Removing stucco from brick

[scootermcrad]

Anyone ever tried to remove stucco from brick?

We have a portion of the house that is exposed brick inside, yet someone put some stucco up over it. It appears to be applied directly to the brick. Nothing in the mix to retain it. We really want to expose the brick again, as the stucco was put on sort of uneven, and really just hate the textured look. Looks like a popcorn ceiling, yet on the walls!

We ALSO have plaster directly over brick, in one place. Seems like that should be a little easier to bring down.

Suggestions on removal? I have a needle scaler and thought I would carefully try a small corner to see if it would pop it off. Would love to hear any other tips you guys may have.



Thanks!
S

 

[mayday0017]

Pneumatic scrapper, followed by pressure washer, might have to repair some mortor once you get all the brick exposed.... I would also be curious why they coverd it? Possibly to hide some problems they could fix cheaper this way?

 

[scootermcrad]

Pneumatic scrapper, followed by pressure washer, might have to repair some mortor once you get all the brick exposed.... I would also be curious why they coverd it? Possibly to hide some problems they could fix cheaper this way?

Yeah, I expect a little morter repair in the end. I suppose repairing/replacing a brick here and there, will also be part of the project.

Yeah, no idea why. Wall looks pretty flat. You can even see an outline of the bricks in several places. I figure the worst case would be if I damage it, then I can always cover it back up.

The room with the stucco was once used as a flower shop, so who knows. There were a lot of strange things done to the house.

 

[BD1]

Call a professional pressure washing company. A heated pressure washer can do some real damage. Neighbor rented one to clean his siding. Well, he didn't
read directions, was so hot that siding became distored and had to be replaced.

 

[rlitman]

I wouldn't expect heat to help with removing stucco.
The needle scaler actually sounds like a pretty good idea to me, IF you go real easy. I can also easily see it trashing the surface of the brick if you get a little over zealous.

 

[scootermcrad]

I wouldn't expect heat to help with removing stucco.
The needle scaler actually sounds like a pretty good idea to me, IF you go real easy. I can also easily see it trashing the surface of the brick if you get a little over zealous.

My thoughts exactly. The stucco is basically concrete, so it will have a bond with the brick, on some level. Now the plaster, that's another story. Except that the plaster over brick is in a room with wood floors, so water is not an option there, either.

 

[mayday0017]

Call a professional pressure washing company. A heated pressure washer can do some real damage. Neighbor rented one to clean his siding. Well, he didn't
read directions, was so hot that siding became distored and had to be replaced.

Who said anything about a heated pressure washer?

 

[scootermcrad]

I probably should have also mentioned, the stuccoed brick is INSIDE the house. Strange, I know. Soooo...