Our addiction with new Pinterest interior designs and inspos can stir our desire to redesign or renovate our homes. Change is the only constant thing in this world. Trends change, new designs come and we get bored with how our home looks. The only solution is a total makeover!

However, renovations can be daunting like dealing with additional financial expenses and hiring an expert interior designer. If you plan to DIY your home renovation, expect to have some slight flaws, one of which is having some smeared paint on your bricks. Here’s a DIY on how to take the paint off the brick.

1. Be prepared to have the Right Materials and Tools

Every DIYer has to have the right materials and tools to make every project possible and successful. Here are the things you need to remedy the brick problem:

  • A nice pair of gloves
  • Extra paint strippers and laminated paper paint removal strippers
  • A good amount of drop cloths
  • A painter’s tape
  • A drywall knife
  • A sturdy brush

2. Removing the Paint Effectively

  • First of all, always wear your gloves to protect yourself from the strong chemicals brought by the paint removals. Some of them can be too strong especially if you have a sensitive skin. Also wear a mask if you’re allergic to the smell of it. Safety always comes first!
  • To protect your floor from the paint debris and spilled paint removers, spread out some drop cloths or just an unused towel to catch any falling debris. To keep the cloth in place, tape it with a painter’s tape onto the floor for a good grip. This will also help you to clean up the mess faster once you’re done treating your brick.
  • Assess the situation of the paint mess. Look at scraped or loose paint and start by getting rid of them before putting any chemicals to the brick. Grab your drywall knife and slowly scrape all the loose paint that stuck on it.
  • Next is to use the paint strippers for the hard to remove paint. Spread the paste onto the brick by using a spatula or the applicator provided from the package. Make sure you’ve applied the right amount that you need.
  • After applying the paste to the brick, work on with the paint strips and start pasting it to the affected brick. Give enough pressure until it sticks into the brick. Make sure to cover all affected areas of the brick and no part of it shall be exposed. Let it sit for at least 24 hours to let the chemicals do its job and soften the paint away from the brick.
  • The next day, try taking off the strips away from the brick. If it’s too hard to come off, you may use the drywall knife to exert more force in taking it off.
  • Peel the paint strips carefully and slowly. Avoid tearing the strips or it will be hard for you to peel it again. This will also create a huge mess if it remains stuck onto the brick.
  • Notice that as you’re peeling the paint strip, the paint should be coming off as well.
  • If there are still some remaining paint traces left onto the brick wall, try scraping it off with a drywall knife. Be careful to not damage the brick since the drywall knife is sharp.
  • If it’s still too stubborn to come off, you might need a brush to take it off. Upon brushing the affected wall, always do it carefully and slowly. Do not include the unaffected areas or you will end up smearing the rest of the paint traces to the other side.
  • Once you’ve successfully removed all the paint stains, discard all the wet clothes with the paint debris or scrapes, the paint strippers and other cleaning tools you used that need to be disposed of. Don’t let any harmful chemicals linger inside your home since it can contaminate the air and most of them are toxic. Kids and pets are more likely to become a victim of playing and eating those accidentally.

Important things to consider:

  • Before you do any DIY work or resolving home issues like paint problems, always assess the weight of the issue. If it’s something that you can easily perform on your own, then go for it. If you and your family are convinced that the matter is too serious and it needs professional help, then do so. Don’t risk creating more damage to the problem because it might be too hard to fix it in the end.
  • It’s highly advisable to remedy the paint removal as quickly as possible. Bricks are porous and can absorb liquid as quickly as possible. If too much time has passed before you decide to take the paint off, it might be too late to remove the paint off on your own. Especially if you live in colder locations, the paint could have frozen and stuck hard onto the brick. Which makes the problem even bigger. Fix it as soon as you can before it’s too late.
  • Never use paint thinners or muriatic acid when removing paint from your brick. This can only bring more damage than good. The paint thinner can only smear the paint more onto the brick. Only use paint strippers to remove the paint off from the brick.

Does vinegar remove paint from brick?

Plain, white vinegar, any brand, will instantly remove the paint residue and brighten your masonry.

How do you remove masonry paint from brick?

