muriatic acid
#1
07-15-10, 01:55 PM
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muriatic acid
I'm going to be working with muriatic acid for the first time this weekend. I'm going to attempt to remove a few splotches of white paint from the face brick on my ranch home, b. 1959.
What safety precautions do I need to take?
Also, will this stuff harm the very expensive boxwood hedge that flanks the front of my house?
What safety precautions do I need to take?
Also, will this stuff harm the very expensive boxwood hedge that flanks the front of my house?
#4
07-15-10, 03:16 PM
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I called a brick repair contractor to have it sandblasted, but they said they'll probably just treat it with muriatic acid because sandblasting face brick makes it more porous...which is bad, I guess.
The paint looks like it's been there since the house was built.
The paint looks like it's been there since the house was built.
#5
07-15-10, 06:16 PM
I've got 20+yrs restoring brick, I’ve never seen muratic acid put a dent in paint. In my experience, a paint stripper that uses gel or paste to dissolve paint is a wise choice with older brick. Paint stripper is much less likely to cause damage to older brick compared to the alternatives.
#6
07-16-10, 06:13 AM
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Regardless of how you remove the paint, you will not get all of it, unless you sandblast it and remove an 1/8" of the face, which is not a good idea.
#7
07-17-10, 08:53 AM
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OK, here's the thing. I've talked to several people about not being able to have the brick sandblased. All have recommended muriatic acid. (These people are mainly DIYers; two were hardware store employees.)
Since you all are advising me NOT to use it, would anyone be willing to recommend a specific product that you're reasonably sure will remove white paint from brown face brick?
And if I'm using a gel paint remover, do I apply it with a brush, let it sit, and the scour the area with a bristle brush?
Since you all are advising me NOT to use it, would anyone be willing to recommend a specific product that you're reasonably sure will remove white paint from brown face brick?
And if I'm using a gel paint remover, do I apply it with a brush, let it sit, and the scour the area with a bristle brush?
#8
07-17-10, 12:16 PM
Muratic acid won't affect paint much if any. generally paint stripper is applied, left to set/work and then scraped off. Since brick isn't conducive to scraping, a stiff brush and rinsing with a water hose would be the way to go. How much paint is on the brick?
#9
07-17-10, 12:36 PM
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I live in brick ranch. There are two down spouts on either side of the front stoop. For some reason, there is white paint underneath the down spouts, like someone took a paint brush and painted layout lines for where the downspouts were going to be located. So, there's two 9' x 6" columns of white paint that I need to remove. The lines aren't totally solid, they're "splotchy."
#10
07-17-10, 12:46 PM
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Are you sure it's paint...almost sounds like some sort of mineral deposit....
Pictures always help....
http://forum.doityourself.com/electr...your-post.html
Pictures always help....
http://forum.doityourself.com/electr...your-post.html
#11
07-17-10, 01:01 PM
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I'm not sure what you mean by "mineral deposits." Can you explain?
Either way, I'm pretty sure it's paint. I once tried removing a small area with some type of clear liquid remover (VERY strong smell), but I wasn't happy with the results. All I did was displace it, if you know what I mean. That is, the paint became cloudy/hazy, and I spread it over a larger area when I went at it with a plastic bristle brush.
Either way, I'm pretty sure it's paint. I once tried removing a small area with some type of clear liquid remover (VERY strong smell), but I wasn't happy with the results. All I did was displace it, if you know what I mean. That is, the paint became cloudy/hazy, and I spread it over a larger area when I went at it with a plastic bristle brush.
#12
07-17-10, 01:17 PM
Maybe degraded paint residue from the gutters ?? pics might help 
I'd try some TSP [tri sodium phosphate] and a scrub brush and see how that does. If it's more of a stain than paint, I doubt paint stripper would be all that effective.
I'd try some TSP [tri sodium phosphate] and a scrub brush and see how that does. If it's more of a stain than paint, I doubt paint stripper would be all that effective.
#13
07-17-10, 01:21 PM
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Well...I meant mineral deposits, lol..like you get from hard water on faucets and shower heads? Since the gutters are right there..maybe over time water has run down and left deposits.
Also..maybe the entire place was painted brick and it was stripped off everywhere except under the spouts?
See...first you said a few splotches...then you said 9ft by 6in strips, it confused me a bit. I know you kinda clarified...but posting pics is really the best way.
Also..maybe the entire place was painted brick and it was stripped off everywhere except under the spouts?
See...first you said a few splotches...then you said 9ft by 6in strips, it confused me a bit. I know you kinda clarified...but posting pics is really the best way.
