How to Sandblast Brick to Remove Paint

Prepare the area. If you are sandblasting your fireplace, for example, remove all items from the fireplace and mantel, board up the fire pit and hang plastic tarps over the adjoining walls and mantel. If you are sandblasting your home's exterior, board up your windows and front door, remove your shutters and wrap plastic tarps around any home features, such as pillars, that you cannot remove prior to sandblasting.

Close all of the sandblaster's valves to prevent leakage until you are ready to sandblast the brick. Fill the sandblaster's tank with silica sand.

Put on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, boots, gloves, protective goggles, a hat and a respirator. A blast of sand powerful enough to strip paint from brick is easily powerful enough to cause injury if you do not wear proper protective gear.

Set the sandblaster on its lowest setting. Point the nozzle away from you and toward the brick. Turn on the sandblaster. Open the sand valve.

Move the sandblaster slowly from side to side, removing the old paint from the brick. Work in sections. When you have completely removed the paint from one section, move to the next section. If your sandblaster has settings, turn up the setting as needed.

Turn off the sandblaster when the pressure drops. Refill the sandblaster with additional silica sand as necessary. Continue sandblasting until you finish the job.