The Removal of Old Enamel Paint From Brick

Enamel paint is designed to penetrate a surface and bind to it to provide a protective coating; the bright colors of the paint are secondary to the protection. This bonding action also works against painters, especially when droplets of paint land in unintended locations. Painting exterior wooden surfaces often results in paint splatters on objects below the target area. It is especially difficult to remove enamel paint splatters on brick surfaces. It is best to remove these spots immediately, but it is possible to remove old enamel paint from brick.

5-in-1 putty knife
Mineral spirits
Plastic bucket
Wire brush
Pressure washer
Rubber gloves
Safety glasses
Dust mask
Disposable protective suit

Instructions

- 1
  Scrape the paint off the wall with a 5-in-1 putty knife. Hold the blade of the tool flat against the wall with the handle at a 30-degree angle to the structure to pry the paint off the brick. Hold the point of the tool against the wall to dig into grooves.
- 2
  Pour mineral spirits into a plastic bucket. Dip your wire brush into the mineral spirits, and scrub the wall to remove any stubborn spots of paint. This procedure also removes deeper stains in the brick.
- 3
  Let the mineral spirits soak into the wall for 10 minutes. Reapply mineral spirits with your wire brush to completely remove any paint spots on the brick wall.
- 4
  Wait for 10 minutes to allow the mineral spirits time to absorb into the brick. Rinse the wall with a pressure washer to remove any remaining stains and residue from the mineral spirits.
- 5
  Inspect the wall after it dries completely. Clean it again as necessary to remove all the paint.

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