Painted bricks. Some people love them, some people hate them. But what everyone can agree on is that removing paint from bricks can be one difficult job. Not only is removing paint hard but you have to be careful not to damage the brick underneath at the same time. It is truly a balancing act. That's why it is usually a good idea to bring in a professional company to remove all the paint while retaining the integrity of the bricks.
If you need help with paint removal from bricks, the Uniwash Team can help. We have extensive experience with removing paint, using the latest techniques and products. Our team of technicians has the training and knowledge to identify different types of paint, assess the integrity of the bricks, and come up with a plan that will remove paint effectively without causing damage to the brick.
Alternatively, if you have the time and necessary tools to remove paint yourself, this is a job that can be tackled. And if you own a pressure washer, you might just be wondering if that could be the ideal solution to your paint removal needs.
Pressure washing can remove paint from bricks but this is a tool that needs to be used very carefully as it could damage the bricks themselves.
So let's take a look at the pitfalls associated with removing paint from brick, the things you should consider when using a pressure washer to remove paint, how to pressure wash paint from brick, and the other options you have.
While bricks are very solid, at the same time brick is a porous material. This means that there are tiny holes in the surface. When you paint brick, the paint won't just dry on the surface, it will also soak into all of the tiny little pores. This can make it very difficult to remove once it has been left to dry completely.
How easy it is to remove paint from brick can in part be related to the type of paint used. Broadly speaking, there are two main groups of paint: oil-based and water-based paint. Water-based paint is generally easier to remove than oil-based, although it is often seen as less durable. And water-based paint is far more commonly used than oil-based, so the chances are that this is the type of paint on your bricks.
You can subdivide water-based paints into interior and exterior paint. Latex is commonly used for interior painted brick but isn't used on exterior brick because it doesn't flex or stretch with changing temperatures and weather conditions. For exterior paint, you are most likely going to have acrylic paint.
Other factors that can influence how difficult the paint is to remove are how many layers of paint are on the surface and the type of brick.
These are important considerations when deciding whether or not to go in with pressure washing because the more difficult the paint removal, the higher the pressure you will need to use.
The short answer to this is: yes. Pressure washing will remove paint from the brick. The more complicated answer is that the risks of using a pressure washer for this job can sometimes outweigh the benefits. This is because, particularly for old brick, the high pressure of the water can cause serious damage. Don't also miss our article "Can You Pressure Wash Indian Sandstone" - it offers valuable insights into this important topic.
Power washers are often called pressure washers but they do differ slightly. Both use high-pressure water forced through a nozzle to blast away dirt, grime, grease, and even old paint. A true pressure washer uses cold water to do this whereas a power washer uses hot water.
So you can think of a power washer as a hot water pressure washer. Power washing will usually be more effective than pressure washing because the heat will help to soften the paint so it will peel off more easily. For more learnings, you can check out our post "Does Pressure Washing Damage Roof Tiles".
You should never use gas-powered pressure washers to remove paint from interior walls. You could be at risk of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.
While many people will say to never use pressure or power washing to remove paint (and we will look at why in a second), there are some very good reasons why you may choose this method.
There is no doubt that using a pressure washer to remove paint is efficient. It takes a short amount of time and requires next to no manual labour. You won't need to spend hours scraping paint flakes from the brick. You can just blast away with your pressure washer and it will all come off.
There are a range of effective methods for removing paint and pressure washing is one of them. Cleaning painted brick is one of those stubborn jobs that can take a long time and a lot of work if you don't find a method that works well. And a pressure wash will definitely do the job.
So, a pressure washer will remove paint quickly and thoroughly. Brilliant! So why do so many people caution against this method? Let's take a look.
This is the main problem you will face when using a pressure washer on painted brick. While pressure washing other exterior surfaces is very common, it is much more likely to damage brick because of its porous nature. This is especially the case with old brick which can start crumbling away under the high pressure of the water.
Before you even think about pressure washing your bricks, you will need to assess their integrity. After all, if there's a load of old paint on them, maybe it is there to hide already damaged brickwork.
If you find some loose paint, you could try peeling strips and taking a look at the brick underneath. Alternatively, you could pressure wash a small area in a hidden location to see how it comes out. Or you could use a different method to remove a small amount of paint, such as a paint stripper.
