Replies

1. 
   zachariah | Jul 17, 2009 03:53pm | #1

   Here are a couple pics. I haven't been on breaktime in a very long time so I hope I have posted them correctly! 

   
2. 
   MikeHennessy | Jul 17, 2009 03:57pm | #2

   LOL -- sounds like my old 'Hood. P-Burgh's North Side. Folks there always just left it and hoped someone would build again next door to cover it up. ;-) Heck, there was one building where they even left a sink attached to the wall two stories up.

   Short answer is that there is no good/cheap/easy way to do this. Heck, even "expensive" ways, like blasting, can end up compromising the brick and mortar. Worse, some of these buildings had soft brick on the inside faces (now your outside face) that are not meant to be exposed to the elements and degrade with time, so you should check for that.

   The cheapest good solution may not be so cheap -- replacing the brick veneer. I've seen restorations where whole facades were removed and rebuilt, or where the veneer was stripped, turned around, and re-applied with the clean side out. Short of that, strip what you can and paint over the whole side.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA
   Everything fits, until you put glue on it.

3. 
   seeyou | Jul 17, 2009 04:19pm | #3

   Do not sandblast.

   Peelaway for the paint and other tough coatings, restoration cleaner for the dirt and grime, and a pressure washer. Some tuck pointing and brick replacement will be necessary.

   http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image     

1. 
   zachariah | Jul 17, 2009 04:22pm | #4

   Thanks, Do you know of a good peel away product I could find in S. C.?

1. 
   seeyou | Jul 17, 2009 04:24pm | #5

   http://www.peelaway.com/http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image     

1. 
   zachariah | Jul 17, 2009 05:09pm | #6

   Excellent, thanks! I'll post the outcome.

1. 
   zachariah | Jul 22, 2009 04:48pm | #7

   O K not so sure that this is going to work. I may have to try another type of peel away! Wadda Ya Think?

2. 
   rjw | Jul 22, 2009 06:15pm | #8

   Also check over at Old House Journal - folks there have a lot of experience with this issue.

   "Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

   Howard Thurmanhttp://rjw-progressive.blogspot.com/

3. 
   zachariah | Jul 22, 2009 06:21pm | #9

   Will do, thanks!

4. 
   Sphere | Jul 22, 2009 06:36pm | #11

   Google "Dry Ice blasting" If there is an operater in your location, thats the ticket.

   No, ZERO, NONE,NADA...abrasion or chems. it is awesome.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   "If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt

   View Image

5. 
   DianeA | Jul 22, 2009 06:29pm | #10

   Another alternative you may try is a product called "RemoveAll". It comes from the aircraft industry and use a process to break the bonds of the paint from the surface. It can be sprayed on and cleaned up with water. Give these guys a call and see what they say.http://www.dtep.com/removall310pl.htmI have not used any of the architectural exterior products but have used one of the interior products for some wood stripping.Diane

6. 
   zachariah | Jul 22, 2009 06:50pm | #12

   Thanks I'll call em!