Foo - Getting Paint Off of Brick

In our newly purchased house, there is some brick that is exposed in the bedroom. The people there before us painted over it a few times with what appears to be latex paint. There are at least three layers of paint on them. The brick is about 100 years old, and fairly delicate on the surface. This would seem to eliminate any mechanical methods like a wire brush. I am afraid chemicals would seep into the brick and remain there despite removal of the paint. I am thinking a heat-gun might work. Anyone have any ideas on this?

sandblast using walnut shells.

I've seen an alkiline stripper that goes on like a plaster and gets covered with plastic sheeting. You let it sit a day or so and suposedly it will lift the paint off. The field reports I read gave it high marks for latex on brick.

I've seen an alkiline stripper that goes on like a plaster and gets covered with plastic sheeting. You let it sit a day or so and suposedly it will lift the paint off. The field reports I read gave it high marks for latex on brick.

Thanks, I had seen something on mixing lye and corn starch to make a paste that will cling to the paint coating. I will probably try this.

To Danno: I think the walnut blasting will have to wait, but I'll keep it in the back of my mind.

Sand blasting, or for that matter any type of mechanical removal is not recommended when delicate masonry is concerned. While the face of the brick maybe hard enough to accept mechanical abrasion, the mortar joining the units may not. I found this out recently on a job.

I suggest using something like a Hydro-Strip 503, it's made by Devoe Coating and it's designed to be used on masonry.

the site hydrostip 503 (http://www.duspec.com/datasheet/datasheet.pdf?documentFormat=pdf&systemSetId=13&productCode=503T&documentType=datasheet&submit=Get+Document)

That looks like the way to go. If it's available in your area, ofofhy I'd say run with that.