Does anyone know how to remove existing paint splatters from brick? I have tried everything I know of with no success.

Question

KMS Woodworks · Answer

about the most efficient way is sand blasting...limited results with a wire brush.  How much area do you need to clean up?

Cheryl Clark · Answer

Thank you haven't tried sand blasting, the spots are just here and there, tried the wire brush, didn't do a thing.

Lynda B · Answer

'Goof Off' removes paint, but always is best to remove when fresh. If the paint splatters have been there a while you will have to use the goof off and lots of elbow grease.

Pamela G · Answer

there is always paint stripper.... dab it on with a q-tip and let it loosen it up.  Try it on a place that isn't noticable first.

ProSource · Answer

I would ask at a name brand paint store. Sandblasting is an extreme effect and not advisable for exterior brick at all.
On small projects where a bit of paint got on unfinished or unsealed brick, rather than take a risk of dissolving it into the surrounding areas I put a wet sponge or towel over the spot and let time help release latex paints like this. If needed you can cover the area with a bit of plastic wrap to hold in the moisture and let it work through the brick and get behind the spot and release it. Paul C

Carroll A · Answer

Have you tried krud kutter?

Marci N · Answer

Scrape it off? Or you could try to find paint that matches the brick and paint it over the splatters after scraping them flat. It would probably be less time consuming than trying to get it all off.

Suzi B · Answer

wow a lot of great ideas we have the same problem and we are going to try a few  of these ideas.... thanks

Carol M · Answer

If you can't remove it, how about getting paint color matched to your brick and dab it with the paint to cover it up?

Peace Painting Co., Inc. · Answer

Scrape off the top part you can then get the strongest paste stripper with a wire brush.  For better or worse, brick holds paint well.  You can also follow up with more stripper and pressure washer.
Best, Charles

Sheryll S · Answer

That is what I came here from FB to tell her.  I would not want to even try, since brick is so very porous.  Yep, try matching the paint, but thin the paint a bit to try it, so it remains porous?  Does that make sense?

Tim B · Answer

muratic acid.  just make sure you wash well with water after

Clay B · Answer

Wear GOGGLES and CHEMICAL RESISTANT GLOVES, on drop of acid in your eye, and it's goodbye eye. Have you tried 'Goof Off', comes liquid an spray, it stinks, but will removed dried LATEX paint. Did you tray paint stripper?

Peace Painting Co., Inc. · Answer

Acid won't touch paint, however it will react with the masonry.  
Depending on the splatters, you could try the cleaning route and then touch up the residual with paint.
CP

Cheryl Clark · Answer

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions.  I am going to the hardware store tomorrow to put all your suggestions to the test.  I like the painting over it the best....seems like the easiest.  I have tried goof off, didn't work.

Clay B · Answer

Yes, match the color of the brick, then carfully cover it up. sounds good. If goof off didn't work, may be oil based paint.

Peace Painting Co., Inc. · Answer

Cheryl, ask the paint store for a 'fan deck' of colors to match your brick by, or better, bring a brick for them to match.
CP

Adam D · Answer

Muratic acid would clean it off. Not sure if that is how it is spelled but the hardware store will know what I am talking about. or you could try denatured alchahol.

Chris H · Answer

i am a roofing repairman and have had to remove spray paint from brick many times ... i use any kind of acetone based product such as paint thinner and a wire brush and alot of elbow grease ... if you dont have paint thinner ive used fingernail polish remover ... it works in a pinch.

Dena H · Answer

Don't know if you found a solution yet but if you haven't, try nail polish remover.  That stuff works miracles and it's a lot cheaper than all that other stuff.

Kathy Luckey · Answer

Thank y'all so much for your inputs, I will try these last one with the fingernail polish remover.

Joseph Cennamo · Answer

Don’t use muriatic acid that’s only good to remove cement stains get an orbital sander with a little turpentine and hose it off if you can get cloth sandpaper it will work if not regular sand paper will work too just won’t last as long .for spatter it’s good if it’s a lot of paint it will take some doing good luck.

Margarita Backmeyer · Answer

I tried my nail remover and it works...

you need to apply it and scrape it with a scraper

it comes off

Patty · Answer

Try Motsenbacher

Tina Whitfield · Answer

just had my exterior painted. for various reasons, I was not micromanaging the painters... However, now that they have gone, and other things have settled down that had me distracted, I have been looking and they literally smeared almost every brick (and glass and other wood) that touches a painted surface!!! Especially in the corners around windows, doorframes. Also, multi drops all around the house.

I am just absolutely sick. I can see using some of the solutions for small areas, but it is literally my entire house of windows, doors. I have no idea what to do or where to begin. my brick is sorta a multicolor so painting is not a viable option. I've heard prof painters say NEVER use muriatic acid unless you are able to saturate the brick in order to rinse.

To make matters more complex, since the drops, smears, and basically freaking sloppy unprofessional work is around legitimately painted surfaces, I don't want to destroy that paint either. And some places I can't even reach. And did I mention time...

I can't believe there is not an easier solution for a seemingly common problem?

distress!

Does anyone know how to remove existing paint splatters from brick? I have tried everything I know of with no success.

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Does anyone know how to remove existing paint splatters from brick? I have tried everything I know of with no success.

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