How to get white paint off brick?

Question

Bought a house and the home inspector strongly suggested removing the white paint on the fireplace bricks as it may be a health hazard.

Answer 1

You may find this hard to believe but many new home inspectors are relatively incompetent.

There has been an amazing increase in home inspection franchises and many people are jumping in. These companies will sign up just about anyone that is willing to pay their fee and spend a week or two taking some very basic classes. They hand out check lists and send these people on their way.

A warning sign of this is when the inspector's report says the item needs to be addressed by a qualified contractor (or something along that line). Essentially this is a way out and rids them of any liability. One such company is Home Team. if you used them RUN!

A simple way to qualify your inspector is to look up their company on the Internet and see how simple it is to become a 'qualified' inspector. You may be very surprised.

OK with that out of the way, there is most likely nothing at all wrong with your brick unless it is on the inside of the hearth. And I doubt that is the case.

Wish you well.

Answer 2

Why do you need to get it off? If it s lead base, then encapsulate it with a coating that is not lead based. Stripping is not required. I am a painter with thirty-years plus experience. Be sure to capture the lead base paint chips and through them away as to prevent a child from poisoning. Do not sand or make the particulates air born to prevent breathing them, and even when scraping ware a respirator.Keep others away when performing your work. Coat the prepared surface with quality paint. I prefer Gripper primer, it sticks to anything, especially brick, followed by a 100% latex paint. For encapsulation purposes, one coat of primer, two coats of finish. Nothing is getting out or in with this process, and everyone is safe

Answer 3

I usually think of power washers as outdoor tools since you have no control of where the waste water goes, same with a sand blaster. There are a lot of chemical strippers out there that give good results. I saw the "trading spaces" crew do a fireplace that had been painted with enamel....it didn't look fun but it worked

Answer 4

I was thinking sand blasting but that wouldn't work inside.

There are gel strippers that would adhere to the brick and loosen and take off the paint.
Be sure to read any instructions to see that it can be used on brick.

Have fun.

Answer 5

what type of hazard are you thinking. if its lead then you need to talk to the health department. if its just due to the proximity of the paint versus the fire then use a good stripper and remove it rinse and you should have no issues..

Answer 6

paint stripper? i dunno about indoors, all the ways (other than a million hours by hand) just seem to have too many fumes. and a power washer just seems WAY too messy

Answer 7

extremely tough situation. research on bing and yahoo. this might help!

Answer 8

USE A POWER WASHER