How to clean up / restore this brickwork

[Roger440]

Ive got lots of stuff to do, but this wall to the side of my fire place, im really not sure how to go about sorting it out.

It does appear to be lime rather than cement based, which is a surprise given everything else ive found.

So, are there any good tips on cleaning this up without damaging the brick facess?

 

[Feltwell]

I'd start with the gentlest method - water and a scrubbing brush.

That will take some of the mortar off. It looks fairly thin, but if any areas are thicker they may need very gentle removal with a cold chisel and hammer. Never chisel near the edge of a brick towards the edge, go towards the middle, and lots of small taps is the way to go. Then be very selective with brick acid, wet the wall with plain water first to reduce the absorbency of the bricks, start off with dilute acid and paint on only where it's needed, increase the strength if you have to. I'd start with one small area to test it. Messy job to do indoors.

Are you planning to repoint it?

Or - plaster it - it was almost certainly never meant to be seen.

 

[MatthewC]

It does appear to be lime rather than cement based, which is a surprise given everything else ive found.

Yes, we can see the distinctive line of plasterboard to the right of the photo...

If you don't want to damage the brick faces, I guess that you intend to to be visible. Personally, I would agree with Feltwell - plaster it (lime, of course)!

 

[stuart45]

Another method of cleaning brickwork is to rub with a similar or slightly softer brick.

 

[Roger440]

It does appear to be lime rather than cement based, which is a surprise given everything else ive found.

Yes, we can see the distinctive line of plasterboard to the right of the photo...

If you don't want to damage the brick faces, I guess that you intend to to be visible. Personally, I would agree with Feltwell - plaster it (lime, of course)!

Ahh yes, the plaster board. Indeed, the whole room is done like that and its all coming off. However, what you cant see from the picture is that this is the side of the fireplace and the wooden beam that spans it ends in this wall, with the end exposed. I guess i could plaster round it. See pic below.

 

[Roger440]

I'd start with the gentlest method - water and a scrubbing brush.

That will take some of the mortar off. It looks fairly thin, but if any areas are thicker they may need very gentle removal with a cold chisel and hammer. Never chisel near the edge of a brick towards the edge, go towards the middle, and lots of small taps is the way to go. Then be very selective with brick acid, wet the wall with plain water first to reduce the absorbency of the bricks, start off with dilute acid and paint on only where it's needed, increase the strength if you have to. I'd start with one small area to test it. Messy job to do indoors.

Are you planning to repoint it?

Or - plaster it - it was almost certainly never meant to be seen.

Thanks, i will give it a go. Wasnt sure about using brick acid on lime. I guess it will be rather more effective than on cement? The bricks are really soft.

 

[Feltwell]

Brick acid certainly takes lime off with no problem, and yes I find it easier than with cement - but - I would *definitely* wet your bricks with water first to reduce absorbency, and try one brick in an inconspicuous place with acid, wash it off and let it dry for a few days before doing any others.

To be blunt, that brickwork looks quite rough to me and I'd be tempted to plaster over it - but it's not my house, and one person's "rough" is another's "pleasingly rustic".

 

[Craig89]

I quite like the "rustic" look with the beam and all. Not everyone is as blessed as Feltwell in the brickwork department . Proceed with caution regards the cleaning and I think It would come up quite nicely

 

[Kearn]

The bricks may come up nicely. A scutch chisel has served me well for cleaning faces. As have steel wire brushes and sandpaper to an extent, obviously all used with utmost care and a gentle touch...

I’d be inclined to agree they weren’t intended to be seen though, based on the irregularity of bond pattern and also the lack of closures at the front of the piers.

 

[Roger440]

The bricks may come up nicely. A scutch chisel has served me well for cleaning faces. As have steel wire brushes and sandpaper to an extent, obviously all used with utmost care and a gentle touch...

I’d be inclined to agree they weren’t intended to be seen though, based on the irregularity of bond pattern and also the lack of closures at the front of the piers.

Your not the first to say that, but they dont look to have ever been covered before and i believe its original to the house.