right skills and equipment. Although countless 'experts' suggest that you can simply scrub it off with soap, water, and a stiff brush, this rarely gets the right results. The porous nature of brick makes removing paint difficult, which is why it's best to call a professional cleaning company, like Uniwash Team.
Yes, in most cases. Bricks are generally porous and need to be able to breathe naturally. Covering the surface with paint clogs up the pores, especially if the wrong kind of paint has been used. Removing paint will allow bricks to release moisture that will otherwise damage your walls and lead to mould, mildew, and penetrating dampness.
It depends on the age of the wall, the type of brick, the type of paint, and how long it has been in place. For interior brickwork, especially on a small area, you could use a gel-based paint stripper. But for exterior brickwork, it's best to opt for one of the methods mentioned above, ideally by a professional cleaning company that offers a paint removal service, like Uniwash Team.
Although some websites tell you this is okay, please ignore this advice. Sanding brick is a sure way to destroy the outer layer, leaving your break weakened and prone to weather damage. Likewise, few reputable companies will use sandblasting for the same reason. If in doubt, contact the Uniwash Team and we'll undertake the job without damaging your brickwork.
