How to Get Spray Paint Off Brickwork?

Of course, spray paint may end up on brick not only when you accidentally leave splatters there when doing some paint job at home.

Graffiti and other works or “art” can be left by kids as well, making your house walls or your fence way less neat. This is why knowing how to remove spray paint from bricks will anyway be useful.

In this article, we will explain all about removing spray paint from brick. You are going to find out what method should be used to get the best results and also, we will share a few life hacks that will allow you to wash the paint off your brick walls easily and quickly.

How to Remove Spray Paint From Brick?

If you notice marks left by spray paint on a brick surface be it a wall or a fence, you may get worried since it is a well-known fact that spray paint is pretty hard to get off an object made of brick. The surface of bricks is rather porous, sometimes reminding of a sponge, which makes it complicated to wash off the paint, especially if we are talking about spray paint.

How to remove graffiti from walls

Spray paints have a very fine structure unlike liquid regular paints in cans.

This is why, when spray paint gets onto any porous surface like brick, mortar, and concrete, it kind of gets absorbed by the material. Naturally, cleaning it off will be as harder as the paint gets dryer.

The fix usually depends on what kind of masonry you are cleaning and the type of paint used. But when you use a product specifically designed to remove graffiti (e.g. a spray paint remover for brick), things get much easier.

Besides, this product can be used not only in order to remove graffiti from brickwork, but also to cope with other spray paint marks. For example, it will easily get rid of accidental patches of paint.

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So how to clean spray paint off a brick surface, you may wonder? Before you start cleaning it off, you need to make sure you have all the tools ready. Luckily, the list is not long:

1. Wipe Out Porous Graffiti Remover
2. Pressure washer
3. Clean spray bottle

Once you get all this, you can proceed with the paint removing process. No worries, it is very simple! You will easily manage it even if you have never had to clean spray paint off the brick surface before.

Just make sure that you follow all the steps precisely one by one as described below.

• Pour Wipe Out Porous Graffiti Remover into a clean spray bottle. Always make sure the bottle is clean, otherwise, you might inadvertently mix chemicals, which can affect the results of your cleaning!
• Spray the product over the paint to remove it. Apply it generously to make sure it will soak the painted area
• Wait for 15-20 minutes if the weather is warm and a bit longer if it is cold. Like this, you will give the paint remover enough time to work
• The paint will begin to dissolve after it gets in contact with the Wipe Out paint remover
• When you see the paint is dissolved, pressure-wash the area at 1500-2000 psi. For best results, use hot water
• Repeat the entire process if you see that not all paint was removed

As you can see, removing spray paint marks from masonry is not something extremely complicated.

All you need is a proper paint remover and some additional tools to make the procedure easier and quicker.

You might also find the following tips helpful as well if you want to ensure you clean the paint thoroughly.

Tetiana Chernikova via VistaCreate

How to Remove Spray Paint From Bricks. Tips And Life Hacks?

When it comes to cleaning spray paint marks off of the brick wall, there is never too little advice that can be helpful! So if you want to make sure you will get rid of those colorful splashes once and for all, you might want to consider the following recommendations:

• One quart of Wipe Out paint remover will clean approximately 25 square feet of a painted surface, depending on how thick the paint layer is
• You can also make use of a paint thinner as an alternative product or if you can’t find the specific paint remover in a store
• Be sure to wear safety gear, eye protection in particular, and scrub with a nylon bristled brush until the surface is clean. Protection will keep your eyes and skin safe from chemicals in a product!
• Do not use acids or a metal bristled brush for cleaning spray paint off bricks! It may etch the brick, and the metal bristles could leave rust stains behind

These life hacks will help you use a paint remover more effectively, plus, you will be less likely to damage the surface of the brick object. And remember: brick is quite a delicate material!

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Once etched, it will have to be fixed in a quite complicated manner, which is going to be rather labor-consuming!

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What Takes Paint Off Of Brick?

For sure, using a special product that is formulated to remove paint from brick surfaces is an optimal solution since you don’t have to worry about how well it works. You simply know that it will work.

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However, it may so happen that you don’t have exactly the product you need at the moment.

What shall you do then to remove graffiti or other paint marks from brick? Don’t worry, we know a few alternative options for you to use!

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Paint Stripper Gel

A citrus-based paint stripper gel is one of the most effective products designed to get paint off brick surfaces. Besides, it is very easy to use! First, apply a thin coat of the gel to the brick surface. Then, wait for half an hour to give the gel enough time to work. Finally, using a scraper, remove the gel and the paint beneath it.

