Asked on Jan 05, 2015

How can I remove paint from rock and other masonry?

Sharon Doyle
by Sharon Doyle
And no, I don't know if it's oil or water based paint.
  9 answers
  • Beverly Turcotte Beverly Turcotte on Jan 05, 2015
    Acid, and you have to be VERY careful. And also wear gloves.
  • Funnygirl Funnygirl on Jan 05, 2015
    Myric acid!and this is super serious dangerous to use?eye protection,skin and hand protection and mask.Read up before taking this on.Stripper may work,not sure.would try to use stripper first if possible.Make sure you keep any kids or pets away from your project.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Jan 06, 2015
    Have a hideous green oil-based paint from the day on my red brick and masonry. Tried muriatic acid and it did nothing. Also tried stripper without success. The colour seems to seep right into the brick. One day I was staining my fence and got a brain storm. I daubed the stain on the green splots. and it actually covered the paint. Improved the appearance greatly. Have tried acid and stripper on the Tyndall stone and a drill with brass brush but not successful. Will get a greyish/sandstone stain to try one of these days.
  • Darla Darla on Jan 06, 2015
    You can soak metal things in warm water overnight to get paint off. You could try draping it with a wet towel overnight to loosen the paint, then scrub with a hard brush. Rubbing alcohol will take off acrylic paint, or you can get that paint remover that takes off thick layers of paint, and you put a backing of fabric over the paint remover and peel off the whole thing. It's not cheap. This is one reason why I'm not a fan of painted masonry.
  • Pamela Jones Pamela Jones on Jan 06, 2015
    Paint stripper gell and cover with aluminum foil or press it against the brick, it will hold.. for a bit, will peel right off..
  • Alice Shockley Alice Shockley on Jan 06, 2015
    If it's just a spill, try a wire brush.
  • FlatJack FlatJack on Jan 06, 2015
    What piant stripper gel do you recommend Pamela?
  • Pamela Jones Pamela Jones on Jan 07, 2015
    Let me ask my hubby when he wakes, he is a brick cleaner, used acid and dawn to clean the mortar off and make it look new.. We painted our fireplace and he took it all off with gel stripper and placed aluminum foil on it for a while, and it peeled right off.. I'll get back to you :)
  • Sherry Grimes Wilson Sherry Grimes Wilson on Aug 20, 2020

    Yeah, Pamela,, what'd you use?