How to Remove a Wall to Expose the Brick

Exposed brick is an interior design option for both traditional and contemporary homes. An interior brick will sometimes be covered with plaster to create a blank white wall. If you want to return to exposed brick, you will need to remove the wall. Plaster will come off relatively easily with a masonry chisel and a hammer, but there will be dust and residue that you should remove to give the exposed brick a clean look.

Drop cloths
Masonry chisel
Hammer
Wire brush
Bucket
Warm water
Dishwashing soap
Nylon scrub brush

Instructions

- 1
  Cover the floor under the wall with drop cloths to catch the plaster as you chip it off the walls. Cover any furniture in the room with drop cloths.
- 2
  Hold the masonry chisel against the middle of the wall at a 45-degree angle. Gently tap the handle of the chisel with a hammer until you break through the plaster. Scoot the chisel over, under the cut you made, and hammer it across the brick until the piece of plaster falls off the wall.
- 3
  Continue chiseling the plaster off the wall, moving from the middle of the wall across to one side and then the other side until you have chipped away all the plaster. Keep the chisel at a 45-degree angle or less so you do not gouge the brick.
- 4
  Brush the wall with a wire brush to remove any small plaster pieces you did not free with the chisel. Fill a bucket with warm water and add enough dishwashing liquid to create suds.
- 5
  Dip a nylon scrub brush in the soapy water and scrub the surface of the wall to remove the plaster dust. Let the wall dry before sealing or painting it. Remove the drop cloths and throw away the plaster pieces.

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