how to remove paint from brickwork?

Fred · 2010-09-02T13:18:32+00:00

Hi,Following advice from this group, I am now staring to paint the insideof my single skin brick garage with bitumen paint to waterproof it.But... one wall is already covered in paint. I checked with themanufacturer of the bitumen paint and they advised removing theexisting paint first. I had hoped I might be able to paint over it ;(I don't know whether this is masonry paint or emulsion or what becauseit was there when we moved in.I have tried a flap disc in an angle grinder and it does remove mostof the paint but judging from the dust, it is also removing some ofthe brick too. I know some people are quick to warn about the dangersof angle grinders; are flap discs any safer? I presume the danger isfrom discs shattering and high speed fragments flying towards theoperator?I haven't used a wire brush for the same reason; I thought it wouldscratch the bricks.I tried a paint stripper, all I had at home was "yellow" nitromors. Itcertainly took the top layer of paint off but the bricks are stillwhite rather than red, and I have now run out.So what do you suggest I buy and try next?A quick google suggested paint stripper but also sand blasting andpressure washing. The problem would be that I have only emptied halfthe garage and moved the rest into the middle, so to pressure wash Iwould need to empty it completely. There was a suggestion thatpressure washing would damage the mortar though and this is not goodmortar to begin with. It is quite sandy and I have tried to repointwhere it has crumbled already.I see you can get sand blaster attachments for pressure washers. Arethey any good? But aren't we back to where we began that any abrasivewill scratch the brick?TIA

Sep 02, 2010 20 Replies

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christopher 16 years ago

Does anyone know the shaft diameters on the cutters.

I dont have a genuine Dremel, my lookalike ( Aldi powercraft ) has collet sizes of 3.2mm and 2.4mm and I want to make sure of a fit before I purchase.

Chris

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