• This paint stripper gel is good for easily removing paint splatters from brick
• It should be applied directly to the paint splatters
• Allow the gel to work for 30 minutes, no less
• Use a scraper to remove the gel and paint afterward
• This gel works for removing both latex paint and oil-based paint

Another benefit of using this citrus-based product is that It doesn’t take much effort and time to scrape the loosened paint away once the paint remover gel has been applied to it.

So if you need to quickly cope with paint marks on brick, a gel paint stripper will dissolve the bond between brick and all types of paint in a blink of an eye.

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Trisodium Phosphate

In many cases, you won’t even need any expensive or super strong chemical to deal with the spray paint marks on a brick! This paint can be cheaply and quickly removed by applying a solution of trisodium phosphate and a bit of scrubbing.

To make the solution, you need to mix ½ cup of trisodium phosphate with 1 gallon of water. Then, use a scrub brush, dip it in the solution, and scrub the paint splatters off the brick. So easy!

However, you should note that when scrubbing brick, using an extremely harsh wire brush is prohibited!

Harsh bristles can damage the brick. Instead, opt for a stiff brush with nylon or brass bristles. The procedure of paint removal is very simple:

• Protect the area around the brick with drop cloths
• Mix ½ cup of trisodium phosphate in 1 gallon of warm water
• Stir the mixture until the trisodium phosphate is dissolved
• Apply the trisodium phosphate solution to the areas affected by paint and scrub with this brush
• And remember to wear hand and eye protection when using trisodium phosphate!

Wearing protective gloves and goggles when working with trisodium phosphate is mandatory since it’s a quite strong chemical. Also, it is best to use drop cloths to protect the ground and other surfaces in your working area.

Unprotected surfaces exposed to trisodium phosphate solution can be discolored! So be especially careful and cautious if you are working close to any wooden objects, for example!

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Eco-Friendly Paint Stripper

If you are in need of a solution that will be both effective and environmentally safe when stripping paint from brick, there are some very effective products on the market.

The benefit of using a biodegradable paint stripper is that it can be used to safely strip paint outdoors without introducing toxins into your yard. In addition, such products are extremely easy to use:

• Apply this biodegradable paint stripper to the brick
• Allow the product to work for 24–36 hours
• Remove the paint and paint stripper with a paint scraper

Plus, an eco-friendly paint stripper may also be safely used indoors. This way, you can avoid exposing your family and pets to the more toxic varieties of paint stripper. For sure, the time you will have to spend on removing paint with this product will be longer than if you use chemical strippers, but safety is above all!

Now you know what other products can be used to clean spray paint marks off of bricks. Like this, you can now choose from eco-friendly options and quicker but a bit more harmful chemical alternatives. Anyway, it’s you who decides what product will be best for you.

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Methods You Should Never Use to Remove Spray Paint From Brick

As you already know, brick is quite a delicate material despite its external toughness. Bricks have a porous texture similar to a sponge, which makes them predisposed to absorbing paint very well.

PROBLEM SOLVED! Removing Paint from Brick

However, brick is also rather fragile and prone to crumbling and breaking! So cleaning it should never imply using harsh brushes that can leave scratches on the brick surface.

This is why, before you start removing paint marks from your brick walls or other surfaces, read about the cleaning methods that should always be avoided.

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Sandblasting or Power Washing

Both these methods can potentially destroy old mortar, ruin the appearance of your bricks, and can even cause serious damage to a brick wall!

As the paint is removed with high-pressure water or sand, the brick and mortar below can be discolored in affected areas, leading to an uneven appearance when the job is done.

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Aggressive Scraping

As we have already mentioned above, you should not use a harsh scraper or brush to remove paint from bricks without first applying a paint stripper solution. Trying to scrape paint off bricks can gouge mortar, scratch bricks, and may even lead to cracks in your wall!

In addition, unlike a common belief, vigorous scraping also won’t work to remove stubborn paint from the porous surface of bricks and mortar. You’d better leave the scraping for later when the paint stripper has been applied and allowed to work.

Heavy-Duty Sanding

Using a powered sanding tool to remove paint from bricks can work in the same way sandblasting and power washing does. Usually, if you try to use a sander to get stubborn paint out of crevices and mortar, it will only lead to serious damage to the brick itself. You may get the paint off, but your brick will be marred in the process.

With these precaution recommendations in mind, you will easily avoid cleaning methods that can potentially leave your brick surfaces damaged and in need of serious repair.

Now you are aware of what paint-removing methods can free your brick walls from paint marks easily and safely.

So, friends, we told you everything you might need to know about removing spray paint from bricks.

Now you are informed about the products that can be used for this purpose, as well as about the cleaning methods that will rather cause damage than good to your brick surfaces.

Like that, even if you have to deal with old or especially stubborn paint splatters, you will be able to get the stunning results quickly and with minimal effort.

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