It is common for some flakes of paint to remain adhered to the wall. Using your trowel, scrape these flakes away, in addition to any stripping agent or residue left in place. If your trowel doesn’t work, scrub with a stiff-bristled brush which should easily remove all kinds of masonry paints and stripping compounds.

Does WD-40 Remove paint brick?

Yes, WD–40 can remove paint from bricks. Spray WD–40 over the paint and wipe it off. Repeat if necessary, and use a hard brush to clean obstinate stains.

How do you get white paint off red brick?

  1. Ventilate your work space.
  2. Warm up your heat gun per the manufacturer instructions.
  3. Hold your heat gun over the white paint splatter on your brick.
  4. Use your free, gloved hand to scrape away the paint with your semi-firm scraper.
  5. Move the gun to the next paint spot and repeat the process until all the paint is removed.

How do you get paint off of red brick?

Use a Trisodium Phosphate Solution to Remove Paint From Brick. In a clean bucket, mix in a 2:1 ratio of one-gallon warm water to one-half cup trisodium phosphate (TSP). Using a long stir stick, mix the solution until all the TSP has dissolved. Using the stiff brush, apply and scrub the TSP solution onto the brick.

What is the best paint remover for brick?

Today, the best solutions are gel or paste compounds, followed by fabric-based peeling strips. The paint stripper triggers a chemical reaction that causes the paint to soften and adhere to the fabric.

Can you pressure wash paint off brick?

Meyer and Vaughan both said a combination of carefully chosen chemical strippers and power washing at low pressure generally do an excellent job of removing the paint without damaging the brick.

Does goof off remove paint from brick?

Because of its strength, Goof Off is probably one of the most powerful products in terms of removal of paint, adhesives, or similar detritus. However, it is also the most likely to damage your brick or any other surface on which it is used.

What is TSP for removing paint?

Trisodium phosphate has been used by painters for years and years as a heavy duty degreaser and all purpose cleaner. TSP is formulated for removing Grease, soot,and lead paint dust cleanup. A washing of surfaces prior to painting helps insure a good clean “bite” for the finish coats of paint.

Does TSP have to be rinsed off?

Power Washing with TSP

Standard TSP must be rinsed away with clean water. It isn’t as strong as the original TSP, but it is well-suited for lightly soiled surfaces and general-purpose cleaning. It requires no rinsing when mixed as directed.

Is TSP dangerous?

A toxic substance, TSP can be harmful if swallowed, and exposure to it (in granular or diluted form) can cause serious eye injury and skin irritation.

What is TSP cleaner?

Trisodium phosphate, or TSP, is an exceptional cleaner for an array of uses including removing grease and paint from concrete and brick, prepping walls for painting and preparing walls for wallpapering.

What can I use instead of TSP cleaner?

If you are looking for a more natural trisodium phosphate substitute, borax can be a fine replacement. It doesn’t require all the safety measures of TSP and is inexpensive, easy to use and it won’t hurt the environment. Borax can eliminate fungus and strip away dirt and grease on porous surfaces such as wood and cement.

Can trisodium phosphate eliminate you?

Studies have shown that ingesting high levels of phosphate (the major mineral in TSP) can cause: kidney damage.

Can I pour tsp down the drain?

If you have very small quantities of a product that contains the detergent TSP (trisodium phosphate), flush it down the toilet or washtub drain with plenty of water.

Will TSP eliminate mold?

Suitability for exterior surfaces: TSP works well—and without damage—on a variety of surfaces, including brick and stone, cement, wood, and roofing. Mold and mildew treatment: One benefit of washing exteriors with TSP cleaner is that, when combined with household bleach, it eliminates mold and mildew.

Is TSP the same as borax?

Trisodium phosphate — also known as TSP — is a heavy-duty cleaning agent that removes grease and dirt while killing mold. Like TSP, borax successfully cleans a variety of surfaces as well as removes mold and mildew. However, borax consists of sodium borate and does not contain harsh chemicals.

Is TSP toxic to dogs?

TSP is moderately toxic by ingestion and is a minor skin irritant, but the big advantage of using it is that it doesn’t produce toxic fumes.