foam: how to remove from brickwork

Fred · 2008-08-08T18:46:14+00:00

Hi,I discovered that when my carport was built, the builders left gapingholes where the joists entered the brickwork of the house. I decidedto fill these holes with some foam. I bought the low expansion typebecause I know how much trouble foam can be ;)Unfortunately even though I used the low expansion foam and eventhough I underfilled the holes to allow room for expansion, the foamexpanded a lot and some dripped down the walls. It looks like an illsnail has crawled all over it!The problem is that I have these bricks with a rough surface, IIRCthey are called "rustic" bricks. I think they are a PITA because thererough surface is a magnet to get things like foam stuck in and its notvery gentle on your knuckles either ;)I tried very light sanding with a 240 grit paper and it removes someof the cured "trail" and I have tried scraping the grooves of thebrick clean with a Stanley knife but it is a slow process! I did try foam eater but I think that made it worse because ratherthan have to remove a narrow foam trail, I now have a broader foameater trail to clear away ;(I am thinking of using a wire brush. Would that work? I'll have to goand buy one, I threw my old one away. I suppose a powered wire brushon a drill would be too powerful and ruin the bricks?I found that using a hole pipe blasted a little off. If I borrowed oneof those 100bar jet things do you think that would work?Thanks in advance.

Aug 08, 2008 26 Replies

Rate this thread:

Sam Plusnet 9 years ago

I assumed these post were just attempts to drive traffic over to that silly website.

Vote

harry 9 years ago

Just leave it a while. Sunlight makes it go yellow and then crumbly and easy to remove.

Vote

mick 9 years ago

Do you think 8 years is long enough to leave it, Harry?

Vote

Dan S. MacAbre 9 years ago

Whoever put the cladding on our house years ago, sealed it with silicone to the bricks. Every now and again, I give it a little prod, to see if there's any chance of getting it off; but it's still well stuck.

Vote

harry 9 years ago

In direct sunlight it only takes a few months to be totally destroyed. It will go yellow/orange in a matter of days.

Vote

Andy Burns 9 years ago

Way back when, fred was asking about foam, not silicone ...

Vote

Dan S. MacAbre 9 years ago

I know. I'm just gassing off about something that I'm going to have to confront soon :-)

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required