Paint Removal from Fireplace

[Bonnie Ryan]

I have several layers of paint on a fireplace that I would like to have removed. Can you tell me the best way to do this. I believe there are both latex and oil base paint layers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, BR

B. Ryan

[kactuskid]

If it's brick, then the only way I know of to remove it from all the pores is to have it sandblasted. Of course this could also damage the brick. You'd be better of repainting it. Here's a couple of links that may give you some ideas

http://ronhazelton.com/html/407a.html

http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/tradingspaces/project/project_08.html

[mrcaptainbob]

Here's the 'before':

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mrcaptainbob/detail?.dir=/Strait+Photos&.dnm=bedroom+before.jpg

Here's the 'after':

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mrcaptainbob/detail?.dir=/Strait+Photos&.dnm=bedroom+after.jpg

Kactus is right. Sandblasting's the way to go. Tape off the area with plenty of sheet plastic...get a nice saftey hood and protetion and you're good to go. As he said, be careful with that sand blaster, it could etch the brick more than you'd like. This brick was very old and very soft, but cleaned up quite nicely. You can vary the impact of the sand by the amount of air pressure as well as distance from brick. Hold it close enough/long enough to wear away the paint. When your done....shopvac up the sand real good and your set. What I like about it is there's no chance of acids damaging flloring or splashing where you don't want it. Not haveing to rinse it away. And the brick is much ckleaner. (I think...).

[colima]

Have Sean do it for you!

[sammyt]

Forget removing the paint. Use Brick-Anew and paint over it. It will be 10 times easier and will probably look better too. Brick-Anew is a brick fireplace paint that comes in a DIY kit. Check them out at http://www.brick-anew.com.

SAM