On a personal level, power washing paint off bricks can be hazardous if you don't use the right safety gear or precautions. This can range from fine particles of loose paint getting into your eyes or lungs to chunks of a brick hitting you at speed.
At the very least, you will need to wear safety glasses, a dust mask, protective clothing, rubber gloves, and safety boots. You should also make sure that you follow the pressure washer's manufacturer's instructions at all times.
If you are confident that pressure washing is the technique you want to use and you have all of your safety gear in place, the method itself is relatively easy to follow.
Unlike the normal cleaning of other exterior surfaces, removing paint requires a higher water pressure. You need to aim for at least 2,000 psi and ideally 3,000. This will be strong enough to strip paint. Oil-based paints will require a higher pressure than water-based paints but it is always a good idea to start on the lower end and work your way up.
In terms of the nozzle, you don't want it at the full 0-degree angle as this will focus too much pressure on a specific area of brick and could damage it. Instead, aim for around 15 degrees.
Get yourself set up with all of your safety gear, including glasses, masks, safety clothing, gloves, and boots. Protecting yourself during this process is very important.
If you are tackling an interior wall, you should make sure to lay down plenty of drop cloths as this particular DIY project will be messy.
Once you have decided on the amount of pressure you are going to try, don't go in all guns blazing and tackle the entire wall. Instead, do a patch test on a small inconspicuous area to see if the paint comes off without damaging the brick underneath.
If your patch test yielded decent results, you can now start tackling the rest of the wall. Remember to start at the lower end of your pressure and work your way up rather than starting as high as possible. If it is possible to remove paint with a lower pressure then that is a safer option for the brick underneath.
Use long arcs to cover the entire wall and remember not to focus the spray on the cement between the bricks. The water pressure can break the cement, loosening the bricks themselves.
If there are small amounts of leftover paint in certain areas, it can be better to remove these manually with a scraper to minimise the amount of pressure washing the brick has to endure. You could use a paint stripper on the remaining paint first if you want to be thorough.
If you aren't sure whether a pressure washer is the best idea or you're worried about the integrity of your bricks, the most effective method for removing paint is to use a paint stripper.
This is the most common method of paint removal and it does work, even if it is a little more time-consuming than pressure washing. A solvent-based paint stripper works by creating a chemical reaction that causes the paint to swell, loosening its bond with the surface material.
Once the stripper has done its job, you then need to go in and scrape away the peeling paint being careful not to damage the brick's surface.
We've talked about how pressure washing can sometimes be too harsh to get paint off the brick without damage but other methods are harsher again and should almost always be avoided as a DIY job. Professionals may be able to use these methods safely, but it takes a lot of training and knowledge to be able to do so.
Sandblasting is similar to pressure washing but instead of high-pressure water, it uses high-pressure sand particles. As you can imagine, this would be even more likely to damage the brick's surface than water.
Caustic paint stripping works similarly to solvent-based solutions but instead of causing the paint to swell, it breaks the chemical bonds within the paint itself. It is all-around a harsher chemical that is far more likely to cause damage to brick, especially older brick.
Now we've examined the potential benefits and pitfalls of stripping paint from brick yourself using a pressure washer, you might be thinking it would be better to bring in a professional company. This decision can often be for the best, especially if you are concerned about preserving the brickwork underneath.
Professionals will have access to equipment and chemicals that you won't have at home. But, perhaps more importantly, they will have the training, knowledge, and experience to use that equipment correctly and safely.
Brick, especially older brick, is easily damaged. A professional service will be able to remove the paint without causing damage which will allow the original brickwork to shine.
If you need brick paint removal services, we are happy to help. Our experienced team of cleaning technicians is trained in a wide variety of brick cleaning methods, including pressure washing, DOFF steam cleaning, chemical cleaning, sandblasting, and more. And their experience means that they can apply these methods for effective paint removal without causing damage to the brickwork.
Our initial assessment will examine the type of paint and brick, after which we will choose the most effective method for your needs. And you will be kept abreast of the plan of action every step of the way. Your brickwork is always in safe hands with the Uniwash Team.
So if you are tired of looking at peeling paint or a colour you hate, or you just want to let your original bricks have their moment in the sun, get in touch with us today so we can get started on the paint removal process.
