Expose Brick
Exposing brick in your home can add character to any room. Older homes typically have brick underneath the plaster walls, and the brick may still be in good condition. You can expose and restore it back to its former beauty. Tackle this project on your own with these following steps on exposing brick. Application of expose brick wall are not too difficult, the need of concern is the mounting level of neatness and accuracy of selection of brick wall in perfect shape and not porous. Wall exposure is ideal for dimensional of high {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}, width {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} and length 12 cm
Steps
- Test the wall you wish to expose the brick on. Chip a hole in the plaster until you can see the brick and what condition it is in. Brick was a common construction material in the 19th century, but sometimes the quality was not always the best. By testing a small area, you can see if the brick underneath is worth exposing. The brick should not crumble or break when you touch it and should be free of any major cracks. If the brick looks good, proceed with the project.
- Prepare your room by removing everything or covering it all in protective plastic sheets. There will be a fair amount of dust and dirt from the bricks, so seal any doorways or heating vents to limit dust from getting into other areas of the house. Put plastic sheeting on the floor near the wall you will be working on the catch the debris for an easier clean up. Keep windows uncovered so you can open them to help ventilate throughout the process.
- Use a masonry chisel for the plaster removal. Start at your test hole. Position the masonry chisel at an angle and hit the end with a hammer. As plaster comes off continue to chisel away at the edges. You can also chisel wherever you see cracks in the plaster. This may help you remove bigger sections. Clear away any debris as it builds up.
- Scrape away any loose plaster with a wire brush. Apply moderate pressure to sweep away any dust that may still be on the bricks or mortar. Brush the entire wall, starting at the top of the wall and working down so the dust falls to the ground. Sweep up any debris.
- Fill a bucket with warm water. Using a clean cloth, start at the top of the wall and work your way down washing the wall clear of any remaining residue. Rinse out the cloth frequently and change the water as needed. There are several different techniques you can use to clean the exposed brick, like sandblasting and using muriatic acid, but water works just as well once the plaster and debris have been removed and is still considered the preferred method for those who do not have access to a sandblaster or want to work with acid.
- Apply a brick sealant to finish the wall. Since you no longer have plaster covering the wall, any air that was seeping in through the bricks will not have that buffer now. By using a brick sealant, you will seal those cracks and eliminate the drafts. Use a matte finish sealant for a more natural look, otherwise your walls will look too glossy.
- Finished.
Tips
- Wear protective eye wear, rubber gloves, and a respiratory breathing mask throughout the plaster removal and brick cleaning process.
- Contact a professional if you do not have experience working around electrical outlets or wiring. In older homes, the electrical wiring is housed in metal tubing that attaches to the electrical boxes, all of which are anchored to the brick wall and covered in plaster. A professional contractor will be able to clear these areas without damaging the electrical outlets. If you forgo contacting a professional, remember to shut off the power to the room from the breaker box.
Warnings
- Do not use an electric chisel because it doesn't allow precise control over the areas you are breaking away. It also increases the likelihood of damaging the brick you are trying to restore.
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Protective eye wear
- Respiratory breathing mask
- Plastic sheets
- Masonry chisel
- Hammer
- Wire brush
- Rubber bucket
- Water
- Clean cloth
- Brick sealant
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