STRIPPING PAINTED
BRICK FACADES
the project…
NCPTT is conducting a study to determine the most effective
chemical paint removal product for use on historic brick facades.
Historic brick was typically fired at a much lower temperature than its
modern counterpart, creating a soft, porous material, more
susceptible to natural and man-made forces of destruction. Special
care must be taken when treating an historic material as any
intervention may cause irreparable damage. This is where our
laboratory testing of paint removers proves invaluable.
Samples extracted from the protective outer shell of historic bricks
will be painted, artificially weathered, then treated with a number of
commercially available paint removal products. The effectiveness of
these will then be measured using a variety of standard methods.
Why remove?
Impervious coatings can trap in
moisture causing the surface which
they are meant to protect to fail.
testing procedure
sample coat
characterize weather
PEOPLE Careful consideration must given to human safety issues
when selecting a paint stripper. Most chemicals require
special equipment to protect the user from harmful toxins
and carcinogens.
While many “eco-friendly” and biodegradable strippers
PLANET exist, the paint removal process will always release
dangerous substances into the environment. Lead paint
debris and excess stripper must be collected to avoid the
pollution of groundwater.
Cost in relation to effectiveness are key factors in
PROFIT determining the best approach in most projects. Paint
removal products vary widely in the amount of surface
they cover, the number of layers removed per application,
and time and labor intensiveness.
strip analyze
i report
measure
2008 | Edward G. FitzGerald | Andrew E. Ferrell | Sarah M. Jackson | Mary F. Striegel